The Boys in the Boat

I always love it when a story has its roots in truth and this is just such a story. It is told primarily from the viewpoint of Joe Rantz, one of the nine men from the University of Washington's rowing team competing in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This is a real life account of overcoming obstacles and doing whatever it takes to win.

The author weaves in many historical events of the time and gives the reader strong characters. Winning a gold medal is not easy - it requires hard work, dedication, and teamwork. This book lets the reader feel what it is like to want, work for, and achieve something. Very inspiring.

Now a Major Motion Picture Directed by George Clooney.

The #1 New York Times - bestselling story about the American Olympic rowing triumph in Nazi Germany - from the author of Facing the Mountain.

For readers of Unbroken, out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times - the improbable, intimate account of how nine working class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant.

It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington's eight oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite crews of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did - going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to rebuild his shattered self regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world.

Drawing on the boys' own journals and vivid memories of a once in a lifetime shared dream, Daniel James Brown creates an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man's personal quest.

1. Did you know much about rowing before reading this book? What aspects of the sport surprised you most? If you already followed the sport, what did you learn that was new? What drew you to this story if you do not generally follow sports history?

2. Compare how the Olympics were regarded in the 1930s to how they are regarded now. Why was the boys' win in 1936 significant on the eve of World War II? What political significance do the Games hold today?

3. The author uses interviews and archives from Joe Rantz, his daughter Judy, and others, allowing Joe's life to unfold in fine detail. How did this viewpoint affect your reading? Why do you think Joe was willing to share so deeply?

4. Beyond one crew, the book reflects a generation coming of age in the Great Depression. Which aspects of 1930s life struck you most? How do those circumstances compare with challenges Americans face now?

5. Brown notes that rowing demands unusual physical and psychological strength. How did those demands play out in the boys' academic and personal lives, and how did their personal histories shape their approach to the sport?

6. Despite long hours training, Joe did not form close friendships on the team until his third year. Why do you think that was? What finally made him realize it mattered who else was in the boat with him?

7. Joe and Joyce maintain a loving, steady relationship through college. How did it develop, and how did Joyce support Joe emotionally? How did her own family struggles affect their bond?

8. Coach Al Ulbrickson's leadership could be severe and guarded. What about him inspired the boys to work their hardest? What strategies did he use to foster competition and a strong work ethic, and why did they work?

9. George Pocock and Al Ulbrickson are both iconic yet very different figures. Discuss their different leadership styles and roles within Washington rowing. What enabled Pocock to connect so deeply with Joe?

10. Pocock advises Joe to give himself up to his crewmates, even at the risk of getting his feelings hurt. How did this advice affect Joe's relationships with the team and with his family?

11. What was Ulbrickson's relationship with the media, and how did sportswriters influence collegiate competition? Were you surprised by the level of involvement? How does that compare to collegiate sports coverage today?

12. Ulbrickson later said a career highlight was the day in 1936 he first put Joe Rantz in the Olympic boat and watched it take off. Why was that moment so important? What made Joe special, and how did he help unify the Husky Clipper?

13. Many of the boys later admitted they each thought they were the weak link. Why might they all have felt that way, and why did it take years to say it out loud?

14. What was your most hair raising moment while reading? Even knowing the Olympic outcome, were there points you were unsure the boys would make it?

This story operates on many levels: underdogs chasing gold against Ivy League powerhouses, the discipline and teamwork required to achieve an Olympic dream, and one young man's perseverance after Depression era hardship and abandonment. Set on the cusp of World War II, with Hitler eager to showcase German superiority, it also foreshadows the coming conflict and invites comparisons to how sports intersect with politics today.