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Unbroken: An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive
The #1 New York Times bestseller, which is also a major motion picture directed by Angelina Jolie, has now been adapted by the author for young adults. Beautifully illustrated throughout, this riveting biography includes more than 100 black-and-white photos, as well as exclusive content, "In Conversation," with Laura Hillenbrand and Louie Zamperini.
“Every young person should have the chance to read this book. It’s easy to think, growing up, that bravery is for other people, who are simply born heroic. But nothing about Louis marked him out for greatness. He started out as a misfit and troublemaker, but became a great man because of his choices. His story shows that everyone has the potential to rise above obstacles. It is not where you start out in life that counts the most, it is how you choose to face it."—Angelina Jolie
On a May afternoon in 1943, an American military plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary sagas of the Second World War.
The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. As a boy, he had been a clever delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and stealing. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a supreme talent that carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when war came, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.
Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a sinking raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would respond to desperation with ingenuity, suffering with hope and humor, brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would hang on the fraying wire of his will.
In this captivating young adult edition of her award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller, Laura Hillenbrand tells the story of a man’s breathtaking odyssey and the courage, cunning, and fortitude he found to endure and overcome. Lavishly illustrated with more than one hundred photographs and featuring an exclusive interview with Zamperini, Unbroken will introduce a new generation to one of history’s most thrilling survival epics.
Praise for Unbroken
"This adaptation of Hillenbrand's adult bestseller is highly dramatic and exciting, as well as painful to read as it lays bare man's hellish inhumanity to man."--Booklist, STARRED
"This captivating book emphasizes the importance of determination, the will to survive against impossible odds, and support from family and friends. A strong, well-written work."--School Library Journal
"This fine adaptation ably brings an inspiring tale to young readers."--Kirkus Reviews
From the Hardcover edition.
“Every young person should have the chance to read this book. It’s easy to think, growing up, that bravery is for other people, who are simply born heroic. But nothing about Louis marked him out for greatness. He started out as a misfit and troublemaker, but became a great man because of his choices. His story shows that everyone has the potential to rise above obstacles. It is not where you start out in life that counts the most, it is how you choose to face it."—Angelina Jolie
On a May afternoon in 1943, an American military plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary sagas of the Second World War.
The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. As a boy, he had been a clever delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and stealing. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a supreme talent that carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when war came, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.
Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a sinking raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would respond to desperation with ingenuity, suffering with hope and humor, brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would hang on the fraying wire of his will.
In this captivating young adult edition of her award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller, Laura Hillenbrand tells the story of a man’s breathtaking odyssey and the courage, cunning, and fortitude he found to endure and overcome. Lavishly illustrated with more than one hundred photographs and featuring an exclusive interview with Zamperini, Unbroken will introduce a new generation to one of history’s most thrilling survival epics.
Praise for Unbroken
"This adaptation of Hillenbrand's adult bestseller is highly dramatic and exciting, as well as painful to read as it lays bare man's hellish inhumanity to man."--Booklist, STARRED
"This captivating book emphasizes the importance of determination, the will to survive against impossible odds, and support from family and friends. A strong, well-written work."--School Library Journal
"This fine adaptation ably brings an inspiring tale to young readers."--Kirkus Reviews
From the Hardcover edition.
320 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2017
About the author
Laura Hillenbrand
14 books5,020 followersLaura Hillenbrand (born 1967) is the author of the acclaimed Seabiscuit: An American Legend, a non-fiction account of the career of the great racehorse Seabiscuit, for which she won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 2001. The book later became the basis of the 2003 movie Seabiscuit. Her essays have appeared in The New Yorker, Equus magazine, American Heritage, The Blood-Horse, Thoroughbred Times, The Backstretch, Turf and Sport Digest, and many other publications. Her 1998 American Heritage article on the horse Seabiscuit won the Eclipse Award for Magazine Writing.
Born in Fairfax, Virginia, Hillenbrand studied at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, but was forced to leave before graduation when she contracted chronic fatigue syndrome, which she has struggled with ever since. She now lives in Washington, D.C.
Born in Fairfax, Virginia, Hillenbrand studied at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, but was forced to leave before graduation when she contracted chronic fatigue syndrome, which she has struggled with ever since. She now lives in Washington, D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 801 reviews
January 13, 2015
Most amazing biography I’ve read for years. READ THIS BOOK. I read an adaptation for young adults – I don’t know how it’s different from the original. The writing style is very good: straight-forward, plain, and quite compelling.
