I just (a couple of hours ago) finished reading The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown. I don’t need to say much since the subtitle is so descriptive, but I’ll add that it’s the story of a rowing crew from the University of Washington, a group of men from mainly underprivileged backgrounds who came together to form a team that astounded everyone.
As you can imagine, The Boys in the Boat is not simply a story of the crew’s rise to stardom but a book about athleticism, the Great Depression, East/West rivalry in the United States, and the rise of Nazi Germany. Here are some of the things you’ll delve into if you pick up this gripping work of historical nonfiction.
- How racing shells were constructed in the days before fiberglass and other modern materials. (I loved reading about George Pocock lovingly crafting the boats out of cedar.)
2. How the press followed sporting events and how the rowing coaches decided what to say and what to hold back before competitions.
3. How snobbish the sport of rowing was in England (e.g. at the Henley Royal Regatta no one who worked as a mechanic, artisan, or labourer was allowed to participate).
4. How unprecedented weather events exacerbated the hard times created by the stock market crash of 1929.
5. How desperate young men worked all kinds of jobs to make money during the Great Depression (including dangling from a cliff face with a jackhammer to help build the Grand Coulee Dam).
6. How Leni Riefenstahl filmed her famous Nazi propaganda documentaries, including Triumph of the Will.
7. How Nazi Germany fooled the world by crafting a positive image when they hosted the 1936 Olympics.
There is so much more to say about this book! If you’ve read The Boys in the Boat what did you think?
P.S. Check out this website for photos.