The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics 

Now a major motion picture directed by George Clooney, this #1 New York Times bestseller tells the unforgettable true story of the American Olympic rowing triumph in Nazi Germany. For fans of Unbroken, The Boys in the Boat shares an inspiring tale rising from the depths of the Great Depression—an intimate, improbable account of nine working-class boys from the American West who proved what true grit really means. Composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team was never expected to rival the elite crews of the East Coast and Great Britain—yet they did, ultimately shocking the world by defeating Adolf Hitler’s German team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. At the heart of the story is Joe Rantz, a teenager abandoned by his family and struggling to find belonging. Through rowing, he rebuilds his sense of self-worth and discovers his place in the world. Drawn from journals and vivid firsthand memories, Daniel James Brown crafts a powerful portrait of an era, a celebration of remarkable determ