Going through one harrowing experience after another with sharks and prison guards, Louie comes through unbroken. Now, the secular version would marvel at the resilience of the human spirit through all this. But I found the last 2 chpaters or so more powerful than all the sensational experiences he went through. You see, Louis Zamperini did NOT survive with an unbroken spirit. Once home in Hollywood, he gave in to a deep alcohol addiction, anger toward God, and the quest for vengeance to kill the main prison guard who beat him mercilessly. What saved him was the Lord Jesus Christ. The book goes a little light on the person of Jesus, focusing instead on Billy Graham. But without Louie’s obvious Christian conversion, he would have remained a broken man.
Unbroken is a book not so much about the awful things men can put other men through, or the survival of castaways by extreme methods. Unbroken is in the end about the power of forgiveness in Jesus Christ to deal with the scars of such events.
Going through one harrowing experience after another with sharks and prison guards, Louie comes through unbroken. Now, the secular version would marvel at the resilience of the human spirit through all this. But I found the last 2 chpaters or so more powerful than all the sensational experiences he went through. You see, Louis Zamperini did NOT survive with an unbroken spirit. Once home in Hollywood, he gave in to a deep alcohol addiction, anger toward God, and the quest for vengeance to kill the main prison guard who beat him mercilessly. What saved him was the Lord Jesus Christ. The book goes a little light on the person of Jesus, focusing instead on Billy Graham. But without Louie’s obvious Christian conversion, he would have remained a broken man.
Unbroken is a book not so much about the awful things men can put other men through, or the survival of castaways by extreme methods. Unbroken is in the end about the power of forgiveness in Jesus Christ to deal with the scars of such events.
January 5, 2025
Amazing Book , beautiful story. Am in to survival storylines and narrations. I also watched the adapted motion picture but the book is so good. I highly recommend it.
February 6, 2015
All I see he thought, is a dead body breathing.
I'll be honest with you, when I first walked into this book I wasn't expecting to take anything out of it or be interested in the story. But after reading this story it's opened my eyes to so much that has happened. Of course everyone is aware of the Holocaust aspect of World War 2, but there was so much more going on. Japan was brutal, and though it's clear that this is no longer held against them I feel it was an important thing for me to learn and know more about. A lot of times I had to remind myself over and over again that this wasn't fiction and this was a real life account. But, let me make it clear that it certainly read like fiction. From the very first sentence I was hooked and I can say, for sure, that Laura Hillenbrand is a poetically wonderful author. And if I hadn't managed to pick it up just a few days ago then I'm sure I would've remained resilient and it would've simply continued collecting dust on my shelf.
The dead were their roommates, their friends, the crew flying off their wing ten seconds ago. Men didn't die one by one. A quarter of a barrack perished at once. There were rarely funerals, for there were rarely bodies. Airmen didn't speak of death, but privately many were tormented by fear.
It starts with a backdrop in Torrance California with Louie as a young troubled boy who often got in trouble for stealing things and running away from authorities. His older brother Pete turned this into a good thing adjusting him to a life of sports and the track. From then he trained every day and an Olympian was born. The first section of the book was enough for me to love the book, and the rest is what earned that entire five star rating. Entering the war he became an airman and fought bravely for his country and against the Japanese. Soon he was a castaway and then a POW in Japan. The novel follows his stories and all of the people he encounters along the way.
This book really reminded me of all that our Veterans an war heroes have gone through as they're out there saving our country. Perhaps their not as dire of a situation as Zamperini's, but they leave an imprint nonetheless and their stories should be heard. Hillenbrand introduced me to a new historical aspect and an entirely different genre/area. In the last few days I've asked people. Do you know Louie Zamperini? At least 100% have answered with a simply no, but now that I've read this book I'll certainly have to have all of them reading it! Unbroken is heart-wrnching, unforgettable and filled with a sound message. I'm so glad to have picked up this book and that the author wrote it in a YA edition.
"-I see the stars and can see the footprints of God.- My heavenly father hung them there with flaming fingertips and holds them there with the power of his Omnipotent hand, and he runs the whole universe, and he's not too busy running the universe to count the hairs on my head and see a sparrow when it falls, because God is interested in me... God spoke in creation."
January 9, 2022
"His belief that everything happened for a reason and would come to good gave him a laughing infectious joy even in the hard times."
