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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Such a great story and so well told.
These 9 young men are heroes. They exemplify the American way of life. On my re-read list not once or twice but many times.
Enjoyed reading something out of my normal genres.
One of my favorite books.
A compelling and inspirational story of a young man who had little in the way of worldly wealth, but through hard work, drive, and determination attended the University of Washington and made the rowing team. The synergy of the team, their harmony with the boat, and the craftsmanship of the boat builder made for an amazing stretch of racing wins …
An amazing true story and written so well
In my top 20 books
This a great story, so much more than a story of achievement in sports. Author Brown offers glowing praise to Judy Willman, daughter of Joe Rantz – crew member, Olympic champion, and central focus in the book – for her preservation of this family story. Through her collaboration with Brown, they’ve offered us a beautiful homage to her father, her …
The stories behind the scenes reveal so much of the character of the athletes: rugged, salt of the earth, and determined. That the author fell into the story though his honest to goodness neighbors makes the unexpected narratives even better.
Outstanding historical no-fiction. I learned a lot.
Non-fiction histories aren’t my favorites, but this book was written in a way that felt like a historical fiction. I was drawn right in and was completely fascinated and engaged with these boys and their quest for victory. I loved learning their backgrounds–where they came from, what shaped them, and their experiences in their impossible …
Wonderful true story of endurance and valor against all odds.
This is my all-time favorite book!
One of the best books I’ve ever read. The author’s ability to tell the story is brilliant!
Great book. Be sure to read the full edition and not the condensed version.
This is one of the best and most inspirational books I have ever read.
Being on the rowing crew in the 1930’s lead to being at the Olympics in Germany. Truly a picture of survival and challenge.
This book reads like fiction even though it is non-fiction. I learned a lot of technical stuff about boating and these competitions, and even more about humanity. Loved it.
I read this several years ago but I will never forget it . It shows the greatness of Americans and what they could achieve . Couldn’t put it down because it truly is an exciting book. And amazing!
A real life Olympic adventure – a fascinating glimpse back to a moment in US history.