The #1 New York Times–bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the PBS documentary “The Boys of ‘36’.”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 … 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.
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An incredible historical novel written well and well documented.
A part of history that I was totally unaware of.
One of the best books I have ever read. I could not wait to keep getting back to this book and finish it!
Very interesting about a subject with which I was unfamiliar. It dragged a little at times.
This was a great read, I recommend this book. It’s a great combination of sport and history.
One of the best books I’ve ever read! Such an inspiring true story. I could hardly put it down. I love true stories about real people who work hard to make their dreams come true.
this is just a great story. i went to washington and went out for crew and lasted exactly one day so i can imagine what it was like day after day after day. this is an inspiring tale that shows how teamwork and cooperation produces big results.
I enjoyed this book very much…it was a little slow at times, but the characters were well developed and the story compelling.
Great nonfiction that reads like a novel.
Highly recommended.
This book is a look behind the scenes of what it takes to make Olympic gold champions.I throughly enjoyed this book! I learned so much about “row-row-row your boat”. I found the dedication and heart of the young men to be overwhelming. The boys come alive in this story. 5+ stars and a read for everyone!
During the Depression, a group of dedicated college students met an equally dedicated crew coach and a boat builder to establish an unbeatable crew team against great economic, weather, political and international odds. They competed in the 1934 Olympic games in Berlin with great distinction and won the gold medal. More power to them.
I didn’t realize until I finished the book that I had been brainwashed! The extreme work-ethic of the boys who came from difficulty to triumph was promoted relentlessly. In retrospect I greatly admire it, but I’m glad I didn’t have to live it. As a child, I was taught to believe that sacrifice led to character and success. I know know that it just …
My book club loved it!
Good stuff for anyone interested in competitive rowing. The character building horrors of Great Depression family life, or non-life in the hero’s instance, are well documented. Maybe too well documented. A good chunk of the book is devoted to Riefenstahl. Nothing new, but he does her well. The interweaving of George Pocock’s story was nicely …
Great book based on a true story. Make sure you watch the PBS special “Boys on the Boat” to see the actual pictures and videos of these gold metal Olympians.
If you’re at all into historical non-fiction, this is as good as it gets. One of the best books I’ve read in the last few years.
I learned a lot about the sport of sculling. The dedication of the team and how completely focused on their goal, leading to success.
An incredible book! Combining history of the Pacific Northwest, personal challenge and triumph, along with the narrative of building an incredible team to beat the rowing elite nationwide, overseas, and at the olympics. This book definitely has grit!
This was an inspiring and compelling story. I loved it and highly recommend it.
This book reinforced my awareness that going through the current Pandemic is not an unfair personal or group challenge, in light of history and events that others have endured/overcome.