What a heart-wrenching yet wonderful story. The beginning had me wanting to work as hard as Louie did and be as talented as him. The majority of the book had my stomach churning from the injustice of it all (righteous anger (see my review of Good and Angry ;) )). The end was so redemptive, I only wish the author had talked more about Zamperini's faith. But it seems that he himself was not very outspoken about it, as seen in his interview at the end of the book.
Moral of the story: God can cleanse and heal us from any sin, hurt, or pain. His heart is to care for you and He will "in no wise turn you away." No matter what. (See Gentle and Lowly ;)).
Biblical Counseling is crucial in helping those with lingering struggles with sin.
Content warning: lots and lots of talk about human excrement. One bad word with ***.
What a heart-wrenching yet wonderful story. The beginning had me wanting to work as hard as Louie did and be as talented as him. The majority of the book had my stomach churning from the injustice of it all (righteous anger (see my review of Good and Angry ;) )). The end was so redemptive, I only wish the author had talked more about Zamperini's faith. But it seems that he himself was not very outspoken about it, as seen in his interview at the end of the book.
Moral of the story: God can cleanse and heal us from any sin, hurt, or pain. His heart is to care for you and He will "in no wise turn you away." No matter what. (See Gentle and Lowly ;)).
Biblical Counseling is crucial in helping those with lingering struggles with sin.
Content warning: lots and lots of talk about human excrement. One bad word with ***.
July 26, 2023
Wow. Ok. This is a very hard review to write. That was so… Action-packed, moving, inspiring, tear-worthy, mind blowing, and so, so much more. This would have been an EXTREMELY easy 5 stars if not for some language. Let’s say 4.95 stars lol.
I HIGHLY recommend this book!!
I HIGHLY recommend this book!!
April 5, 2019
Unbroken was a book about Louis Zamperini, a man who turned from an Olympic runner to a castaway, to a prisoner of a Japanese camp. I'm not going to lie, this book was hard to get through. Not because it was a bad read, but because it was a little disturbing. At times they described what he had to endure during his time on the water. Like eating a bird with lice, and drinking its blood. To have to fight sharks with his bare hands. His time in a POWs prisoner camp was even worse. He had to eat food that would make anyone gag. But worst of all he had his dignity and anything that made him human stripped away from him, by a Japanese Captain that goes by the name ''The Bird.'' Louis Zamperini fought through hardships that is unfathomable, but always kept one thing in his mind. That no one or nothing will ever break him. That's why he is one of the most inspiring men to ever live. Overall Unbroken is a great book and is now one of my favorites.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2025
Just wow. I read the young adult version of this, which was more than enough for me. The brutality was unreal. But I'm glad to have read it and to be more educated. I shed tears multiple times in the book. Unforgettable and incredible.
October 22, 2014
UNBROKEN: AN OLYMPIAN’S JOURNEY FROM AIRMAN TO CASTAWAY TO CAPTIVE by Laura Hillenbrand is part of trend toward young adult adaptations of popular adult works. Based on the award-winning novel, UNBROKEN: A WORLD WAR II STORY OF SURVIVAL, RESILIENCE, AND REDEMPTION, the book traces the real-world experiences of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who becomes a prisoner of war in Japan during World War II.
Both the original nonfiction narrative and the adaptation chronicle Zamperini’s life by highlighting key events including his time as a high school runner, Olympian, bombardier, crash survivor, and prisoner. The use of a series of short, focused narratives keeps the reader engaged. More than one hundred photographs from the time period along with personal photos from the Zamperini family collection immerse readers in the story.
Although the adaptation lacks some of the depth of the original, it maintains the emotion of this breathtaking odyssey. While some of the beauty of Hillenbrand’s writing style is lost in the book’s attempt at brevity, the feelings of desperation, suffering, and hope still ring true. Background information woven through narrative help young readers understanding the context of story.
While many high school history teachers focus on the European Theatre, this book provides a wonderful opportunity for educators to explore the war in the Pacific Theatre. Consider offering both the adult version and the adaptation as options for student readers.
Teens enjoy making connections between books and movies. The movie version of the book titled UNBROKEN rated PG-13 opens December 25, 2014. To learn more about the movie, go to http://www.unbrokenfilm.com/. The movie website encourages visitors to add their own stories of resilient heroes. Learn more at http://www.iamunbroken.com/.
To learn more about the author, go to http://laurahillenbrandbooks.com/.
