The Boys in the Boat Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

"And he came to understand how those almost mystical bonds of trust and affection, if nurtured correctly, might lift a crew above the ordinary sphere, transport it to a place where nine boys somehow became one thing—a thing that could not quite be defined, a thing that was so in tune with the water and the earth and the sky above that, as they rowed, effort was replaced by ecstasy. It was a rare thing, a sacred thing, a thing devoutly to be hoped for. Daniel James Brown captures the essence of time and place in his history of the winning rowing team of the 1936 Olympics, The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Through the stories of the boys who were rowing on that team and most of all, Joe Rantz we can begin to understand elements of the Great Depression and how many were trying to claw their way through it. Brown sets the scene in Washington State and we can envision life on the Puget Sound and what it took to make a living there at that time. While we begin to understand life in Washington we also become aware of dynamic forces in other parts of the world and how Hitler is changing both the face of Germany but what will also change the face of the world. Because, Brown ties his story to Joe Rantz it becomes a very personal and emotional tale which the reader invests in. I highly recommend this book.

Very good for a book I read for school

I cannot recommend this book enough. Brown weaves together a captivating story. The moment by moment account of the races kept me on the edge of my seat. The details about the 1936 Berlin Olympics were so poignant from the perspective of the athletes. It blew me away! Well done.

A bestseller from the year you graduated high school ✔ (advanced)

Great story although I found myself skimming in several places. I did like the focus on trust and giving yourself up for the team. That part is done really well.

This was an excellently written book! It was extremely thorough but in an interesting way. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written account of an interesting series of events in history. Those who are sports fans would also really appreciate it.

This book made me miss rowing painfully, and reminded me just how beautiful and unique a sport it is. So many moments in this book took my breath away mostly because of the specific vivid memories they evoked of my own rowing days. Finding that swing is truly a spiritual experience, and Daniel James Brown captures that feeling perfectly. As for literary value, the writing isn't anything exceptional but the story speaks for itself so this still deserves 5 stars from me :) I highly recommend for all, but especially athletes and ESPECIALLY current/former rowers (duh). I know someone has already bought the film rights for this book, so let's hope it happens and they do it justice because this could be such an epic movie.

Excellent well written non-fiction. Engaging and storied, these men really come to life. I wish there was a little more detail into the setting and rowing in Nazi Germany. I really liked the sections that were included, just wanted more.

This book should be called "Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Rowing and 50 Pages About the 1936 Berlin Olympics".

Loved this story and how it was written. A lot of info provided in a non dry manner.

I didn’t think a book about rowing would be interesting and at first, I had a really hard time getting into it. But at the end, I didn’t want to put it down. Even though I knew how it would end, it was exciting and suspenseful to read how it happened.

I need more stars! It was so good!!!

Cannot recommend highly enough. Well written, compelling and moving. An amazing story very well told.