Unbroken tells the story of Louis Zamperini, an athlete who ran in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and later became a prisoner of war in Japan. Laura Hillenbrand, the author of Seabiscuit, brings Louie’s story to life with remarkable detail.

Louie was a defiant and delinquent boy. Growing up in Torrance, California, he was the scourge of the neighborhood; stealing pies from neighbors, assaulting other children, running away from home, failing in school. With the encouragement and coaching of Pete, his older brother,  Louie began running track. His focus and abilities soon brought him medals and renown.

During World War II Louie was in the Army Air Force. After his plane crashed in the Pacific, the survivors drifted for weeks until being “rescued” by the Japanese. Louie spent the remainder of the War as a POW. He was treated brutally by guards and other prison camp personnel, both civilian and military. He suffered through beatings, starvation, illness, degradation and forced labor.

This  book details Louie’s struggles, and tells how he survived. That Louie is alive and well to this day is a testament to his strength, faith, and optimism. Unbroken is well-written, well-researched and truly inspiring.


Published in hardcover-Random House-2010



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