An interactive map shows Louie’s Journey, go to http://laurahillenbrandbooks.com/inte...
Although Zamperini died recently, his memory will live on through all three versions of his story: the original book, the adaptation, and the feature film.
Both the original nonfiction narrative and the adaptation chronicle Zamperini’s life by highlighting key events including his time as a high school runner, Olympian, bombardier, crash survivor, and prisoner. The use of a series of short, focused narratives keeps the reader engaged. More than one hundred photographs from the time period along with personal photos from the Zamperini family collection immerse readers in the story.
Although the adaptation lacks some of the depth of the original, it maintains the emotion of this breathtaking odyssey. While some of the beauty of Hillenbrand’s writing style is lost in the book’s attempt at brevity, the feelings of desperation, suffering, and hope still ring true. Background information woven through narrative help young readers understanding the context of story.
While many high school history teachers focus on the European Theatre, this book provides a wonderful opportunity for educators to explore the war in the Pacific Theatre. Consider offering both the adult version and the adaptation as options for student readers.
Teens enjoy making connections between books and movies. The movie version of the book titled UNBROKEN rated PG-13 opens December 25, 2014. To learn more about the movie, go to http://www.unbrokenfilm.com/. The movie website encourages visitors to add their own stories of resilient heroes. Learn more at http://www.iamunbroken.com/.
To learn more about the author, go to http://laurahillenbrandbooks.com/.
An interactive map shows Louie’s Journey, go to http://laurahillenbrandbooks.com/inte...
Although Zamperini died recently, his memory will live on through all three versions of his story: the original book, the adaptation, and the feature film.
October 28, 2015
My husband read the adult version of this book and was inspired by what this man endured and how he overcame enormous struggles, but he also had to take small emotional breaks because the detailed depravity ate at him and he would find himself stewing in anger, which would take days to cool down. Because I'm hypersensitive about violence (and other things) he advised against my reading it, but he was sad he couldn't share the transformation to enlightenment, so when I saw that a young adult version had been written, I crossed my fingers in hopes that the graphic details and language might be eased up enough for me. They were.
I too found the emotional strength of this man incredible, and appreciated this version that afforded me and my teenage son the opportunity to experience it, without being scarred by the darker details of man's inhumanity to man and the harsh language that is apparently present in the unedited version. It is still, by no means, light reading and there is one extremely disturbing photograph that should have never made the young adult cut, but I did appreciate the spiritual journey and the divine hand that was so obviously at work.
The writing is journalistic (facts and figures certainly being key players) and jumps around in ways that make it difficult to become as immersed in the characters as you want to be. It reads less like a story and more like reporting, which is the authors area of expertise, but maybe, in my case, that is a good thing, as immersion would have made it heavier.
An important story and worth the trip.
I too found the emotional strength of this man incredible, and appreciated this version that afforded me and my teenage son the opportunity to experience it, without being scarred by the darker details of man's inhumanity to man and the harsh language that is apparently present in the unedited version. It is still, by no means, light reading and there is one extremely disturbing photograph that should have never made the young adult cut, but I did appreciate the spiritual journey and the divine hand that was so obviously at work.
The writing is journalistic (facts and figures certainly being key players) and jumps around in ways that make it difficult to become as immersed in the characters as you want to be. It reads less like a story and more like reporting, which is the authors area of expertise, but maybe, in my case, that is a good thing, as immersion would have made it heavier.
An important story and worth the trip.
January 5, 2026
Reading this for school.
January 11, 2023
4.5 stars for a small amount of language
I don’t think I’ve ever ready a war biography, although I loved history in school. The only reason I read this was because I had a very limited choice of books to read and this one stood out. Wow! It kept me completely captivated from front to back and I stayed up way too late reading it, taking me back to my teen years and love of reading. As the young adult version, I felt like the author did a great job of accurately describing horrendous things without too much gore and there were only a few instances of language. (I would have preferred none, but I know for a war biography, it was extremely mild) Having no recollection of hearing the story of Louis Zamperini before, the ending was especially exciting to read of his complete transformation. I wish I could have met him myself, but the author made it feel like I had.
I don’t think I’ve ever ready a war biography, although I loved history in school. The only reason I read this was because I had a very limited choice of books to read and this one stood out. Wow! It kept me completely captivated from front to back and I stayed up way too late reading it, taking me back to my teen years and love of reading. As the young adult version, I felt like the author did a great job of accurately describing horrendous things without too much gore and there were only a few instances of language. (I would have preferred none, but I know for a war biography, it was extremely mild) Having no recollection of hearing the story of Louis Zamperini before, the ending was especially exciting to read of his complete transformation. I wish I could have met him myself, but the author made it feel like I had.
