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

Non-fiction at its finest.

When non-fiction really works, for me it's because there's a magical combination of a well-paced great story, good solid characters and a perfect narrator. That is precisely what "The Boys in the Boat" is all about.

I don't need to review the plot. It's all there in the intro. This is the best way I can describe this book: if you couldn't put "Seabiscuit" down, this is your book. It's a wonderful little slice of history that's written and narrated in a compelling way. If you have a long car trip this summer, this is the perfect book for a mixed audience.

unforgettable and timeless

if you liked Lauren Hillenbrand's Unbroken you will love The Boys in the Boat. This book was put together very well and was obviously well-researched. I enjoyed the stories of the individual men who were part of the 1936 University of Washington Crew team as well as lead up to the Olympics. The author, Daniel James Brown, takes the reader right into the boat and into the lives of these extraordinary men.
A huge credit has to be given to the incredible narration done on this book. Edward Hermann has narrated many books and have enjoyed most of his work. He has a cadence and sharpness to his voice that is fits the subject matter accurately. He manages to transport the listener to the era of the book. In this case I felt like the year was actually 1936 and I was listening to the story unfold on an old radio.

Well done!

Wish I could read this for the first time again!

This is such a treat to read. Yes, I live in the northwest so I am already greeting the story with open arms, but it wouldn't matter, truly. Daniel Brown knows how to tell a story which is the essential component for me to veer into the non-fiction realm. He takes a compelling story, humanizes it by closely following one of the participants and creates a momentum that is very hard to resist. I found myself wanting to stop people on the Seattle streets to suggest they read the book. That's a pretty good measure.

Inspiring story

Would you listen to The Boys in the Boat again? Why?

Yes. While we know how it ends, the journey to get there is worth hearing over and over again.

What does Edward Herrmann bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice can deliver a story

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

How the seemingly ordinary can be extraordinary

Any additional comments?

Despite some over-the-top up turns of phrase and descriptions (think Cold Mountain) that trigger several eye rolls, as well as Edward Herman's tortured pronunciations of Washington place names (not sure that is actually his fault-where was quality control?), the story is just a great one. Growing up in Washington and attending UW, I've always known the story without knowing the STORY. And it's a great one. You can't help but beam with pride and unquestionably admire what these ordinary folks accomplished in some of the toughest times in America.

The Value of Character, with Oars

In her non-fiction bestseller "Quiet", Susan Cain posits that the "culture of character" has all but been replaced by the "culture of personality" in modern-day society: less substance, more veneer. "Boys in the Boat" is a well-told snapshot of that lost culture of character that warrants reading and preservation. This book is all substance.

The Great Depression. The Dust Bowl. The rise of Hitler's Germany. I wager that whatever trouble you're facing in your current-day life doesn't even compare to the stresses of life for the majority of Americans in the 1930s. To wit: Joe Rantz, abandoned by his broken family as a child and left to fend for himself. He pulled himself up by his own bootstraps and found gold in the heart of the Nazi Olympics.

It wasn't without help, to be sure. UW's reserved head coach Al Ulbrickson demands his athletes disappoint neither their teammates, nor themselves. And George Yeomans Pocock--a man who shaped not only boats, but young men and the entire sport of rowing with his wisdom and his hand tools--serves also to be a timeless role model for the reader.

"Boat" is filled with great visuals:
- Joe "shoveling food into his mouth like hay into a barn"
- the UW team breathing in unison in 30-degree weather
- The peculiar icicles on Husky Clipper
- George Pocock working with cedar, both in the woods and in his shop.
- The crowd at the opening ceremonies to the Berlin Olympics

And great pearls of wisdom:
- Anger takes energy; unaffordable when you have no energy to waste
- Keep your mind in the boat
- Water, that enemy of the sport, is simultaneously your friend: keeping you afloat and making you strong
- All eight men feeling like the weak link, the one who is 'lucky' to be in the company of his oarsmen

While it's no surprise that crew is an upper-crust sport (i.e., boats aren't cheap), let its blue-collar roots never be forgotten. You needn't be an oarsmen (I'm not) to enjoy this title; Brown does a fine job of introducing the sport in lay terms and increasing the appreciation for the reader.

Herrman's voice was a great choice by the director of this book, well-suited for the period and theme. The more I think about this title, the more it grows on me: a credit well-spent, no doubt.

Book of Gold & Glory Evocative of Greek Mythology

If you are reading this little review (lately added to the legions), you undoubtedly already know that this book is about the majestic quest of the U.S. rowing team for Olympic gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. What more really can I add to urge you to read this book of gold and glory that tells a story evocative of Greek mythology, the tale of these nine young men from the University of Washington, their origins, their Odyssey into a land of evil, and the epic of their endurance, resilience, teamwork and victory.

We can be grateful for writers like Mr. Brown, who so splendidly capture the "eternal landscape of the past" that embodies the "mighty hopes that make us men" [and women], to borrow words from Tennyson.

If you haven't read this, I cannot prevail upon you enough how you must.

Teamwork, sport, and beating the odds

Words cannot express how much I enjoyed this book - the tale of 9 ordinary men who learned something special about pulling together, even in their weak points, and fulfilling a dream that is only a fantasy for billions of people around the globe. Using Joe as a character study, the author paints a picture of a man who came from humble beginnings and tragic abandonment. He would probably be the first to tell you that he was a nobody, really, and yet he, along with eight other men, fumbled and stumbled and clawed their way to the Olympic Games in Nazi Germany in 1936.

This book incorporates many facets, and it doesn't matter if you know or care anything about rowing (I had no knowledge of the sport, and felt like I had been taught a lot without feeling stupid). It will appeal to anyone who has even passing interests in character-development, teamwork, sport, Nazi German history, inspirational tales, or any number of genres. Edward herrman's narration is superb, with the exception of some of the Washington State towns, but this does not take anything away from the performance itself.

BRAVO! Well worth the credit!

This is a wonderful book!

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

I felt as if I knew every one of the boys of the boat!
I caught myself yelling at the step mother of Joe Rantz!,and cheering on each of the young men who were becoming self-made men. They competed with the Ivy-league crew and came out ahead which made me understand why that generation is the one we all hold in such high esteem!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Boys in the Boat?

My heart ached for Joe Rantz! He was a true hero! A model for all of us - and he just did what had to be done at the time - for self preservation.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It is a long book, so no. I would listen to it again, which is something I rarely do.

Any additional comments?

This is one book that I go out of my way to recommend.

Incredible Story of Triumph!

I'm a Huskies fan now! Go Washington. These men from one of the greatest generations inspire all who know their story!

AMAZING STORY

This was a great book and an amazing story! I want to listen to it again with my husband.