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Unbroken cover art

Unbroken

By: Laura Hillenbrand
Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
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Summary

The incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, now a major motion picture directed by Angelina Jolie. Motion Picture Artwork © Universal Studios 2014. All Rights Reserved.

The international number one best seller

In 1943 a bomber crashes into the Pacific Ocean. Against all odds, one young lieutenant survives. Louis Zamperini had already transformed himself from child delinquent to prodigious athlete, running in the Berlin Olympics. Now he must embark on one of the Second World War’s most extraordinary odysseys. Zamperini faces thousands of miles of open ocean on a failing raft. Beyond like only greater trials, in Japan’s prisoner-of-war camps.

Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini’s destiny, whether triumph or tragedy, depends on the strength of his will …

Now a major motion picture, directed by Angelina Jolie and starring Jack O’ Connell.

©2011 Laura Hillenbrand (P)2010 Random House LLC

Critic reviews

"Staggering.... mesmerizing.... Hillenbrand's writing is so ferociously cinematic, the events she describes so incredible, you don't dare take your eyes off the page" ( People)
"One of the most remarkable survival tales ever recorded. Do yourself a favour and by the book" ( Vanity Fair)

What listeners say about Unbroken

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Best real life story I have read.

Absolutely fantastic. This story is so powerful. An excellent combination of joy, sadness and horror. But an awesome account of a man's struggle with everything that his life threw at him. What a man.

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Outstanding true story


What an amazing humble man Louis Zamperini was.
We hear a lot of true stories and fictional works based on the Second World War in Europe, but few from the Pacific side.

Edward Hermann was a great narrator and reminded me of the voice behind those Disney movies of real life animal adventures I watched as a child.
I am not a great lover of an American narrator, but his accent was so soft and gentle, no twang or nasal inflection, to spoil this remarkable account of history.

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3 people found this helpful

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A true insight into the hidden reality of War.

What made the experience of listening to Unbroken the most enjoyable?

Beautifully written with an expert hand that has no need to use graphic violent descriptions to show the true horror.

What did you like best about this story?

It is so, so very human. No one in this book, given the circumstances they were in EVER set out to be a Hero. Their sole goal was to protect each other and survive.

What about Edward Herrmann’s performance did you like?

Brilliant! Unfortunately may narrators spoil a book for some listeners, Edward is not one of them.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I just listened in quite awe to the life story of one man, who was blessed to be loved and befriended by so many exceptional people, whom to which we should not only show thanks but be truly inspired and grateful.

Any additional comments?

I WISH,WISH,WISH that this,and all the other truly humanising accounts of war were part of the curriculum in the teaching of history. It is only with these true visualisations that any lessons may been learnt.

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3 people found this helpful

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Strong Story

This is very typical behaviour of tyranny in war and we as a human should do our best to avoid the wars and conflicts.

Read the book and you’ll learn why.

Highly recommended

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Unbroken reviewed by Tevin Gongo

Really inspiring book that leaves me with a strange feeling: on one side, I feel "bad" as I realise or remember that human beings are capable of atrocities. On the other side, I feel humbled as I realise how much human beings can deal with (endure). The story is inspiring for sure, the sky is the limit.

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Incredible and moving true story.

Louis Zamperini's story really gripped me from start to finish. , This is an amazing true story. What the POW's endured in the Japanese prisoner of war camps makes you shudder and will make you cry. Everyone who self pitties themselves and who feels they are hard done by, or moans because their intenet rconnection dropped or some other perthetic trivial issue has ruined their day should read this to put their lives in perspective and get out there be happy and grateful they don't have to go through what these soldiers did.

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A must listen

Incredible true account of a Ww2 Soldier
One of the best I’ve listened too/ read 🤙🤙

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Wow

This story goes above and beyond ‘courage in the face of adversity’ and stands in a category of its own. It is almost impossible to believe that anyone could survive such unspeakable hardship. LZ is truly an inspiration to anyone facing adversity. You must read it, now.

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Wow

This true story is unbelievable. What a man, what a hero and what a survivor. The film was very good, the book (audiobook) is better. I stayed awake for most of the night because I didn’t want to stop the story. I cancelled my plans for the next day because I didn’t want to wait eight hours before I could continue the story. It held me, enthralled me and made me out my remote control in the fridge because I wasn’t concentrating on anything but the story. What a man, what a hero. Loved it.

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Totally captivating!

Have no shame in admitting how moved I was - the courage and strength of these war heroes puts current 1st world problems into sharp perspective!!

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