September 21, 2016
We did this as a read aloud with the kids and they absolutely loved hearing Louie's story. There were a few words or sentences I skipped for young ears but overall loved reading this with my boys and talking about Louie's life.
July 23, 2022
Such a gift to be able to read this out loud with Liam.
February 27, 2026
This is a harrowing story, and one that I’m not particularly drawn to (read it for a class). I think what was difficult was after hundreds of pages of just truly awful shit happening to people then God just fixed everything. Also the military industrial complex of it all. This was the adapted version — can’t imagine a hundred more pages of torture.
February 29, 2016
Wow! This is a remarkable story. Louie Zamperini was dealt a lot of horrific cards in his life. I don't think I have ever been so inspired by someone as I have been by this man. I often think about the trials I have in my life and I hope to one day handle them with the same strength. This book was a very hard read because of the horrible things they went through but it is also one of inspiration. It will awe and inspire you.
November 21, 2019
Wow. This book is absolutely remarkable. Not only did I learn so so so much, it was enjoyable too. I loved how the book also included photos, so I could visualize it better. I think I just found my new favorite book! This is a must read!
April 27, 2023
Even though I enjoyed this book a lot, I was a little disappointed that she only talks about how he turned his life around and devoted his life to ministry in the last twenty pages of the four hundredish page book. (Note: I did read the young adult version so that might be part of it)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2017
When I read this book I had already seen the movie, but there were so many details that I did not now that I learned in this book. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a good read.
December 18, 2019
This was something new I tried and I really liked. It was a little slow to start but then it got really good. I would recommend this to anyone who likes intense books.
November 1, 2021
Always an excellent read. Every minute of it is worth it.
May 9, 2026
Difficult to hear. Worth every moment.
April 22, 2026
Feeling inspired
July 11, 2026
Can’t believe this book was published over a decade ago and it’s taken me this long to get around to reading it. Read the YRE because that’s what I’m assigning my son for school, and also because if the regular version went into more harrowing detail, I’m not sure I could have handled it. But if there’s more info about his life as an ambassador for Christ, maybe I’ll look into that. I would’ve liked more info on Louis’ post-conversion life, which is the reason for the missing star.
January 29, 2023
I guess I’m late to the party as far as this story goes, since it’s been out 10 years and was also a movie. Most people are probably familiar with the story, so I won’t repeat it; however, there was a moment In the book I want to refer to, as I feel this is the most compelling, whatever terrible circumstances one might find himself in.
Also, I wanted to mention that I read the young adult version of this story, and I was grateful. I suppose that the adult version is filled with more graphic information, and I feel that the young adult version was much easier for me to read and not have bad memories. It was a wonderfully told story.
There was a thread that was woven throughout the story — Louie’s thoughts about God. During his most terrible ordeals, God seemed to be sustaining him, even though it looked like he surely would not make it through the war. At one point, when he and two buddies who had been shot down over the Pacific had been drifting on a raft for weeks, he made a bargain with God. If He saved him, Louie would serve him with his life.
Fast forward several years. Louie had been mercilessly tormented in the Japanese POW camps. When he finally arrived home after the war, he began to have flashbacks, nightmares haunted his dreams, and coping with it all led to him becoming an alcoholic. He was losing his mind, so consumed with hatred for the person (“The Bird”) who had beaten and demeaned him while in the POW camp. His sole focus was drinking and how to kill this person.
Somehow, he found himself at one of the very first Billy Graham crusades. He had heard enough, and was heading for the exit when this happened:
“As he reached the aisle, he stopped. Everything around him disappeared. The memory he’d long beaten back, the memory from which he was fleeing, was upon him. He fell into a flashback.
He was on the raft. There was gentle Phil crumpled up before him. Mac’s breathing skeleton, endless ocean, the sun lying over them, the cunning bodies of the sharks, waiting, circling. He was a body on a raft, dying of thirst. He felt words whisper from his swollen lips. It was a promise thrown to God, a promise he hadn’t kept, a promise he’d allowed himself to forget until this instant: If you’ll save me, I’ll serve you forever. And then, standing under a tent on a clear night in Los Angeles, Louis felt rain falling on his face.
