If you read one book this year, it should be Unbroken, the true story of Olympic runner Louis Zampirini.

Be warned, this book is more of  a war story than a sports story. If you like tales of inspiration, survival and unbeatable odds, this book is for you. It should be required reading for everyone in the human race, and I don’t say that lightly.

Released in 2009 by Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken has been steadily climbing the best seller lists and had a breakout summer, due to the upcoming blockbuster movie directed by Angelina Jolie set to release on Christmas Day 2014. But trust me — read the book first, folks. Don’t rob yourself of the unpredictable true story.

I’d love to give you a glimpse into the plot, but it’s best read with no knowledge and I don’t want to spoil it. The audio book is excellent too, if you’ve got a long commute.

Go read it now!

Those of you who like movie trailers, you can watch the trailer here: Unbroken trailer