The book talks about how the skills Norman's father, who Brolin will portray in the movie, taught him when he was young which helped him to survive a plane crash leaving him stranded alone on a mountain at the age of 11.
Penn is thought to only helm the movie, which would see him return to the director's chair for the first time since he made 2007 biographical drama "Into the Wild", reported Contactmusic.
Bill Gerber, Fonda Snyder and Rob Weisbach will produce "Crazy for the Storm", which is expected to start shooting in the first quarter of 2013.
Brolin and Penn are both due to star in forthcoming crime drama movie "Gangster Squad" alongside Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.
