The Boys in the Boat cover art

The Boys in the Boat

An Epic Journey to the Heart of Hitler's Berlin

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £16.17

Buy Now for £16.17

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 Sports History State & Local United States Water Sports Sports Inspiring Heartfelt American History
All stars
Most relevant
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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Listened to after watching the great film 'Boys in a Boat'. It provided details that obviously could not be included in a two hour film. A most enjoyable listen.

Amazing Story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I’m already looking forward to the time I will listen to it again. The lads who were featured seem to have been almost inhuman in their drive and capabilities.
As a rower myself, and married to a rower, it was an extra special indulgence; rowers love to talk about rowing 😊.

Just wonderful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews