The Stay-In Weather Sale: 20% off select books
Used, New, and Out of Print Books - We Buy and Sell - Powell's Books
Cart |
|  my account  |  wish list  |  help   |  800-878-7323
Hello, | Login
MENU
  • Browse
    • New Arrivals
    • Bestsellers
    • Award Winners
    • Signed Editions
    • Digital Audio Books
    • See All Subjects
  • Used
  • Staff Picks
    • Staff Picks
    • Picks of the Month
    • Book Club Subscriptions
    • 25 PNW Books to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Books From the 21st Century
    • 25 Memoirs to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Global Books to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Women to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Books to Read Before You Die
  • Gifts
    • Gift Cards & eGift Cards
    • Powell's Souvenirs
    • Read Rise Resist Gear
    • Journals & Notebooks
    • Games
    • Socks
  • Sell Books
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Find A Store
McAfee Secure

Don't Miss

  • Looking Forward Sale
  • The Stay-In Weather Sale
  • Indiespensable 90:
    My Year Abroad
  • Our 2021 TBR List
  • Powell's Virtual Events
  • Oregon Battle of the Books

Visit Our Stores


Powell's Books: You'll Want to Bookmark This Page: 37 of Our Most Anticipated Books for Spring and Summer 2021 (1 comment)
The Powell’s purchasing team is here to share their most anticipated new releases for Spring and Summer 2021...
Read More»
  • Emily B.: Black History Month 2021: Black Women in Science (0 comment)
  • Rhianna Walton: Black History Month 2021: Rethinking the Classics (0 comment)

{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

by Daniel James Brown
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

  • Comment on this title
  • Synopses & Reviews
  • Read an Excerpt

ISBN13: 9780143125471
ISBN10: 0143125478



All Product Details

View Larger ImageView Larger Images
$18.00
New Trade Paperback
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Add to Cart
Add to Wishlist
QtyStore
4Burnside
1Cedar Hills
20Local Warehouse
20Remote Warehouse

From Powells.com

Presidential Reading List Selection

Staff Pick

Brown masterfully narrates the tale of the 1936 American Olympic rowing team and their gold medal triumph. He paints a vivid picture of the men in the boat, their world, and their sport. A fascinating glimpse into a bygone era. Recommended By Mary Jo S., Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

For readers of Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit and Unbroken, the dramatic story of the American rowing team that stunned the world at Hitler's 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Daniel James Brown's robust book tells the story of the University of Washington's 1936 eight-oar crew and their epic quest for an Olympic gold medal, a team that transformed the sport and grabbed the attention of millions of Americans. The sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the boys defeated elite rivals first from eastern and British universities and finally the German crew rowing for Adolf Hitler in the Olympic games in Berlin, 1936.

The emotional heart of the story lies with one rower, Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not for glory, but to regain his shattered self-regard and to find a place he can call home. The crew is assembled by an enigmatic coach and mentored by a visionary, eccentric British boat builder, but it is their trust in each other that makes them a victorious team. They remind the country of what can be done when everyone quite literally pulls together — a perfect melding of commitment, determination, and optimism.

Drawing on the boys' own diaries and journals, their photos and memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, The Boys in the Boat is an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times — the improbable, intimate story of nine working-class boys from the American west who, in the depths of the Great Depression, showed the world what true grit really meant. It will appeal to readers of Erik Larson, Timothy Egan, James Bradley, and David Halberstam's The Amateurs.

Review

“For those who like adventure stories straight-up, The Boys in the Boat… is this year's closest approximation of Unbroken….It's about the University of Washington's crew team: 'Nine working-class boys from the American West who at the 1936 Olympics showed the world what true grit really meant.” New York Times

Review

“If you imagined a great regatta of books about rowing, then Brown's Boys in the Boat certainly makes the final heat….” Boston Globe

Review

“The astonishing story of the UW's 1936 eight-oar varsity crew and its rise from obscurity to fame.…The individual stories of these young men are almost as compelling as the rise of the team itself. Brown excels at weaving those stories with the larger narrative, all culminating in the 1936 Olympic Games…A story this breathtaking demands an equally compelling author, and Brown does not disappoint. The narrative rises inexorably, with the final 50 pages blurring by with white-knuckled suspense as these all-American underdogs pull off the unimaginable.” The Seattle Times

Review

“Those who enjoy reading about Olympic history or amateur or collegiate sports will savor Brown's superb book.” Library Journal (Starred)

Synopsis

The New York Times––bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany.

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.


About the Author

Daniel James Brown is the author of two previous nonfiction books, The Indifferent Stars Above and Under a Flaming Sky. He lives outside of Seattle.

