Laura Hillenbrand (born May 15, 1967) is an acclaimed American author known for her bestselling nonfiction books, Seabiscuit: An American Legend (2001) and Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (2010), which have collectively sold over 13 million copies and have each been adapted into films. Her distinctive writing style eschews the flamboyance of New Journalism, focusing instead on the essence of the story itself.

Hillenbrand faced significant personal challenges during her career. She fell ill in college with Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as Chronic fatigue syndrome, which prevented her from completing her degree. Despite this, she has produced award-winning work, including the essay A Sudden Illness, which won acclaim after its publication in The New Yorker in 2003. Hillenbrand's own battle with her disease has been described as "as compelling as" the stories she tells in her books. She studied at Kenyon College but had to leave owing to her illness. Her notable works have been celebrated for their cinematic quality and profound storytelling, capturing the endurance of the human spirit.