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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 (42,751 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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Moving!

So we’ll written. Emotional. Inspired. A must read. Accurate to the real history. I wish the story didn’t end.

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Inspiring for All!

This story has every aspect of what draws people in and touches their soul.

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Fantastic

Couldn't wait to get home and listen to this great story. From humble beginnings to American heroes

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Amazing!

The narrator could not have been better and the story was simply wonderful! I am so glad I learned about this wonderful group of men!
Thank you Daniel Brown!

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One of my favorite Audible books

I love this story of young men, especially Joe Rantz, overcoming tremendous odds to rise triumphant in their sport and in their lives. The story is perfectly written. The narrator was incredible, one of the best I’ve heard. But he should have taken the extra step of contacting someone that lives in the Pacific Northwest to hear the pronunciation of the place names. Ephrata and the Skagit Valley as examples. The mispronunciations were painful listening for those of us who live here. Otherwise a masterful narration.

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Loved This!

I really loved this book and the performance of the reader.
I highly recommend The Boys in the Boat!

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The Best

Loved it. Will listen to it over and over again. As a former Collegiate Rower perhaps it spoke to me in a way thats different from those who have never rowed, but nevertheless a worthy, heartwarming and triumphant story that anyone can feel, understand, and appreciate.

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Fantastic!

Knowing what this crew goes through in training and competition is inspiring. The hurdles they had to overcome in life as well as in Nazi Germany makes one appreciate this sport.

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Poignant

Simple boys, unpretentious who conquered the world. This book spoke to me even more because of having been a rower. Listening to what they went through in training and in races and how it shaped them as individuals was wonderful. When a book then makes you research the lives and the epic story of what happened then it must have reached deep

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Exceptional

I enthusiastically followed the story from beginning to end. Just couldn’t put it down. On to Facing the Mountain.

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