It was the last flashback he’d ever have. Louie let go of Cynthia and turned toward Graham. He began walking.
Cynthia watched Louie all the way home. When they entered the apartment, Louie went straight to his liquor, carried the bottles to the kitchen, and emptied them into the sink.
In the morning, he woke feeling cleansed. For the first time in five years, the Bird hadn’t come into his dreams. The Bird would never come again.
Louie found the Bible issued to him by the air corps and sent to his mother when he was believed dead. He walked to a park, sat under a tree, and began reading.
Resting in the shade and the stillness, Louie felt profound peace. When he thought of the war, he thought not of all he’d suffered, but the divine love he believed had intervened to save him. He was not the worthless, broken, forsaken man the Bird had tried to make of him. His rage, his humiliation, his helplessness, had fallen away. His dignity had returned. That morning, he believed, he was a new creation….”
As I read this, I thought of all the prayers directed toward God. Sometimes, we see Him answer them slowly, as situations change, as healing gradually takes place. Many times, we never really see what we think is an answer; then, there are times when God answers dramatically, incredibly and immediately. This was the way He answered the prayers of and for Louie Zamperini. It should remind us of the great power of God to answer our prayers. When you see the result of Louie’s conversion, you see some of the way God’s plan unfolded, how He used a stubborn, hard-edged roughneck for HIs Kingdom, and used him to reach others with compassion, love and forgiveness. To me, this was the bigger Louie Zamperini story.
Also, I wanted to mention that I read the young adult version of this story, and I was grateful. I suppose that the adult version is filled with more graphic information, and I feel that the young adult version was much easier for me to read and not have bad memories. It was a wonderfully told story.
There was a thread that was woven throughout the story — Louie’s thoughts about God. During his most terrible ordeals, God seemed to be sustaining him, even though it looked like he surely would not make it through the war. At one point, when he and two buddies who had been shot down over the Pacific had been drifting on a raft for weeks, he made a bargain with God. If He saved him, Louie would serve him with his life.
Fast forward several years. Louie had been mercilessly tormented in the Japanese POW camps. When he finally arrived home after the war, he began to have flashbacks, nightmares haunted his dreams, and coping with it all led to him becoming an alcoholic. He was losing his mind, so consumed with hatred for the person (“The Bird”) who had beaten and demeaned him while in the POW camp. His sole focus was drinking and how to kill this person.
Somehow, he found himself at one of the very first Billy Graham crusades. He had heard enough, and was heading for the exit when this happened:
“As he reached the aisle, he stopped. Everything around him disappeared. The memory he’d long beaten back, the memory from which he was fleeing, was upon him. He fell into a flashback.
He was on the raft. There was gentle Phil crumpled up before him. Mac’s breathing skeleton, endless ocean, the sun lying over them, the cunning bodies of the sharks, waiting, circling. He was a body on a raft, dying of thirst. He felt words whisper from his swollen lips. It was a promise thrown to God, a promise he hadn’t kept, a promise he’d allowed himself to forget until this instant: If you’ll save me, I’ll serve you forever. And then, standing under a tent on a clear night in Los Angeles, Louis felt rain falling on his face.
It was the last flashback he’d ever have. Louie let go of Cynthia and turned toward Graham. He began walking.
Cynthia watched Louie all the way home. When they entered the apartment, Louie went straight to his liquor, carried the bottles to the kitchen, and emptied them into the sink.
In the morning, he woke feeling cleansed. For the first time in five years, the Bird hadn’t come into his dreams. The Bird would never come again.
Louie found the Bible issued to him by the air corps and sent to his mother when he was believed dead. He walked to a park, sat under a tree, and began reading.
Resting in the shade and the stillness, Louie felt profound peace. When he thought of the war, he thought not of all he’d suffered, but the divine love he believed had intervened to save him. He was not the worthless, broken, forsaken man the Bird had tried to make of him. His rage, his humiliation, his helplessness, had fallen away. His dignity had returned. That morning, he believed, he was a new creation….”
