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

For fans of Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit and Unbroken, the gripping narrative of the American rowing squad that won a gold medal in the 1936 Berlin Olympics under Hitler.

The University of Washington eight-oar crew, who revolutionised the sport and captured the interest of millions of Americans, set out on an epic journey to win an Olympic gold medal, which is the subject of Daniel James Brown's well-written book. Sons of farmers, loggers, and shipyard workers, the lads eventually overcame the German crew rowing for Adolf Hitler in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games after defeating superior opponents from eastern and British institutions.

Joe Rantz, a young man without a family or future, is the protagonist and the emotional centre of the narrative. He rows not for fame but rather to rebuild his damaged self-esteem and find a place he can call home. The squad is put together by a mysterious coach and guided by an eccentric, visionary boat builder from Britain, but what really sets them apart as a winning team is their mutual trust. They serve as a constant reminder to the nation of what is possible when people physically band together—a flawless fusion of dedication, willpower, and hope.

The Boys in the Boat is an enthralling story about overcoming obstacles and finding hope in the most hopeless of circumstances, based on the boys' own diaries and journals, photos, and memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream. It is the unlikely, personal account of nine working-class boys from the American west who, during the worst of the Great Depression, demonstrated to the world what true grit really meant. Readers of David Halberstam's The Amateurs, Erik Larson, Timothy Egan, and James Bradley will find it appealing.