To keep our learning alive and interesting during Lent, today we have a list of amazing books/stories of triumph, courage, and faith. I just finished reading “Miracle in the Andes,” by Nando Perrado, and it inspired me to put together a handful of my favorite true stories for the rest of Lent that focus on faith and bravery. Please add your favorites in the comments!!
- Miracle in the Andes, Nando Perrado. A memoir recounting Perrado’s harrowing survival story after the 1972 Andes plane crash, highlighting resilience, leadership, and the will to live. Get Audiobook here.
- The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom. This is a memoir about her family's efforts to hide Jews from the Nazis during World War II, their eventual imprisonment, and her inspiring faith and resilience in the face of suffering. Get Audiobook here.
- Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand. A biography of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner and WWII bombardier who survived a plane crash, weeks adrift at sea, and brutal captivity in a Japanese POW camp, showcasing resilience, redemption, and the power of the human spirit. Get Audiobook here.
- I am Malala, Malala Yousafazai. This book is authored by Yousafazai, the Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban for advocating girls' education, highlighting her courage, resilience, and fight for women's rights on a global scale. Get Audiobook here.
- Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer. A true story of Chris McCandless, a young man who abandoned society to live in the Alaskan wilderness, ultimately exploring themes of adventure, self-discovery, and the risks of idealism. Get Audiobook here.
- Night, Elie Wiesel. Nignt is a memoir of his unimaginable experiences as a Jewish teenager in Nazi concentration camps, bearing witness to the horrors of the Holocaust and the loss of faith, family, and innocence. Get Audiobook here.
- A Night to Remember, Walter Lord. This story is a meticulously researched account of the Titanic’s tragic sinking, vividly reconstructing the disaster through the perspectives of survivors and emphasizing human courage, tragedy, and error. Get Audiobook here.
- God’s Smuggler, Brother Andrew. An autobiographical account of his daring mission to smuggle Bibles into Communist countries during the Cold War, driven by faith, courage, and a commitment to religious freedom. Get Audiobook here.
- Adrift, Steven Callahan. Another harrowing memoir of survival, recounting his 76 days lost at sea in a life raft after his sailboat sank, showcasing resilience, ingenuity, and the will to live. Get Audiobook here.
- The Cross and the Switchblade, David Wilkerson. A true story of Wilkerson’s journey to help troubled gang members in New York City, highlighting faith, redemption, and the transformative power of compassion. Get Audioboook here.