As I read this, I thought of all the prayers directed toward God. Sometimes, we see Him answer them slowly, as situations change, as healing gradually takes place. Many times, we never really see what we think is an answer; then, there are times when God answers dramatically, incredibly and immediately. This was the way He answered the prayers of and for Louie Zamperini. It should remind us of the great power of God to answer our prayers. When you see the result of Louie’s conversion, you see some of the way God’s plan unfolded, how He used a stubborn, hard-edged roughneck for HIs Kingdom, and used him to reach others with compassion, love and forgiveness. To me, this was the bigger Louie Zamperini story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2020
Wow. It’s hard for me to think of something to say just because I have so many thoughts that can’t be organized. The insane perseverance and drive of one person is mind blowing. Everything Louis went through is extraordinary. He lived at least 3 different lives, and surviving any one of them is amazing. The fact that he pushed his way through everything he had to go through is simply unbelievable.
One of the main points of astonishment is obviously Louis’ ability to survive and push forward: his determination to not be broken. The fact survive so much is inspiring and amazing.
Another big point I noticed was the ability of humans to be so cruel. Some of the Japanese guards at the POW camp are so incredibly inhuman it’s hard to believe. War does such disgusting things and makes so many good people into monsters.
Along with this, though there’s the aspect of people banding together. The POWs supporting each other and helping each other survive is very inspiring. There are also many guard who act in a humane way. There’s also the time when Louis is stuck on the raft with Phil and Mac. Because they all worked together, they were able to accomplish such amazing things and mostly survive.
And then there’s after the war. The fact that people who’ve gone through these things are able to simply be joyful at the sight of American ships is incredible. They remain... unbroken. Although Louis comes home and is plagued with PTSD and starts making and decisions, he’s able to pull through and figure himself out. In my opinion, this is the perfect time to use religion. Christianity and the belief in God pushed Louis to make his life better. Without that strength, he may not have survived.
This book was just amazing and so inspirational. It really puts life into perspective and I’m able to see how easy I have it. What an amazing person and what an amazing story.
One of the main points of astonishment is obviously Louis’ ability to survive and push forward: his determination to not be broken. The fact survive so much is inspiring and amazing.
Another big point I noticed was the ability of humans to be so cruel. Some of the Japanese guards at the POW camp are so incredibly inhuman it’s hard to believe. War does such disgusting things and makes so many good people into monsters.
Along with this, though there’s the aspect of people banding together. The POWs supporting each other and helping each other survive is very inspiring. There are also many guard who act in a humane way. There’s also the time when Louis is stuck on the raft with Phil and Mac. Because they all worked together, they were able to accomplish such amazing things and mostly survive.
And then there’s after the war. The fact that people who’ve gone through these things are able to simply be joyful at the sight of American ships is incredible. They remain... unbroken. Although Louis comes home and is plagued with PTSD and starts making and decisions, he’s able to pull through and figure himself out. In my opinion, this is the perfect time to use religion. Christianity and the belief in God pushed Louis to make his life better. Without that strength, he may not have survived.
This book was just amazing and so inspirational. It really puts life into perspective and I’m able to see how easy I have it. What an amazing person and what an amazing story.
February 16, 2018
I think my main problem with this book was that I just didn't care. It wasn't terribly bad, but I just felt disconnected from the story, like the entire story is happening inside a glass dome, and I'm just on the outside watching. (wow the terrible analogy strikes again)
I'm not interested in war. I don't like war. It just doesn't interest me. There are good stories, but I don't really care what happens during fighting and what soldiers had to go through. I wasn't terribly sickened by this book, as there are some graphic scenes, but I have no interest in it.
Because of my lack of interest, I got
Furthermore, I didn't like the writing style. Laura Hillenbrand does this thing where she sets up a dramatic ending and she uses the same format EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I'd noticed it after a couple times, and I didn't mind it that much, but it became so repetitive that every time it happened (nearly every 10 pages) I pretty much just threw the book down in frustration. I got some pretty weird looks from people. I didn't particularly love the writing style, and that specific way that Hillenbrand wrote those dramatic one liners completely threw a wrench in my reading process.
This book wasn't meant for me, but if this seems like your thing, don't let my review stop you, as you'll probably like it. (but if you don't, please don't get mad at me)
I'm not interested in war. I don't like war. It just doesn't interest me. There are good stories, but I don't really care what happens during fighting and what soldiers had to go through. I wasn't terribly sickened by this book, as there are some graphic scenes, but I have no interest in it.
Because of my lack of interest, I got
Furthermore, I didn't like the writing style. Laura Hillenbrand does this thing where she sets up a dramatic ending and she uses the same format EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I'd noticed it after a couple times, and I didn't mind it that much, but it became so repetitive that every time it happened (nearly every 10 pages) I pretty much just threw the book down in frustration. I got some pretty weird looks from people. I didn't particularly love the writing style, and that specific way that Hillenbrand wrote those dramatic one liners completely threw a wrench in my reading process.
