Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by major_sholto
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
5.0
“Dignity is as essential to human life as water, food, and oxygen. The stubborn retention of it, even in the face of extreme physical hardship, can hold a man's soul in his body long past the point at which the body should have surrendered it.”— From Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
The word "inspiring" comes up a lot in reviews of this book. I read this book during a stressful time in my life: I was just laid off from a job in a battered and weak economy. For me, the layoff was very much like being ditched in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with only a life raft and scant supplies. I could relate to the fear of the unknown future like an endless horizon of empty ocean, the need to keep spirits up and hope alive while thrashing sharks encircle a flimsy craft.
Books can come to us at just the right times in our lives—sometimes they speak to us. This book inspires me.
It inspires me to be grateful - The hardships and cruelty endured by Louie Zamperini and Russell Phillips are more than any person should endure. In my life, I have never experienced this level of hardship and I hope I never will. I am grateful for the happy life I have lived.
It inspires me to hope - This book also demonstrates the sheer power of hope. Even at their darkest hours—when their hope was the sputtering light of a dying candle—they kept going. They endured. As long as we all have breath, we can hope for a better future.
It inspires me to be kinder - Sometimes we need to be reminded of the cruelties of humankind. Sick and sadistic people do exist and they inflict terrible injuries on the weak and powerless. As I read this book, I found myself smiling at strangers. I held my tongue and checked my anger over trivial misunderstandings. I wanted to somehow counterbalance the meanness in the world.
Unbroken is indeed an inspiring book. This is not a book about war and torture. This is a book about dignity, endurance and the power of forgiveness.
The word "inspiring" comes up a lot in reviews of this book. I read this book during a stressful time in my life: I was just laid off from a job in a battered and weak economy. For me, the layoff was very much like being ditched in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with only a life raft and scant supplies. I could relate to the fear of the unknown future like an endless horizon of empty ocean, the need to keep spirits up and hope alive while thrashing sharks encircle a flimsy craft.
Books can come to us at just the right times in our lives—sometimes they speak to us. This book inspires me.
It inspires me to be grateful - The hardships and cruelty endured by Louie Zamperini and Russell Phillips are more than any person should endure. In my life, I have never experienced this level of hardship and I hope I never will. I am grateful for the happy life I have lived.
It inspires me to hope - This book also demonstrates the sheer power of hope. Even at their darkest hours—when their hope was the sputtering light of a dying candle—they kept going. They endured. As long as we all have breath, we can hope for a better future.
It inspires me to be kinder - Sometimes we need to be reminded of the cruelties of humankind. Sick and sadistic people do exist and they inflict terrible injuries on the weak and powerless. As I read this book, I found myself smiling at strangers. I held my tongue and checked my anger over trivial misunderstandings. I wanted to somehow counterbalance the meanness in the world.
Unbroken is indeed an inspiring book. This is not a book about war and torture. This is a book about dignity, endurance and the power of forgiveness.