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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Fantastic writing.
Stopped reading it because All the details just didn’t interest me.
Informative and inspirational! How to let go of one’s own goals to put the goals of the team at the forefront!
Wonderful book
Great book! Learned a lot
Great story. A best-seller for a reason
Kept me on the edge of my seat.
I did not expect to be riveted, since I’m not familiar with this sport, but I could not put this down. I’ve gifted it to many people.
Inspirational. I couldn’t put this book down. Shows what young men achieved at such an early age that affected their lives… what working as one achieved.
This is the incredible and inspiring true story of a group of very determined young men who beat the odds in the 1936 Olympics. The author gave clear, emotional but not sentimental descriptions of the young men, the hardships they faced during the Depression, their individual and collective journey to an exceptional triumph. Very well-written.
This is a great sorts related book. Enjoy
Loved this book!
One of the most memorable books I have read.
I couldn’t put this book down. Everybody should read it.
Fascinating story of a bit of American history that is not so well known. Well written. The author was able to inspire interest and empathy with the characters.
I recommend this book to clients. Teams would benefit from reading this book. It puts a whole new light on what it means to “have your back.”
Daniel Brown wrote a book all young boys should read. It is inspirational and weaves actual history into the story of one boy who becomes a man through adverse circumstances. Joe Rantz is the main personality in The Boys in the Boat, a very good recounting of his life along with eight other boys who embodied the American spirit and made it all the …
Just couldn’t get into it.
Great true story and well written. Readable for everyone.
This is an excellent book about the 1936 US rowing team.