This book wasn't meant for me, but if this seems like your thing, don't let my review stop you, as you'll probably like it. (but if you don't, please don't get mad at me)
April 17, 2015
I've read the original book twice, and reading this adapted version to my son was a great experience. I've read many books about WWII, from non-fiction histories to memoirs. "Unbroken" is by far my favorite.
I recommend reading this to your child (Zack is 12) because the subject matter by its very nature is grim. Additionally, there are SO many opportunities to have discussions -- about the history, about the military then and now (both myself and my husband are veterans), and about human nature. I value the talks he and I had immensely. There were many ways to put events in the book into our own lives, talking about forgiveness of those who hurt you, about overcoming obstacles, and about the value of camaraderie and friendship.
If you don't have a child to read this to, I'd recommend reading the original version of the book or this one. Both are incredible. This version didn't change the original content, but did not go as in to depth about particularly harrowing experiences. I feel nothing was lost in the adaptation.
I recommend reading this to your child (Zack is 12) because the subject matter by its very nature is grim. Additionally, there are SO many opportunities to have discussions -- about the history, about the military then and now (both myself and my husband are veterans), and about human nature. I value the talks he and I had immensely. There were many ways to put events in the book into our own lives, talking about forgiveness of those who hurt you, about overcoming obstacles, and about the value of camaraderie and friendship.
If you don't have a child to read this to, I'd recommend reading the original version of the book or this one. Both are incredible. This version didn't change the original content, but did not go as in to depth about particularly harrowing experiences. I feel nothing was lost in the adaptation.
June 11, 2018
There is no way to express my amazement at the life of Louie Zamperini. From his running accolades, to being lost at sea, to enduring chronic torment in a POW camp, Louie was exactly as he describes himself, a “survivalist.” What’s even more inspiring was his life post war. His testimony of coming to Christ gave me chills and left me in tears. There is so much depth to this man, and he attributes all of it to God. I am deeply disappointed the movie left out the religious aspect of his life because it changed everything; however, books are always better than the movies. I cannot praise this book enough. If you are human (and I assume you are), you must read it. His story is awe-inspiring and shows the strength of man’s spirit.
“I’ve had a great life, no matter what, no matter if I had won at the Olympics or not. I don’t think anybody in the world has had as adventurous as a life as I have.”
-Louie Zamperini
“I’ve had a great life, no matter what, no matter if I had won at the Olympics or not. I don’t think anybody in the world has had as adventurous as a life as I have.”
-Louie Zamperini
December 30, 2014
A lifetime of glory is worth a moment of pain.
I am having a hard time writing this review because this book has me crying and shaking.
I saw the movie Unbroken with my Grandmother a few days after Christmas and I was obsessed. When I got home I began to look online to see if there were any good books about his story and I was happy to have found this one. It took me a day to finish this book, because it was so interesting, heartbreaking, and beautiful. Louie Zamperini was an absolutely incredible man. He loved America and he fought hard to serve it. He was utterly tortured while in Prisoner of War camps and even when he could barely move because he was so badly abused he tried to remain strong. People saw him as a leader and a symbol of hope.
If you have not read this book yet...PLEASE DO.
I am having a hard time writing this review because this book has me crying and shaking.
I saw the movie Unbroken with my Grandmother a few days after Christmas and I was obsessed. When I got home I began to look online to see if there were any good books about his story and I was happy to have found this one. It took me a day to finish this book, because it was so interesting, heartbreaking, and beautiful. Louie Zamperini was an absolutely incredible man. He loved America and he fought hard to serve it. He was utterly tortured while in Prisoner of War camps and even when he could barely move because he was so badly abused he tried to remain strong. People saw him as a leader and a symbol of hope.
If you have not read this book yet...PLEASE DO.
May 18, 2017
I think this book was good because of the action. I thought that Louie would die in the plane crash. I was surprised that Louie changed through his years as he joined the military. But after the plane crash when he was being held captive, the Japanese didn't really Treat them fairly. the Japanese beat them For no reason. But at one point when they were being attacked by the B-29's, they pulled P.O.W.s out of their cells and beat them. sometimes they even faked drills and locked their cells and burned them. but when P.O.W.s tried to escape, the would be bayoneted or stabbed to death. overall i think this book is good because of how he forgives those people at the end.
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