10 Books to Read If You Liked Unbroken Book

The Perfect Mile by Neal Bascomb
If you love a good sports novel, this one about three athletes who become the first to run a mile under 4 minutes is fantastic! I have more recently gotten into running, but the book is so inspiring (and made me realize that I have zero desire to try and run a sub 4 minute mile).

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
My mom and I both read this incredible book about a team of young college boys who competed in the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany and pulled off an astounding win against all odds. A year or two later, when we went on a trip to Seattle together, we visited the University of Washington where the team was from and saw their boat hanging on display in the ASUW Shell House.

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
If you need some great non-fiction, this story is mind-boggling (and extra fun since the Endurance -the ship – was just recently found more than a hundred years after it sank). This is one of those stories where truth is stranger than fiction and it’s perfect for a couples read!

All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat
If you have been around for a while, you already know I’m obsessed with this book. If you  haven’t read this incredible story of the young boys who got trapped with their soccer coach in a cave during a flood, you should change that immediately. I’m pretty sure there is NO book I’ve ever talked about in the 15 years I’ve been blogging that I’ve gotten more positive feedback about. (Full review here)

Bomb by Steve Sheinkin
This book about the development of the atomic bomb during WWII was so good that I read it by flashlight when the power went out. I read it again when we did it for Everyday Reading Book Club and it was just as good the second time. When I ask for nonfiction books for kids suggestions, this is always the MOST recommended title, but it’s equally amazing for adults.  (Full review here)

The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede
I listened to this one for the 20 year anniversary of 9/11 and the narrator reminded me SO MUCH of Tom Hanks. It is a true story set in a tiny town in Newfoundland where 38 jetliners had to land after U.S. airspace was closed down following the 9/11 attacks. Although the passengers nearly doubled the population, this small town welcomed their accidental visitors, bringing them into their homes until they were able to leave.

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
Bart and I both read this book for our (short-lived) couples book club that we ran when we lived in North Carolina and it is phenomenal. Really compelling non-fiction.

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
After being sent to report on the tourist industry of Everest, Jon Krakauer recollects one of the deadliest seasons recorded on Mt. Everest. He recounts his own personal trauma and the recollections of the other surviving members of the expeditions. This is a truly harrowing and gripping book.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place Book by Aron Ralston
If you are looking for an extraordinary survival story, Aron Ralston shares his story of being trapped for 6 days in one of the most remote places in the United States. It is also the inspiration for the major motion picture 127 Hours.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
This WWII book is such an incredible memoir about a woman who, along with her sister, is arrested for hiding Jews and survives the concentration camps. It is a classic for a reason.