The Boys in the Boat, Daniel James Brown
The Boys in the Boat, Daniel James Brown
405 Rating(s)
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The Boys in the Boat
Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

Bestseller

Author: Daniel James Brown

Narrator: Edward Herrmann

Unabridged: 14 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 06/04/2013


Synopsis

The #1 New York Times–bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany, the inspiration for the PBS documentary The Boys of '36, broadcast to coincide with the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 80th anniversary of the boys' gold medal race.

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.

About The Author

Daniel James Brown is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Boys in the BoatThe Indifferent Stars Above, and Under a Flaming Sky. He has taught writing at San Jose State University and Stanford University. He lives outside Seattle.


Reviews

AudiobooksNow review by Debbie on 2015-11-17 12:43:08

Two things: You might have to be a rower. I took it up when I was 50 something, and that made it fascinating for me. Secondly, one has to realize how people talked in those days. A modern day reader would have a hard time umnderstanding how naive boys and girls were then. It is easy to say it is boring and be snide about this book.Too bad for those who dont have a historical perspective.This is an excellent book by a writer who had the ability to take us back to those times.

Goodreads review by Donna on October 20, 2017

I don't know why I put off reading this book so long, except I was reading other things. BUT when I went to visit my son, who is the grandson of Joe Rantz and named his son Joe after him, I began reading their copy and could not put it down. Everything else I was reading was put aside. I then realiz......more

Goodreads review by Trish on July 20, 2013

If I told you one of the most propulsive reads you will experience this year is the non-fiction story of eight rowers and one coxswain training to attend the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, you may not believe me. But you’d need to back up your opinion by reading this book first, and you will thank me for......more

Goodreads review by Matthew on January 07, 2018

I love books and movies that get you interested in sports you never cared about before. Also, I love how the Olympics does the same thing. You turn on the TV and suddenly life itself depends on the outcome of some not quite mainstream sport like biathlon, cycling, diving, curling, etc. - and, while......more

Goodreads review by Emily on August 08, 2014

This book was all right, but there was just too much of it and the title isn't very descriptive. It's really only about one of the nine "boys in the boat," plus their coach and the boatbuilder. Oh, and Hitler. Perhaps the author came to the project 10-15 years too late; only one of the main subjects......more

Goodreads review by Angela M on February 07, 2019

I honestly didn’t think I would be interested in a book about rowing, but I just couldn’t ignore the fact that so many people loved this book. I added it to my list of books to read about three years ago and I’m so glad that I finally got to it because it was about so much more than the sport. Nine......more


Quotes

Praise for The Indifferent Stars Above
(A New York Times Editors's Pick; An IndieNext Notable Pick; A B&N Best of the Year selection; finalist for the Washington State Book Award)

"An ideal pairing of talent and material."
Mary Roach, The New York Times


"A remarkable book...hard to put down."
The Seattle Times


“A compelling read…capturing the stories of heroism and loss with imagination and attention-grabbing skill.”
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune


“This deft slice of regional history will attract disaster and weather buffs as well as fans of Norman Maclean’s standout book, Young Men and Fire.”
Publishers Weekly (starred review)