Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

In boyhood, Louis Zamperini was an incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when World War II began, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to a doomed flight on a May afternoon in 1943. When his Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, against all odds, Zamperini survived, adrift on a foundering life raft. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

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Published Nov 16, 2010

Average rating: 8.72

247 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Mary Waddell
Jul 21, 2025
Kelly Martin
KikiStoneCreek
Jun 03, 2023
10/10 stars
What an amazing book. I lost many hours of sleep reading this as I could not put it down. This is a book I will be recommending for many years to come. What an inspirational story of courage, strength, resiliency and finally faith. Absolutely beautiful.
jenmay
May 22, 2025
8/10 stars
This is very long, but an incredible story. I think this was well written and very well researched. Also had seen the movie prior to reading the book.
Cobbie
Apr 19, 2025
8/10 stars
Unbelievable, unimaginable, unbearable. I can not believe the pain and violence one human can force upon another human. This book was so good and so sad. I am so glad that Louis was unbroken with god in his life.
Sharon Gray
Dec 30, 2024
8/10 stars
Fascinating story of an incredible human being. Well researched and written, although at times it dragged a bit. Very inspirational story. Highly recommended.

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