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

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a gripping story! Even though the reader knows the outcome before reading, the story of the journey to gold is fascinating, and compelling. It's a testament to the power of persistence and resilience. The book centers primarily on one oarsman, Joe Rantz. His quest for security and trust is part and parcel of the quest for gold. Abandoned by his father as a young boy, in the middle of the Depression, Joe survived by depending only on himself. He worked back-breaking jobs to earn his keep, and later to earn money for college. As a member of the University of Washington's rowing team, it wasn't until he learned to trust his colleagues that the crew began to "swing" and win important races. The book is well-researched, and despite the fact that I know nothing about rowing, I was fascinated by the way the grueling sport is described. I'm thinking that this story is something many of today's "entitled" youth should be reading.

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