The Boys in the Boat: Why You Need to Read It

Sometimes a book I love lingers with me. I will notice the characters popping into my head months after I have finished their story and find myself wanting to talk about them with friends and family who have never read the book. That is exactly how this book was for me.

The story of the University of Washington rowing team’s come-from-behind journey to the 1936 Berlin Olympics is exciting, but what really got me were the boys I got to know — especially Joe. It is his story as much as it is anyone’s.

Why Joe Makes The Boys in the Boat Unforgettable

Joe’s story was better than fiction could have created — a boy who started with nothing, endured unimaginable hardship, and triumphed in the end. He was strong, loving, kind, and determined. He beat the odds time and time again and I adore him. If you ever need motivation to press on, Joe is your man.

What Reading The Boys in the Boat Is Like

The book is a bit like a good rowing race: steady, measured, and beautiful. I have heard some people complain that it was too slow, but if you immerse yourself in it, you can enjoy every detail you are learning from the prose on the page. I came away a fan of rowing, of the University of Washington, of America, and of every character in the story. I wanted to travel back to the 1930s and watch it all unfold.

The epilogue was icing on the cake. I want to thank the author for including that absolute sweetness when we thought the story was over.

Who Should Read The Boys in the Boat

If you are looking for a quick beach read, pass this one up. But if you want a well-written book to love and learn from, The Boys in the Boat is highly recommended for both men and women. Every now and then a story sticks with you for months — The Boys in the Boat is one of them. I cannot stop thinking about the characters I fell in love with, and I hope you will too.

Related Reading

• books that will get your kids into reading
• why we are taking the fun out of life
• a year of life lessons

Helpful External Resources

• Greater Good Science Center — the science of reading and empathy

Frequently Asked Questions: The Boys in the Boat

What is The Boys in the Boat about?

The Boys in the Boat tells the story of the University of Washington rowing team’s come-from-behind journey to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. But what makes it linger is Joe — a boy who started with nothing, endured unimaginable hardship, and triumphed in the end. Strong, loving, kind, determined. If you ever need motivation to press on, Joe is your man.

Is The Boys in the Boat a good book for women?

Absolutely — The Boys in the Boat is highly recommended for both men and women. I came away a fan of rowing, of the University of Washington, of America, and of every character. The writing is steady, measured, and beautiful. The epilogue is icing on the cake. It left me wanting to travel back to the 1930s and watch it all unfold.

Is The Boys in the Boat worth reading?

Yes — it is the kind of book that sticks with you for months. Joe’s story is better than fiction could create — a real person whose real life is more extraordinary than almost anything a novelist could invent. Not a quick beach read, but if you want a well-written book to love and learn from, this one is a gift.