The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Who Would Like This Book:
This is narrative non-fiction at its most riveting! Even if you’ve never cared about rowing, Daniel James Brown weaves together an incredible underdog story about grit, teamwork, and overcoming adversity. The backgrounds of these Depression-era college kids, and their journey from scrappy beginnings to Olympic glory in Nazi Germany, are told with novelistic flair. Lovers of history, sports, and inspirational true stories - plus anyone captivated by tales of overcoming the odds - will be hooked. Bonus: readers who appreciate a deep dive into overlooked corners of history or who loved books like 'Unbroken' or 'Seabiscuit' should absolutely give this a go.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you’re not a fan of detailed sports descriptions or lengthy background chapters, this one may feel a bit slow, especially at the beginning. Some readers felt the narrative focused too heavily on rowing jargon and technical elements, or found the pacing dragged with repetitive descriptions of practice and racing. There’s also quite a focus on a single crew member, which means side characters sometimes fade into the background. And, if you’re hoping for an in-depth account of the overall 1936 Berlin Olympics, the book stays pretty close to the rowing team’s journey.
About:
'The Boys in the Boat' by Daniel James Brown tells the inspiring true story of the U.S. rowing team's quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the rise of Nazism in Germany, the narrative follows the journey of nine young men from the University of Washington as they come together to form a crew team. The author weaves a compelling tale of teamwork, trust, and perseverance, highlighting the power of human spirit and determination in the face of adversity. Through detailed descriptions of rowing techniques, personal struggles, and historical events, Brown creates a suspenseful and emotional narrative that captures the reader's heart and imagination.
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From The Publisher:
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 (63)
Incredible (22) | |
Loved It (23) | |
Liked It (11) | |
It Was OK (4) | |
Did Not Like (3) |
Reader Stats (121):
Read It (69) | |
Want To Read (27) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (23) |
5 comment(s)
Wow! I loved this book. Inspirational story about young men overcoming tragedy, the Great Depression and extreme poverty, making the crew team almost just to survive. These men learn that to win they must row, not for themselves, but for their teammates, ultimately sacrificing their own egos completely in order to achieve something glorious on the water together that is far greater than the sum of its parts. And all the while, danger and atrocities were brewing in Germany, where these 9 young men won gold. Be prepared to shed tears at the end of this great book.
After hearing people rave about the movie and then the book, I snagged a cheap copy from my local used bookstore and decided to check it out.
It was so so worth it. Absolutely breathtaking. All of the assorted narratives--the different characters, the historical background, the technical details--came together so perfectly and resulted in a captivating story. I love every bit of it. I
cried.
I picked this up at my local library since it was on the NY Times best seller list. I am trying to read everything that comes across it (non-fiction list). I thought this was a good choice having just finished watching the Olympics (Sochi, RU) held in a country that has a vastly (some say very questionable) different value system.
I learned that 1)rowing is an intense sport. I am sure that I am not cut out for it. 2) Experiencing a host country during an Olympics is vastly different than experiencing that same country sans Olympics. 3) Your path is really determined by what you put into it. There is no replacement for drive and hard work(It can take you incredible places). 4) Nazi Germany pioneered some of the filming techniques that we are so familiar with (cameras on rails - yea they invented that.) 5)Most of the pageantry images that I know of the Nazi party are from a film about this Olympics. 6) Even when a person/people are at a genius level bad behavior is still bad behavior.
This was okay but ultimately went into too much detail about rowing rather than the actual Olympics
Best book I've ready all year.
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The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics?
About the Author:
Daniel James Brown is the author of The Indifferent Stars Above and Under a Flaming Sky, which was a finalist for the B & N Discover Great New Writers Award, as well as The Boys in the Boat, a New York Times bestselling book that was awarded the ALA's…
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