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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Inspiration in a boat.
an amazing happening
Fabulous!!!
Brown’s book about the University of Washington rowing team is a page-turner. I couldn’t put the book down and now can’t wait for the movie!
This is a wonderful book. Learned so much about rowing. This true story was both inspirational and beautiful. Looking forward to the movie.
Loved this true story and learned a great deal about competitive rowing in the early part of 20th century. the story is great whether you like sports or not this is a great tale of perseverance and dedication to success. Very enjoyable,
The power of teamwork in fulfilling demanding challenges.
Just a terrific book. Went to the internet to read up on the group and watch original footage of the race. Just great!!!
Great story of perseverance and hard work.
Loved this amazing story
Excellent book – well written. Even though you know the outcome of the story it still catches your attention and makes it real
Loved this book which captured the essence of young men, courage and crew.
True story about a rowing team, University of WASHINGTON , strong, inspiring characters.
Loved this book! One of my all time favorites.
Our book club loved this book. It generated a lot of discussion and we deemed it inspirational as well. It is a true testament to a man’s determination for survival and ambition despite overwhelming odds against. Worth the read over some of the story’s more graphic parts.
my dad attended the UW just after the boys in the boat and he knew one or two of him. Several people I know who grew up in this time and place said it was an accurate depiction of those times. Great story.. strong characters. You feel you are there.
This book isn’t just about how the U.S. won an Olympic rowing race in front of Hitler. It’s about a team of boys who were poor but full of grit. To say this book is inspirational doesn’t come close to what a great book this is.
One of the best books I’ve read.
This is an inspiring true story of the blue-collar kids striving, persisting beyond pain and winning against entitled preppies, going to to the Olympics and facing an anti-Semitic organization and doing their best.
This is a story about overcoming odds! I enjoyed the realistic hard working main characters and how they handled difficulties and grew as people.