The Boys in the Boat cover art

The Boys in the Boat

An Epic Journey to the Heart of Hitler's Berlin

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The Boys in the Boat

By: Daniel James Brown
Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
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About this listen

Shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, this is the bestselling story about a rowing team's quest for Olympic gold in Nazi Germany.

Cast aside by his family at an early age, abandoned and left to fend for himself in the woods of Washington State, young Joe Rantz turns to rowing as a way of escaping his past.

What follows is an extraordinary journey, as Joe and eight other working-class boys exchange the sweat and dust of life in 1930s America for the promise of glory at the heart of Hitler's Berlin. Stroke by stroke, a remarkable young man strives to regain his shattered self-regard, to dare again to trust in others–and to find his way back home.

Told against the backdrop of the Great Depression, Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat is narrative non-fiction of the first order; a personal story full of lyricism and unexpected beauty that rises above the grand sweep of history, and captures instead the purest essence of what it means to be alive.

©2013 Daniel James Brown (P)2013 Penguin Audio Americas Olympics & Paralympics Sailing & Boating United States Water Sports Inspiring Heartfelt American History Transportation

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All stars
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I first saw the film adaptation and then had to read the book.
Fabulous! Enjoyed listening to it.
Thanks 🙏

An amazing story.

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Loved the real insight into rowing and attention to detail of the whole story and history of 1936 Olympics

Amazing story with blistering fact scattered among the pages about the lead up to WWII

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I read the book but the audible version just brings the whole story to life. I couldn’t stop listening, at home in the car and whenever possible throughout the day (and night). The race sequences were superb, holding my breath and urging the boys on (even though we know how the story ends). Beautifully written and told so well. I was brought to tears.

What a story and beautifully told.

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The story itself was a fascinating captivating one and it was very well captured. Had the right amount of drama and story telling even if it was factual and a biography of sorts.

The way the writer makes us live into the lived experiences of the boys. Exciting!

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This is a very engaging history of the true story of the men who feature in the Clooney film. It’s well researched and well written. It’s an amazing tale that will keep you engrossed!

True story behind the film

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A brilliant listen from the opening to closing sentence.
Beautifully narrated it catches the essence of the time, a wonderful story superbly told but it also has a depth.

An epic.

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Loved it from start to finish, amazing story, incredibly well told. Narration is really perfect.

Amazing story

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Just loved this inspiring story, beautifully written with just the right amount of history and narrative

Heart warming

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An evocative and beautifully written book about the experiences of young men rowing, at the top of their “game”. Anyone who has been an Oarsman knows that this is no game… …it’s a human endeavour and spiritual sacrifice taken beyond normal limits. An especially poignant story telling of the greatest Crew from Washington racing in Berlin against the dark backdrop of rising fascism in Hitler’s Germany.

Wonderfully accurate portrayal of the agony and ecstasies of top class Rowing.

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I enjoyed every word of this book. It brought history to life and made sure these men’s efforts were not forgotten

Courage and camaraderie

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