Book Review: “Unbroken”: The Inspiring True Story of Louie Zamperini’s Survival and Redemption

“Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption” is a book by Laura Hillenbrand that was adapted into a movie. It is about the life of Louie Zamerini. He was a distance runner who competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. He then fought in the Pacific theater against the Japanese in World War Two. He was captured and became a Japanese prisoner of war.

While facing adverse conditions in the Japanese prisoner-of-war camp, he relied on the toughness he had developed from years of distance running. He was eventually freed and lived to be 97 years old. This is one of the most inspirational stories one can imagine. Which is why it made such a good book and movie. Can you imagine a more inspirational story?

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

“Unbroken” is both a book and a movie, the inspirational story of Louie Zamperini. The book follows his life chronologically, which is helpful. Since the book is all about him, let’s meet him. He was an incorrigible youth. He always played pranks and then ran away. He competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, which we remember for Jesse Owens. He ran the 5,000 meters, despite the 1,500 being his forte. He’d only run the 5,000 4 times!

He met Hitler, stole a flag, and lost to Finland. He joined up to fight World War Two. He was disappointed that there were no 1940 Olympics, because of the war. He joined the Army Air Corps, which would later become the Air Force. He was on a raft for forty or more days in the Pacific Ocean after being shot down.

He survived three Japanese prisoner-of-war camps. He became a Christian after hearing Billy Graham speak.
He carried the Olympic Torch in 1998 in Nagano, Japan. He lived to be 97 years old, dying in 2014.

Louie Zamperini’s Service in World War Two

As is prominently featured in “Unbroken’ Zamperini was a Bombardier, which meant he dropped the bombs from the plane. Bombers frequently crashed in training; being on one was nerve-wracking. Many of the men he knew were killed in training exercises.

According to “Unbroken,” his only significant action of World War Two was a raid on Japanese-held Nauru, an Island in the Pacific. The Island was about 2,500 miles (or about a six and a half hour flight) from the base at Funafuti Atoll.

Zamperini was aboard his plane, called Superman, which was in the lead. Superman got shot at and shot up by the Japanese. It barely landed. Zamparini thought he was going to die. After Superman crashed and landed at Base, they counted 594 holes in her. He was at home on base when the Japanese attacked Funafuti Atoll on the night of the Nauru raid. The Japanese attacked with Bombers. The Atoll was wrecked, and Superman was destroyed, along with most of the other bombers on the Atoll.

Surviving a Crash

Since his plane was destroyed, he (and the others in his crew) had to take the Green Hornet on the search mission. The Green Hornet had a terrible reputation and was used by the mechanics as a spare part for other planes. Predictably, they crashed while on the search mission. Zamperini was on a raft for more than 40 days, and survived on rainwater, birds that landed on the raft, and a few fish. The 43 days are thought to be a record. Sharks circled the raft nearly the whole time.

He and another man were found by the Japanese, and one person on the raft died. Most of “Unbroken” is about his captivity. The conditions he faced were harsh, to say the least. He was singled out for abuse because he was both an officer and an Olympian. There was little food, and there were frequent beatings.
After the war, Zamperini (somewhat predicably) struggled. He started drinking and was abusive toward his wife and many he encountered.

Parting Shots

“Unbroken” concludes with him finding Jesus and reforming his life after listening to Billy Graham. Because he went through so many things and experienced so much, his life story makes a good book and movie. This is why “Unbroken” became a New York Times bestseller, and the film became a hit.