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  • The Boys in the Boat

  • Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
  • By: Daniel James Brown
  • Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
  • Length: 14 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (42,740 ratings)

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The Boys in the Boat

By: Daniel James Brown
Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
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Publisher's summary

The number one New York Times best-selling 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/listeners 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.

©2013 Daniel James Brown (P)2013 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Featured Article: The Audible Essentials Top 100


The spirited (but friendly) debate over these titles could have gone on indefinitely. With years of listening, countless customer reviews, and a catalog of seemingly infinite great listens, 100 suddenly felt like a very small number. What we know for sure—each title that made it to this collection is elevated and made special in some way by audio, whether by a layered performance from a single narrator, a brilliantly cohesive full cast, original music, or immersive sound effects. Discover an audio experience for the ages.

What listeners say about The Boys in the Boat

Average customer ratings
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    36,938
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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Wonderful

Beautifully written and beautifully performed. It made me feel like I was there watching the boys achieve the unachievable.

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stirring history of personal triumph

the narrator made this book most enjoyable. glad to have chosen it.
you will to.

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Great story.

There is a lot of background in the beginning. It takes a bit to get into but it’s well worth it. The story accelerates to the end. You’ll want to know more about these boys and rowing.

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inspiring

I enjoyed everything about this story! so much history I wasn't familiar with. Really well told!

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Loved this book

A riveting historical masterpiece of the 30 ties both in America and Germany.
Also the Narration was fantastic

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As good as Unbroken, thanks to Ed Herrmann,

The Boys in the Boat is written so incredibly well! The story flows, and is simply captivating! Add to that Ed Herrmann's flawless narration and Daniel James Browns' superbly researched piece is just as good as Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken", also narrated by Ed Herrmann. And if you want love Boys in the Boat, and Unbroken, check-out Seabiscuit. Hillenbrand spends several years researching and writing her books, and it shows! Boys in the Boat is one of the best historical non-fiction pieces I've ever read.

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Riveting

The characters in this book were so vividly constructed by the author and narrator, that each night after listening I literally dreamt I was a part of this story.
perfect book to gain composure of oneself during the somewhat trying times of this pandemic. No matter how hard we may have it, others have had it harder and rose up from it. brilliant story, wish I had read it earlier.

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A must read!

One of the best books I’ve read/listened to this summer and this was number 25! The story is engaging and the narration was outstanding.

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Fantastic, inspiring book

While it is a great story that is an important part of history, it was a bit on the long side and didn’t grab me from the start. Was a bit of a slog at first, but got better throughout.

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Beautiful Story

Really loved this book. the beginning was a bit frantic but our son got on track and ended in an emotional, motivating way.

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