Book · 2013 · University of Washington
The Boys in the Boat
Why people recommend it
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown is a gripping historical non-fiction book that chronicles the inspiring journey of the University of Washington rowing team as they strive to represent the United States and win gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. On the How I Write podcast, guest Jimmy Soni recommended the book as one of his absolute favorites, citing it as a quintessential example of a publishing industry misfire because the masterwork initially debuted to very little fanfare before eventually achieving massive, enduring success. Additionally, on the podcast No Stupid Questions, co-host Angela Duckworth brought up The Boys in the Boat to illustrate how demanding team sports require individual discipline, specific roles, and a profound sense of shared responsibility among crew members. Both discussions underscored the remarkable narrative power of Brown's work and its ability to resonate deeply with readers interested in collective achievement and under-dog triumph. The book continues to capture the imaginations of audiences worldwide through its meticulous research and its vivid portrayal of human resilience and cooperative triumph.
Who recommended it
- Jimmy Soni Recommended
- Angela Duckworth Recommended
Jimmy Soni — 1 mention
“One of my favorite one of my favorite books is Boys in the Boat, right? It's a it's a quintessential example for me of the publishing industry getting it wrong.”
Angela Duckworth — 1 mention
“did you ever read boys in the boat nope never heard of it”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Now there's a boys in the boot ya version Michael pollen's book there's a ya version”
“now there's a boys in the boot ya version”