"Extraordinarily moving . . . a powerfully drawn survival epic."
--The Wall Street Journal "[A] one-in-a-billion story . . . designed to wrench from self-respecting critics all the blurby adjectives we normally try to avoid: It is amazing, unforgettable, gripping, harrowing, chilling, and inspiring."
--New York "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
"A meticulous, soaring and beautifully written account of an extraordinary life."
--The Washington Post "Ambitious and powerful . . . a startling narrative and an inspirational book."
--The New York Times Book Review "Marvelous . . .
Unbroken is wonderful twice over, for the tale it tells and for the way it's told. . . . It manages maximum velocity with no loss of subtlety."
--Newsweek "Moving and, yes, inspirational . . . [Laura] Hillenbrand's unforgettable book . . . deserve[s] pride of place alongside the best works of literature that chart the complications and the hard-won triumphs of so-called ordinary Americans and their extraordinary time."
--Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air "Hillenbrand . . . tells [this] story with cool elegance but at a thrilling sprinter's pace."
--Time "
Unbroken is too much book to hope for: a hellride of a story in the grip of the one writer who can handle it. . . . When it comes to courage, charisma, and impossible adventure, few will ever match 'the boy terror of Torrance, ' and few but the author of
Seabiscuit could tell his tale with such humanity and dexterity. Hillenbrand has given us a new national treasure."
--Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run "Riveting . . . an exceptional portrait . . . So haunting and so beautifully written, those who fall under its spell will never again feel the same way about World War II and one of its previously unsung heroes."
--The Columbus Dispatch "Magnificent . . . incredible . . . [Hillenbrand] has crafted another masterful blend of sports, history and overcoming terrific odds; this is biography taken to the nth degree, a chronicle of a remarkable life lived through extraordinary times."
--The Dallas Morning News "No other author of narrative nonfiction chooses her subjects with greater discrimination or renders them with more discipline and commitment. If storytelling were an Olympic event, [Hillenbrand would] medal for sure."
--Salon "A celebration of gargantuan fortitude . . . full of unforgettable characters, multi-hanky moments and wild turns . . . Hillenbrand is a muscular, dynamic storyteller."
--The New York Times "[A] masterfully told true story . . . nothing less than a marvel."
--Washingtonian "Zamperini's story is certainly one of the most remarkable survival tales ever recorded. What happened after that is equally remarkable."
--Graydon Carter, Vanity Fair
"Irresistible . . . Hillenbrand demonstrates a dazzling ability--one
Seabiscuit only hinted at--to make the tale leap off the page."
--Elle "A tale of triumph and redemption . . . astonishingly detailed."
--O: The Oprah Magazine "An astonishing testament to the superhuman power of tenacity."
--Entertainment Weekly "Intense . . . You better hold onto the reins."
--The Boston Globe "Incredible . . . Zamperini's life is one of courage, heroism, humility and unflagging endurance."
--St. Louis Post Dispatch "Hillenbrand has once again brought to life the true story of a forgotten hero, and reminded us how lucky we are to have her, one of our best writers of narrative history. You don't have to be a sports fan or a war-history buff to devour this book--you just have to love great storytelling."
--Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks