Book Review: UnBroken

[alfsauve]

Unbroken A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption is the account of Lt. Louis Zamperini's life as a POW in Japan during WWII .   It is written by Laura Hillenbrand (also author of Sea Biscuit) and documents Zamperini from childhood through flight training, his plane crash, raft survival, POW internment and his re-entry into life after the war.

Zamperini was also an Olympic class runner.   In fact he possibly could have broken the 4 minute mile barrier 10 years before Roger Bannister, had it not been for the outbreak of WWII.    The book takes us through his childhood and running carrier including his experiences in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  His running was interrupted by WWII when he joined the Army Air Corps and was assigned to B-24 squadron in the Pacific, as a bombardier.   Eventually his plane crashed which lead to he and a crew fellow member being stranded on a raft.  The longest raft survival every recorded.  Captured by the Japanese, he was mercilessly harassed and tortured.  Eventually being offered respite if he would collaborate with the Japanese.  He refused, but because of his celebrity status as an Olympic runner, they continued to try to break him.   Eventually liberated, like many POWs he had some difficulty readjusting to a normal life.  He did return to running but because of injuries during the war, he was unable to attain his former speed or endurance.

Most of the book is spent telling about Zamperini's raft survival and his time in POW camps.  It is amazing the details that he remembered, about the time on the rafts, the POW camps, his beatings and his fellow POWs.    Hillenbrand has done a lot of research not only by spending time with Zamperini to bring out his story, but in securing the details of his fellow aviators and prisoners.   She also wrapped up some loose ends by researching what happened to the Japanese camp guard that was most responsible for Zamperini's harassment.    While it is easy to come away with ill feelings toward the Japanese, Hillenbrand explainsw what was going on in Japan at the time and why they were so cruel towards westerners.

Highly recommended, but be warned that the time on the raft and in the POW camps is not reading for the faint of heart.

[tombogan03884]

Most people hear about how the Japanese troops acted and think, "what brutal bastards".
What Westerners can't seem to understand is that because of the psychology of the Japanese ruling class the average Japanese soldier was treated with the same brutality.

[Badgersmilk]

alf, I don't remember, but your not the one on here who recommended "The Road" are you?

Allll credablility lost to that horrible, horrible person!   


"I'm hungry papa, are we there yet" OMG!!!   

[Pathfinder]

Most people hear about how the Japanese troops acted and think, "what brutal bastards".
What Westerners can't seem to understand is that because of the psychology of the Japanese ruling class the average Japanese soldier was treated with the same brutality.

Not quite. Not even close, actually. Yes, the average Japanese grunt was considered a lower human life form by his superiors, and they were not treated well, especially in the field. Japanese across the board, though, were the epitome of culture, everyone else was beneath them. And the prisoners of the Japanese were not even considered human for the very act of surrender. It may be a subtle difference, but there is a difference.

This treatment is evident in the "rape" of Nanking, the atrocities in Shanghai, Unit 731, their treatment of Filipinos in general, using Chinese babies and children for bayonet practice, etc. etc. etc. All in addition to what happened on Bataan and elsewhere in the SW Asia they controlled.

[Badgersmilk]

From the little I've seen I'd agree with how ruthless Asian treatment of prisoners has been.  BUT, to often americans go way, way overboard with how horrible and sneaky the Pearl Harbor attack was.  Fact is our government all but begged them to do it.  This  country does nothing quite so well as to slant history to our benefit, justifying and covering up all greed and wrong doing.

WMD's for example.   

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

From the little I've seen I'd agree with how ruthless Asian treatment of prisoners has been.  BUT, to often americans go way, way overboard with how horrible and sneaky the Pearl Harbor attack was. Fact is our government all but begged them to do it.  This  country does nothing quite so well as to slant history to our benefit, justifying and covering up all greed and wrong doing.

WMD's for example.   

Cut off their oil and what did they think would happen ?