Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

From the author of the absolutely phenomenal Seabiscuit comes the equally phenomenal and even more moving Unbroken. Ever wonder why our parent's generation never warmed up completely to Japanese cars and culture?  Ever ponder that which makes some individuals cling to life with unbelievable tenacity while others sharing the same experience can't hang on?  Unbroken explores these themes and more through the biography of the extraordinary life of Louie Zamperini.  This is a story of competitiveness, compassion, carnage, and cruelty, Unbroken is a marvel you will find very hard to put down.

Hillenbrand starts with the somewhat troubled youth and then rehabilitation of Louis Zampernini.  And Louie really turned around indeed....before joining the Navy, Louie was considered a real threat to be a gold medalist and the first man to break the 4 minute mile. That could have been story enough, but it is Louie's war time story (and post-war) that distinguish his life and this book.  Thus, Unbroken is the story of the war in the Pacific...and Louis's short career as a bombardier on a P-29.  It is a story of survival at sea, survival as a POW, and survival as a survivor.  Hillenbrand does justice to all phases of Louie's life -- her research, interviewing, and assembly of Louie's story (and the story of all the men) as a prisoner-of-war in a Japanese prison camp creates prose that has visceral impact.  You will cringe and be sickened by what you read, but marvel at the human spirit. Her treatment of Louie's post-war life is equally good and equally moving.

Hillenbrand reintroduces all the skills she displayed in bringing Seabiscuit to us...meticulous research, a terrific grasp of detail, and the ability to produce compelling, gripping, and emotionally moving prose.  If you, as a number of friends who have mentioned to me, are better versed in the European theatre in WWII than the Pacific, you are in for an education.  If the survivor rate of German and Japanese POWs in American hands was 99%, the survival rate of American POWs in Japanese custody was only 60%.  Louis Zamperini was one of the survivors.  The record for survival for downed airman at sea in a life raft was like 40 days....Louis Zampeini lasted 47.

I will not retell the story here other than to say again how incredibly  well told and compelling it is....start this book at the beginning of your weekend....because you really will not be able to put it down.