Preview
  • The Boys in the Boat

  • Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
  • By: Daniel James Brown
  • Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
  • Length: 14 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (42,760 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Boys in the Boat

By: Daniel James Brown
Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.60

Buy for $21.60

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The number one New York Times best-selling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany, the inspiration for the PBS documentary The Boys of '36, broadcast to coincide with the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 80th anniversary of the boys' gold medal race.

For readers/listeners 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 teams 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 regain 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, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man’s personal quest.

©2013 Daniel James Brown (P)2013 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Featured Article: The Best Sports Audiobooks to Get You in the Game


Whether you’re a die-hard sports fanatic or a casual observer, you’ve likely felt the rush of adrenaline that comes from watching a world-class competitor at peak performance. Another way to capture the high energy of professional athletics? A sports audiobook with the perfect balance of substance and style. From rags-to-riches stories to tales of the biggest comebacks, these audiobooks will bring you closer to the game than ever before.

What listeners say about The Boys in the Boat

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    36,955
  • 4 Stars
    4,583
  • 3 Stars
    903
  • 2 Stars
    188
  • 1 Stars
    131
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    33,861
  • 4 Stars
    3,883
  • 3 Stars
    701
  • 2 Stars
    138
  • 1 Stars
    101
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    33,898
  • 4 Stars
    3,556
  • 3 Stars
    825
  • 2 Stars
    177
  • 1 Stars
    111

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

The story is written so well that it captures your heart and attention from the beginning and never lets up. The voice and cadence have a perfect rhythm in this narration. The one surprise is many native words were mispronounced and was a distraction to this Washington native.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An inspiring true story

A young man who struggled through adversity and heartache persevered and triumphed to win an Olympic medal as he understood the power of teamwork!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very David McCullough-ish!!!

I am a huge David McCullough fan. This was written in the same style that I love where it brings you, the reader, into the lives and time of the people about whom he is writing.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous!

Great story, well told and well narrated. I recommend to a wide variety of audiences!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic listen

Inspirational, and energetic. I couldn't stop listening to this story. I devoured it in a weekend every opportunity I could. Cooking, cleaning driving. Loved it!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

approved by former husky rower

the reading of this book is amazing!! as a former.husly rower it brought back good memories and pride for what I was part of. this version has done justice to Washington rowers and rowers everywhere, an often forgotten sport.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thrilling start to finish

I raced to the end of this book, just as if I were in the boat with the boys. Herrmann's reading did justice to Brown's thrilling story telling. A joy to listen to.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Mesmerizing heart pounding satisfying read!!!!

If you loved Seabiscuit, if you loved Unbroken, this book for you.

The story is about the crew of nine men who, in the 1930s in Washington state, were selected for the rowing crew that would later win the gold medal at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Berlin ... against all odds!

The author achieves that magical mix of lyrical writing with a heart pounding storyline.

His research is outstanding. The story is rich with details of Hitler's plan to deceive the world with the theater of the 1936 Olympics as well as the grim reality of the American Dust Bowl hitting in the depths of the Great depression.

On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give it a strong 9. And, just for your reference, an example of a book I would give a 10 to is Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals about Abraham Lincoln.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Extraordinary!

I will have no qualms recommending this book to my audio book listener friends and family - old and young alike. In fact, it would be a great 'first listen' for those who've yet to get on board with audio books. Great writing and outstanding narration.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great book & the narrator made it even greater!

It was inspiring to read of the accomplishments of a team of 9 young men who with certain mental, physical & spiritual strengthens, rose to great heights in 1930's.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!