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

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

Timeless Story of a Great American Triumph

STORY (True Historical) - I am not from the Pacific Northwest and I'm not a rowing enthusiast, but this still was a great listen. It is for all Americans who like stories of courage and determination and people who have made their mark in history. The story begins as hopeful boys show up at Washington to try out for the university rowing teams. As the book progresses, the teams are chosen and begin their training. Alternately, you will get a glimpse of Berlin as it prepares to host the 1936 Olympic Games. The book goes back and forth between Berlin and Washington until the final American Olympic team is chosen and travels to Berlin.

It was interesting to hear details about the sport of rowing which I knew nothing about. I even looked on Wikipedia to see a diagram of the seating positions so I could understand the titles of the different rowers and how they contribute to the overall speed of the boat. What I enjoyed the most was the massive effort made by Hitler and the Nazis to hide the "real Germany" and appear to the world as a beautiful, peaceful Berlin. There was a little too much character development of each of the boys in the boat, but I suppose it contributed to the overall story. The best part of the book, of course, is the end when the Washington rowing team competes for the USA on the world stage. That is followed by an epilogue which updates each boy's life after the games.

PERFORMANCE - Good job. Some people from Washington complain about mispronunciation of local places. This Texas reviewer didn't notice a thing.

OVERALL - Recommended for just about anyone. There is no cursing, violence or sex. My only criticism is I thought it moved a little slowly at times.

Well rowed Washington,well rowed.

Where does The Boys in the Boat rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
In the top 5. An inspiring story story,well told. It has it all, suspense, excitement.
An outstanding narration which matches perfectly the prose.


What did you like best about this story?
I loved it all. That sounds like a cliche but in this case it is true.

Have you listened to any of Edward Herrmann’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I have not heard him before, but it won't be my last, he did a great job.

Any additional comments?
As a rower and a boat builder I am glad on of my personal heros,George Pocock is so important in this story. I hope that even if the listener has never rowed a good wooden shell that they will understand the magic. The author and the narrator have done a great job to bring that experience to life.

2023: Ten years after listening to "Boys in the Boat" for the first time it remains the favorite book in my library.
I have listened many times and it never fails to impress and inspire. When faced with a quandary I often ask myself "What would Joe Rantz, or George Pocock do?"
Brilliant work from all involved.

Epic read

One of the most inspirational stories of our time, with a great narrator to tell you all about it.

Best book I've read in ages.

If you want to know why I loved this book read Jay Parini's review in The Guardian from July of 2013. He explains it better than I ever could.

The Boys in the Boat was very nearly perfectly narrated by Edward Herrman, who for me has become THE voice of great historical nonfiction, bios and memoirs.

Touching story distracting reader

Would you consider the audio edition of The Boys in the Boat to be better than the print version?

No. The reader was too distracting. He could not get the names of towns. And places schools, rivers, or anything in the area even remotely correct. Very distracting.

What did you like best about this story?

Great epilogue. Liked the story in general.

Would you be willing to try another one of Edward Herrmann’s performances?

Yes. I liked the writer.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me cry with happiness. I know the intense feelings of winning a crew race. It's very emotional.

Any additional comments?

Jesse Owens victory overshadowed their win nationally. That never comes out in this book.

Almost Perfect !

I was skeptical of using a credit for a book about rowing.

The only thing I really knew about athletes of the 1936 Olympic Games was the triumph of Jessie Owens. However, since this book was narrated by Edward Herman, one of my all time favorite readers, I decided to give the book a listen.

What unfolds is a very ambitious and largely very successful effort to bring the listener into the world of post depression era life and the world of competitive 8-man rowing.

Daniel Brown builds his story around the amazing life of Joe Rantz, a young boy abandoned by his family who finds his life forever changed by his experiences as a member of a college rowing team.

The passion that Daniel Brown brings to his subject matter is perfectly matched by the flawless Edward Herman narration.

This being said, the book is not without its flaws...the primary one being the author's tendency to allow his narrative to become overly saccharine at times. This is really a criticism of the tone of the book, not the content.

On the very positive side, the listener will find themselves completely drawn into to the characters lives and to the work and skills needed to succeed at competitive rowing.

This is a decidedly American story of ordinary young men who accomplish great things
and change the world and themselves in the process.

Holy Moose ~ !

What a fantastic book. The story is so compelling, it is better than fiction. The author (Brown) took a compelling story, and made it spellbinding. Perhaps one of my top 5 audible reads - truly fantastic. The performance is spot-on. I have heard Hermann before on other narrative non-fiction and he has always been superb, and he again delights the listener. You'll never want it to end - but it does, with the same beauty as the rest of the book.

Good Book and very educationtional

Any additional comments?

Loved Herrmann's narration and liked the history. Though a bit on the technical side with regard to the boats themselves, the story kept my interest and I learned something I never new about this type of racing. Never dreamt it was so physical, precise and a race where fractions of a second count. I am definitely more interested in seeing a race live and have so much more appreciation of the sport itself.

If You Liked "Unbroken", You'll Like This!

This book really gives one an appreciation for what the "Greatest Generation" accomplished under such dire circumstances. You don't have to be a sports fan to like this book, although the information on rowing and boat making is fascinating. The story is well thought out and extremely well written. The performance by Edward Herrmann is outstanding, as he always is. I received the printed version as a Christmas gift and it was nice to see the photos that come with printed books. I do wish Audible would have some links to photos, maps, etc that audio book lovers could have access to. The book is very inspiring and uplifting - not just a sports story. It's for anyone that has to overcome formidable obstacles in order to meet goals and objectives. This story is similar to "Unbroken" and the main character in "Unbroken" appears briefly in this book as well. I give this book my highest rating.

Best audible listen I've ever had

What made the experience of listening to The Boys in the Boat the most enjoyable?

The story of Joe is so compelling. Many people today will never experience the struggle of those individuals. What a life they lived. Thanks for sharing that life experience.

What did you like best about this story?

The story carried an easily understood time line through an historical time.

Which character – as performed by Edward Herrmann – was your favorite?

Joe is our silent hero.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I hope I'll find another audible book as good as this one.