5 8

What Our Readers Are Saying

Share your thoughts on this title!
Average customer rating 5 (8 comments)

`
Jeffrey Bluhm , November 10, 2019 (view all comments by Jeffrey Bluhm)
Easy review, though I was slow to come to this book - the subject looked very specific and not relevant to me as a non-rower, but I finally decided to give it a go after a chorus of great reviews from friends and family. They were right - although the reader know the result from the outset of the book, it is nevertheless a fascinating, stay-up-too-late-to-read-just-a-few-more-pages account of the quest of the University of Washington 8-man crew to advance to complete at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It's primarily a human interest story, with the author providing just the right amount of technical information about rowing so the reader can understand the challenges of training and competing in the sport, along with historical perspective to place the story and the accomplishments of the team in context. All of the many personalities are described in exquisite detail, particularly the main protagonist Joe Rantz, with no point during the story where the plot slows or your interest level flags. Get it today!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(2 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Tama Filipas , March 10, 2015
I cannot say enough how much my bookclub loved this book (we read only nonfiction). Definitely our favorite of the year, and on my personal top ten list of all time. Destined to become a classic of narrative nonfiction, and the big bonus is that it's set in the Pacific NW. Must read. Must.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(10 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
emijeanb , October 23, 2014 (view all comments by emijeanb)
I LOVED this story! It took awhile to read, because there was so much history I didn't want to miss. I am in awe of this generation (my grandparents generation) at how hard working they are, without complaint. It was the perfect blend of a heartfelt story, with the action of sports, and history woven in between. Also, if you get a moment go onto the author's website and you can watch a video of the boys competing at the Olympics. Its amazing to see them in action!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(6 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
bigtimereader , October 23, 2014 (view all comments by bigtimereader)
Wow! This is the best book I have read in a long time. And I read a lot. Daniel Brown has told a story of boys coming from diverse backgrounds coming together to win the 1936 Olympics. What truly amazed me is the amount of detail provided regarding the boys background, as well as historical background. And yet it is never overwhelming. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(5 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
So Little Time - So Many Books , October 21, 2014 (view all comments by So Little Time - So Many Books)
I loved it! I am not usually a fan of non-fiction, but this was the selection for our book club. It read like a novel. If you like sports stories like Hoosiers, Glory Road, Rudy and the like, you will love this book. The characters are rich and real.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(3 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Lauri F , August 07, 2014
Daniel James Brown does an EXCELLENT job of engaging the reader immediately in this story about the winners of the 1936 Olympic 8-man rowing team from the University of Washington, Seattle. He introduces you to the men and their trials through the depression, and carries you through the nail-biting experiences leading to their Olympic win. I enjoyed the walk through the historic events of the time and the description of the preparations Germany made for the Olympics, especially the deceptive tactics the Nazis were taking to create a favorable impression to the world. I was initially drawn to the book because my son is on a crew team at a university in Washington. The book was such a good read that I recommend it to everyone.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
JLS , July 07, 2014 (view all comments by JLS)
This book was a delight. It brought back memories of the bit of rowing I experienced in college, realistically described the challenges of life in the '30's for students who had little to no money, and described a very real sense of what it is actually like, training in a crew shell on a lake. I loved the way Brown described how it can be when "the boat" "swings." What an amazing high feeling! The excitement and stresses of the Berlin Olympics were also brought to life from the personal point of view of "the boys," and the author's historical research brought a broader world view to this very personal story. These "boys" and their coaches are actual American heroes I had never know about before! Wonderful book!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(4 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Teacherman , July 02, 2014
Great job teaching history and telling a wonderful story. I hated to have it end.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(16 of 23 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

View all 8 comments


Product Details

ISBN:
9780143125471
Binding:
Trade Paperback
Publication date:
05/27/2014
Publisher:
PENGUIN PUTNAM TRADE
Pages:
404
Height:
8.50
Width:
5.50
Thickness:
1.00
Age Range:
from 18 and up
Grade Range:
from 12
Copyright Year:
2014
Author:
Daniel James Brown
Subject:
Sports and Fitness-Sports General

Ships free on qualified orders.
Add to Cart
$18.00
New Trade Paperback
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Add to Wishlist
QtyStore
4Burnside
1Cedar Hills
20Local Warehouse
20Remote Warehouse

More copies of this ISBN

  • Used, Trade Paperback, Starting from $8.50

This title in other editions

  • New, Mass Market, $9.99
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

  • Help
  • Guarantee
  • My Account
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Security
  • Wish List
  • Partners
  • Contact Us
  • Shipping
  • Sitemap
  • © 2021 POWELLS.COM Terms

{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##