This is an amazing true story and one I will never, ever forget. Louis Zamperini was an Olympic track star, served in the AAF in the Pacific during WWII, was shot down and drifted in a life raft with two other men for 47 days, rescued unfortunately by the Japanese and was tortured in various POW camps for over two years. After the war was over, he struggled with alcoholism, nightmares, found Christ at a tent revival in LA, led by a young Billy Graham, and went on to become a motivational speaker, founded a boys camp and at 94, is still an inspiration to all. After reading this book, I now understand a little better what shaped my father as a young man. My dad is now almost 87, served in the European theatre, was wounded but never was a POW. Reading this book was a powerful experience for me.