I’ve had this book, Unbroken from Laura Hillenbrand, on my must read books for over a year and finally I was able to read it. I didn’t know anything about the book, but the reviews were amazing and it did not disappoint.

This is a true story about Louis Zamperini, who overcomes unimaginable obstacles and hardship. From childbirth, Louis was not a child to be contained. He did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted to. It wasn’t until his older brother, Pete, convinced him and basically forced him into running, did Louis change. He became disciplined and determined. Through his determination, Louis became an Olympic hopeful. He broke numerous records despite his fellow competitors jealousy. His Olympic dream was cut short when he enlisted into the Army. Soon he was headed into WW2 as a Bombardier. The story takes a turn for the worst when Louis and 2 other crew men get stranded in the Ocean for 47 days. The story continues with absolute atrocities committed agains Louis and the other survivor in a Japanese POW camp.

This story is unbelievable and painful to read at times, but Laura shows the reader how Louis is determined to survive and head back to his family. Louis survives absolute vile and inhumane conditions. He eventually gets back to his family where he has to adjust to living back at home. He has to adjust to living in the real world, with no one to torture and torment you. He has an extremely difficult time adjusting as no one wants to discuss what happened and truthfully no one can understand, unless they were there themselves.

This book review is timely considering Monday Nov 11 is Remembrance/Veteran’s Day. While reading this book I couldn’t help thinking about what Louis and the other men endured. I also thought about what our current soldiers endure and witness and it breaks my heart. I lost a good friend who was killed by an IED on Dec 30, 2009 and I can’t begin to imagine what he saw.

Louis reminds us all that you control your life, your future; that your past doesn’t define you. Yes our past is our history, but it’s just that, history, we shouldn’t let it define us. We should move past it to become the person we want to be. When you find yourself down, overwhelmed and just ready to quit, think about Louis and how his determination saved his life.

His story reminds me of something Oprah said. When you find yourself down and so low that you can’t keep going, remind yourself to be grateful for your breath, the ability to breathe. I know it sounds a bit odd, but I’ve found myself doing that. When I’m so overwhelmed that I can’t even breathe, I think about my breath and that fact that I can breathe and it helps.

I hope that you put this book on your Christmas list for not only yourself but for the people if your life. This book is a story of survival, of never giving up, of change, of never becoming a product of your environment. Louis could have succumbed to depression, to alcoholism, to despair, but he didn’t. It took him a while, but he found a way to overcome his past, to not be a victim of his circumstances or of his past.

May this blog inspire you to not only read this book but to try and be grateful for your breath when you find yourself overwhelmed. Louis is a great example of survival and what humans are truly capable of.