The Boys in the Boat quickly became one of my all time favorite books and is a top recommendation for me. This is the story of the 1936 USA Olympic rowing team and their journey to Berlin. I will admit that the book starts out pretty slow, and there are a lot of names and stories introduced that can be hard to track with. So don’t be discouraged if you open the book and feel less than drawn in for the first few chapters.

Once the story picks up and you know more about the main characters, the story gets fascinating. Not only are you following along with the boys, but there is a ton of history about Berlin and the Nazi’s that is introduced throughout. The way this book is written keeps you present with the present world scene, and at the same time, so so so nervous for the boys in the boat.

I will keep this recommendation short because the book is worth the read, from beginning to end, and I don’t want to spoil it. I know this is a historical book so you could just as easily find a short blog about this incredible team, but it will not invite you into the boat in the same way this book does.

And please read the book before seeing the movie. The movie is good but there is a TON of backstory, history, and detail left out of the movie. I enjoyed the movie but I would rather read the book again.

In one word, this story is INSPIRING. It inspires the reader to live with the boys in the ups and downs of each season. The ways the boys had to work together and not give up will inspire you to also work with those on your “team” and to never give up… even when the odds are stacked against you.