#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The incredible true story of survival and salvation that is the basis for two major motion pictures: Unbroken and Unbroken: Path to Redemption. “Extraordinarily moving . . . a powerfully drawn survival epic.”—The Wall Street Journal Hailed as the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for biography On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber 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 odysseys of the Second World War. The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become 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 foundering raft, 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. Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in Seabiscuit. Telling an unforgettable story of a man’s journey into extremity, Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.
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About the author
Laura Hillenbrand
Author
Laura Hillenbrand is an American author. Her two bestselling nonfiction books, Seabiscuit: An American Legend (2001) and Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (2010), have sold over 13 million copies, and each was adapted for film. Her writing style is distinct from New Journalism, dropping "verbal pyrotechnics" in favor of a stronger focus on the story itself.
Unbroken
by Laura Hillenbrand
Books Like Unbroken
If you're looking for books similar to Unbroken, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
Endurance
Alfred Lansing
The incredible true story of Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition and the crew's miraculous survival. Like Unbroken, this book explores human resilience, leadership, and survival in extreme conditions. Lansing's account demonstrates the extraordinary capacity of humans to overcome seemingly impossible challenges.
Lone Survivor
Marcus Luttrell
A gripping memoir of military survival and extraordinary courage during the Afghanistan War. The book details a Navy SEAL team's mission and their incredible struggle against overwhelming odds. Similar to Unbroken, it explores themes of human endurance, military heroism, and the power of willpower in extreme circumstances.
Flags of Our Fathers
James Bradley
A powerful narrative about the Marines who raised the flag at Iwo Jima during World War II. Like Unbroken, this book explores military heroism, personal sacrifice, and the human experience during wartime. Bradley provides an intimate look at the lives of soldiers and the extraordinary circumstances they faced.
Band of Brothers
Stephen E. Ambrose
A detailed account of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, during World War II. Like Unbroken, the book explores military heroism, personal sacrifice, and the human experience during wartime. Ambrose provides a comprehensive and deeply personal narrative of soldiers' experiences and camaraderie.
Seabiscuit
Laura Hillenbrand
Another extraordinary true story by the same author, chronicling the remarkable journey of an underdog racehorse during the Great Depression. Like Unbroken, this book explores themes of resilience, human spirit, and overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges. Hillenbrand's narrative style brings the historical account to vivid life, focusing on the interconnected stories of the horse, trainer, and jockey.
Ghost Soldiers
Hampton Sides
A gripping account of a World War II rescue mission to save American prisoners of war in the Philippines. The book explores military heroism, survival, and human resilience in wartime, similar to the themes in Unbroken. It provides a detailed and intense narrative of courage and survival under extreme conditions.
Devil at My Heels
Louis Zamperini
Zamperini's own account of his life, providing additional context to the story told in Unbroken. This memoir offers a personal perspective on his experiences during World War II, his survival, and his subsequent spiritual journey. It complements Hillenbrand's narrative by providing direct insights from the protagonist.
Into Thin Air
Jon Krakauer
A powerful narrative of survival and tragedy during a disastrous Mount Everest expedition. Like Unbroken, this book examines human resilience in the face of extreme environmental challenges. Krakauer's firsthand account reveals the psychological and physical limits of human endurance in life-threatening situations.
In Harm's Way
Doug Stanton
A gripping account of the USS Indianapolis and its sailors' struggle for survival after being torpedoed in World War II. The book shares Unbroken's themes of maritime survival, human endurance, and military experience. Stanton's narrative reveals the incredible resilience of sailors facing seemingly hopeless circumstances.
The Long Walk
Slavomir Rawicz
A harrowing true story of survival, chronicling a prisoner's escape from a Soviet labor camp and his incredible journey across Siberia, Mongolia, Tibet, and the Himalayas. The narrative shares Unbroken's themes of human determination, survival against impossible odds, and the strength of the human spirit.
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