Rating: 
Summary: An Adventurous Life
Review: "Devil at My Heels" is an interesting read. It's fast paced and a can't-put-it down kind of book for the first half of the book, then somehow seems to start slowing down. Mr. Zamperini is a strong man in many ways and perhaps because of this, he has a propensity to down-play his emotions. His compassion and humor comes through strongly but I sense that the agony of his suffering (i.e. the beatings that were administered to him in the prison camps and the post-war PTSD that he went through) was much deeper and more horrific than he conveyed in his book. Despite this, I found his life story truly remarkable. What is most inspirational is his ability to forgive. I highly recommend this book, especially to victims of trauma/PTSD who may be struggling with the ghosts of their past.
Rating: 
Summary: A REAL SURVIVOR!
Review: All of these television personalities who fancy themselves "survivors" for having undergone challenges of one kind or another on the various survival programs now popular might have a different perspective on survival if they read this book. Lou Zamperini is the "ultimate survivor."
To Zamperini, surviving meant starving and thirsting while confined to a life raft for 47 days. That ordeal included fighting off sharks while enemy planes shot at him. Surviving meant living with the tryanny, torture, and torment of his captors, including the threat of decapitation. It meant living through two cold winters as a prisoner of war, his body weight dropping to as low as 66 pound.
Zamperini was forced to survive in the rigid domain of despair, beyond the reach of help, or rest, or pity. Survival meantmeant living from day to day with the heart tearing itself between hope and fear, merely subsisting under a cloud of doom with no end in sight.
Yet, Zamperini was able to call upon the inner strength that had been nurtured in his days as an Olympic runner, and to endure.
Some of Zamperini's greatest challenges came after the war was over, the biggest one being overcoming the anger and hate he felt for this Japanese captors. With God's help, "Lucky Louie" succeeded in every one of his challenges. It's a fascinating story, a story of real survival.
Rating:
Summary: A True Story of Courage and Survival
Review: Devil At My Heels is the truly inspirational story of Louis Zamperini, a bombardier of a B-24 that crashed at sea while ironically out looking for another plane that had gone down. He survived for forty-seven days in a raft, and for over two years as a POW while being subjected to torture, beatings and humiliation at the hands of the Japanese. His life after his rescue was filled with highs and lows, happiness, and disappointment until he met the Reverend Billy Graham. After this he found new meaning and was even able to forgive the guards who had tortured him. This is an amazing book about another member of "the greatest generation."
Rating:
Summary: Physical, mental, and spiritual survival against all odds
Review: Ever wonder how much abuse a human being can take, yet still bounce back and have a good life? Read this book and find out! Louis Zamperini's life story could have required three pages - that's the point in the book where we learn of his first brush with death. He survived a troubled childhood and eventually started steering away from danger. After success as an Olympic runner, he joined the military to serve his country in WW II. Zamperini excelled as a bombardier (and as a practical jokester), but everything changed when his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean. During the next eight or so years, Zamperini ran the gauntlet of torture. It wasn't just the physical violence; he endured mental, emotional, and spiritual beatings as well. Really, now, how much can a human take before just giving up? This story shows that we humans can be quite feisty and durable. But this story also shows that after a person does all he can do, God is ready to jump in and fix the mind, emotions, and spirit, enabling each of us to reclaim the life we were meant to have.
Rating:
Summary: Physical, mental, and spiritual survival against all odds
Review: Ever wonder how much abuse a human being can take, yet still bounce back and have a good life? Read this book and find out! Louis Zamperini's life story could have required three pages - that's the point in the book where we learn of his first brush with death. He survived a troubled childhood and eventually started steering away from danger. After success as an Olympic runner, he joined the military to serve his country in WW II. Zamperini excelled as a bombardier (and as a practical jokester), but everything changed when his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean. During the next eight or so years, Zamperini ran the gauntlet of torture. It wasn't just the physical violence; he endured mental, emotional, and spiritual beatings as well. Really, now, how much can a human take before just giving up? This story shows that we humans can be quite feisty and durable. But this story also shows that after a person does all he can do, God is ready to jump in and fix the mind, emotions, and spirit, enabling each of us to reclaim the life we were meant to have.
Rating:
Summary: All I can say is "Wow!"
Review: I first learned of the life of Louis Zamperini a few years ago as I watched the Winter Olympics from Nagano, Japan. One of the networks did a great piece on Zamperini's amazing life, from Olympic track-star, to a prisoner of war during the first World War. I was so taken by his story that I wanted to learn more about this individual. I did find information about his biography, but was not able to find any existing copies. Years later, I was surprised to find it here on Amazon. This must be some type of re-release, because the final chapter of the book appears to have been updated with new material. As for the book, I completely enjoyed it. To be honest, I'm not much of a book reader. I only finish about half of the books I begin, but this one had my eyes glued to the pages. I finished it in record time. The story Zamperini is almost too epic to believe. His experiences read like a major motion picture... but this was reality. You don't have to be a war-buff to enjoy this book. I'm certainly not one. To me, this book was more about the human spirit and one man's battle to overcome the odds. Nothing I could say would do this book justice. Just read it.
Rating:
Summary: This book should be required reading, it is a classic!
Review: I hope that Louis Zamperini's story becomes required reading for our children one day. This man's amazing story of survival against all odds during WWII is truly miraculous. To describe Louie as merely "lucky" misses the mark somehow. He should have died many times over before and during the war, but through God's grace and Zamperini's formidable willpower he survived to tell his story. And what an incredible, page-turning saga it is! I couldn't put this book down and after reading it, I was a changed woman. I had a new respect for my grandfather, and the men of his generation who suffered unimaginable horrors on the battlefields of Europe and Japan during the 1940's.
Rating:
Summary: This book should be required reading, it is a classic!
Review: I hope that Louis Zamperini's story becomes required reading for our children one day. This man's amazing story of survival against all odds during WWII is truly miraculous. To describe Louie as merely "lucky" misses the mark somehow. He should have died many times over before and during the war, but through God's grace and Zamperini's formidable willpower he survived to tell his story. And what an incredible, page-turning saga it is! I couldn't put this book down and after reading it, I was a changed woman. I had a new respect for my grandfather, and the men of his generation who suffered unimaginable horrors on the battlefields of Europe and Japan during the 1940's.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Story
Review: I recommend this to any avid history, military history, or WWII enthusiast. This book is also great for those that just simply want to read one man's great story. I could not put this fast paced, well written book. I have given my copy to friends to read and they all share my view. His story is inspirational but also down to earth. Anyone can find some aspect of his life to identify themselves with. A truly great read.
Rating:
Summary: Short Review?GREAT Book!
Review: If you are into adventure, tragedy, and ultimate triumph, you NEED to read this book. It is inspiring and is VERY hard to put down. Buy it, read it, and then give it to a friend!
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