Wow, what a story! Author Daniel James Brown has beautifully written The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
But it is much more. It is a story of the 1930’s in America, of loss and hardship, of family conflict, and especially of reinventing oneself through teamwork and trust. And in the background like a black shadow is the rise of Nazi Germany. We all know the Jesse Owens story in the Olympics, and many have read Unbroken about Louis Zamperini’s adventures in Berlin during the Olympics. But who knew a bunch of college boys from the Northwest had such an amazing story as well?
Well they do, and it’s long past when their story should be told. The book begins with the author visiting one of the members of the team as he proudly shows off his gold medal, so it’s not spoiling the story to tell you the good guys win. Ultimately the book isn’t about that triumph anyway — it’s about overcoming the odds, teamwork, friendship, and unity.
Beautifully written, fun to read, and filled with charming anecdotal stories. A must read on my list. In fact, The Boys in the Boat is already at or near the top of my 2014 reading recommendations. Yes, it’s that good.