This true story follows Olympic runner Louis Zamperini, whose WWII bomber crash lands in the Pacific. Surviving 47 days at sea, he is captured and tortured in Japanese POW camps. Hillenbrand’s gripping narrative of endurance, faith, and forgiveness is a tribute to the human spirit. Unbroken is a powerful account of resilience under unimaginable hardship, based on meticulous research and interviews.
About Laura Hillenbrand
An American author and non-fiction writer, celebrated for her meticulously researched and compelling narratives of extraordinary true stories. Her best-known works, Seabiscuit: An American Legend and Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, transform historical events into gripping, human-driven tales of perseverance and triumph. Hillenbrand's vivid storytelling and dedication to historical accuracy have earned her widespread critical and popular acclaim.
Similar Books
Heroes
by Stephen Fry
Following the success of Mythos, Stephen Fry stylishly retells the captivating and enduring tales of Greek heroes. These mortals embarked on extraordinary adventures, facing monstrous threats and outsmarting vengeful gods with remarkable flair. Journey with Jason on the Argo's quest for the Golden Fleece. Witness Atalanta, raised by bears, outpace all men until a golden deception. See clever Oedipus solve the Sphinx's riddle and Bellerophon capture the winged Pegasus to defeat the Chimera. Heroes explores the full spectrum of human potential, showcasing our greatest triumphs and deepest flaws.
The Spy and the Traitor
The Spy and the Traitor is a gripping true story of Oleg Gordievsky, a high-ranking KGB officer who became a double agent for Britain during the Cold War. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Macintyre traces Gordievsky’s espionage, his moral struggles, and his daring escape from Soviet Russia. The book reads like a thriller, filled with tense meetings, coded signals, and near-misses. It reveals the shadowy chess match between East and West and the individual courage it demanded. A masterwork of narrative nonfiction, it’s both historically illuminating and impossible to put down.
Sam Walton: Made in America
In Made in America, Walmart founder Sam Walton shares the story of building the world’s largest retail empire from a single store in Arkansas. Written in Walton’s own words, the memoir reveals his relentless work ethic, frugality, and obsession with customer satisfaction. He reflects on the principles that drove Walmart’s success, including employee empowerment, aggressive expansion, and constant innovation. Candid and down-to-earth, the book also touches on mistakes and challenges. Beyond a business biography, Made in America is an inspiring account of entrepreneurial vision, small-town values, and the competitive drive that revolutionized American retail.
The Fraud
by Zadie Smith
Set in 19th-century London, The Fraud reimagines the Tichborne Trial—a real-life Victorian scandal—as a lens through which to examine truth, authorship, and identity. At the story’s center is Eliza Touchet, housekeeper and cousin to novelist William Ainsworth, who becomes entangled in the trial of a butcher claiming to be a long-lost aristocrat. Through Eliza’s sharp observations and moral grappling, Zadie Smith interrogates class, empire, race, and the shifting lines between fact and fiction. With her signature wit and depth, Smith crafts a historical novel that feels urgently modern, revealing the social and literary frauds that still echo today.