Laura Hillenbrand’s book about Louie Zamperini’s life as an Olympian and later as a POW in Japan gives us powerful reminders that some things in life are real cool and some things just basically suck. Here’s a list that Unbroken brings to mind – things that would be either great (↑) or decidedly not (↓).

Having a family that supports you as a child even when you’re a light-fingered, hyperactive little hellion. ↑

Becoming enough of a juvenile menace that the police are called to intervene. ↓

Having an accomplished older brother who has your back, especially if this brother knows you well enough to divert your energy on to the track. ↑

Showing rapid improvement in races, ultimately making the 1936 Olympic team at the age of 19. ↑



Gorging yourself on the trans-Atlantic boat ride’s free food that proves all too tempting if you’ve never had a restaurant meal before in your life. Gaining 12 pounds as a result and losing race fitness. ↓

Passing numerous runners with a blazing last lap to finish 8th and having Hitler ask to meet you afterwards, remarking, “Ah, the boy with the fast finish.” ↑

Stealing a German flag as a souvenir. ↑

Setting a collegiate record two years later for the fastest mile, a record that would stand 15 years. Having experts say you’re the likeliest to first break the four minute barrier. ↑

Seeing hopes of Olympic glory in 1940 go up in flames with the advent of the war. ↓

Joining the Army Air Corps as a bombardier; soon thereafter coming back from a mission with 600 bullet holes in your B-24’s fuselage. ↓



On a different plane (a lemon that nobody wanted to fly), having it crash into the ocean due to mechanical problems, killing 8 of the 11 crew members. ↓

Finding out after the crash that your life raft has very little in the way of supplies. ↓

Living on small raw fish and rainwater for week upon week, aimlessly drifting at sea. ↓

Facing a typhoon with 40 foot waves. ↓

Facing Japanese bombers strafing you with bullets, missing you (miraculously), but blowing holes in your raft. ↓

Sharks. (Even if they don’t come with laser beams, this would suck.) ↓

Finding out that the survival manual was correct. With a hard punch in the snout, a shark will usually turn tail. (I’m forcing an interruption to the down-arrow streak.) ↑

Discovering that the land you finally get to after a record 6+ weeks at sea is a Japanese-controlled island. ↓

Getting beaten every day by a hyper-sadistic prison guard they call The Bird. Getting singled out as his favorite target. ↓↓

Finding out how much starvation, filth, dysentery, and physical abuse a human being can endure. ↓

Finally being liberated, going home to a hero’s welcome after you’d been declared dead, and eating mom’s pasta again. ↑

Showing signs of PTSD. Drinking to forget. ↓

Having your devoted young wife guide you to a spiritual conversion that allows forgiveness and a chance to move on as a motivational speaker. ↑

Going strong – still unbroken – into your nineties. ↑

Up- and down-arrows apply to Laura Hillenbrand, too. She suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome that, for the most part, keeps her in the house and inactive. But she had this to say about her writing, particularly her subjects. “I'm looking for a way out of here. I can't have it physically, so I'm going to have it intellectually. It was a beautiful thing to ride Seabiscuit in my imagination. And it's just fantastic to be there alongside Louie as he's breaking the NCAA mile record. People at these vigorous moments in their lives - it's my way of living vicariously.”

Ups and downs like Everest and Death Valley – a remarkable story, really. And one that was very well-told.