The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Jun 2013 · Penguin
4.6star
398 reviewsreport
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432
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About this ebook
Now a Major Motion Picture Directed by George Clooney
The #1 New York Times–bestselling story about the American Olympic rowing triumph in Nazi Germany—from the author of Facing the Mountain.
For readers of Unbroken, out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant.
It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self-regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. Drawing on the boys’ own journals and vivid memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man’s personal quest.
The #1 New York Times–bestselling story about the American Olympic rowing triumph in Nazi Germany—from the author of Facing the Mountain.
For readers of Unbroken, out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant.
It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self-regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. Drawing on the boys’ own journals and vivid memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man’s personal quest.
Ratings and reviews
4.6
398 reviews
Sadie Hughes
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August 27, 2019
This is an incredible story about wonderfully admirable men. It’s an experience to be celebrated and remembered. Unfortunately, I think Brown let his love for research and long-winded story telling get the best of him. My husband preferred reading our renter’s insurance coverage paperwork over reading this book. Believe it or not, that paperwork got more to the point than Daniel James Brown did. Again, an amazing story, but I feel it got shrouded by the literal hundreds of unnecessary details Brown drawls on about, which is sad because all Joe Rantz wanted out of this story being told was for it to be about the boys.
1 person found this review helpful
Doreen Clyne Meyer
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July 19, 2016
Teamwork, character, trust, strength and hardwork defines the lives of these young men and what they meant to each other. I laughed and cried. It was a glorious read. Thank you.
2 people found this review helpful
Kate Hoffmann
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April 7, 2014
Although there were many times I thought the author took a lot of liberties in describing the thoughts of some if the boys in the boat, he did a marvelous job of presenting the essence of rowing and the inspirational story together. He took a sport I thought would be boring to read about, and told it so that I couldn't put it down until a race was over. I will read more of his books.
3 people found this review helpful
About the author
Daniel James Brown is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Boys in the Boat, The Indifferent Stars Above, and Under a Flaming Sky. He has taught writing at San Jose State University and Stanford University. He lives outside Seattle.
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