The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics (Unabridged)
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4.6 • 774 Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
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.
Customer Reviews
Compelling!!
What a great biography!! Loved every minute, even shed a few tears.
Boys in the boat
boys in the boat
Great world building, but poor pace
The 1st two of four parts drew me in the most with all the world building and how you the reader can become invested into Joe.
Part three really, really, annoyed me though. Due to all the real life circumstances Joe related to the author about calls and decisions the coach made and the witch of a step-mom Joe had. The only thing good about part three was the world building surrounding the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam
I know some readers say if you’re annoyed by a book, then that’s supposedly the sign of a good author. I respectfully disagree though, because if I’m becoming annoyed, the book is in serious danger of me just stopping, regardless of completion and donating to the library or chucking it into the garbage can. Which I’ve done on more than one occasion
Thankfully part 4 was slightly better as it actually covered the race. But honestly the epilogue truly redeemed the latter half of the book. Getting into the legacy this team’s win, and all the moxie it gave the university. Plus what became of those gentlemen
While the narrator is far from a dry reader. The pace of this book is trying at times. You already know they’re gunna win. It’s on the blasted cover of the book.
Which is why I recommend listening purely on 1x speed for the prologue and parts 1 & 2 but speed up 1.25x-1.5x for parts 3-4 and dial it back down to 1x for the epilogue