Heart warming

Just loved this inspiring story, beautifully written with just the right amount of history and narrative

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True story behind the film

This is a very engaging history of the true story of the men who feature in the Clooney film. It’s well researched and well written. It’s an amazing tale that will keep you engrossed!

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Amazing story

Loved it from start to finish, amazing story, incredibly well told. Narration is really perfect.

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What a story and beautifully told.

I read the book but the audible version just brings the whole story to life. I couldn’t stop listening, at home in the car and whenever possible throughout the day (and night). The race sequences were superb, holding my breath and urging the boys on (even though we know how the story ends). Beautifully written and told so well. I was brought to tears.

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The way the writer makes us live into the lived experiences of the boys. Exciting!

The story itself was a fascinating captivating one and it was very well captured. Had the right amount of drama and story telling even if it was factual and a biography of sorts.

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An amazing story.

I first saw the film adaptation and then had to read the book.
Fabulous! Enjoyed listening to it.
Thanks 🙏

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Amazing story with blistering fact scattered among the pages about the lead up to WWII

Loved the real insight into rowing and attention to detail of the whole story and history of 1936 Olympics

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Wonderful

An extraordinary story of determination and humanity amidst the horrific backdrop of Nazi Germany. Brilliantly narrated.

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The dedication of team and coach

I Liked the whole story of the boys and hope to see the George Clooney movie in January

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Inspiring

As a former rower myself, I jumped at the chance to get this audiobook. I only became aware of this story after the recent MGM movie release based on this book. To start with, I just want to reassure those non-rowers out there that this isn't a book you have to have rowed to appreciate. It's really two stories in one, and like Chariots of Fire and other inspiring stories of hardship and determination, the sport at its heart is less important than the story at its core i.e the struggle that being human is and how we can go beyond self imposed limits and achieve things we believed impossible.

As alluded to, this is really two stories in one. The first half of the book focuses mostly on Joe Rantz, a kid growing up in America's Great Depression in the 19thirties. The hardships, trials and tribulations he endures dovetails into his rowing.

We live, here in the West, in a world of plenty and comfort for the most part. growing up during the Great Depression was something people today cannot comprehend. This book reminds us of just how poor many people were and how pitifully little they had to survive on. It's this tough backdrop that sees Joe have the strength and endurance to become a great rower. However, his journey on the water isn't straightforward or easy. Readding of his ups and downs brought back memories of my own times on the water when one outing could be excellent and the next awful.

Although we know the outcome of the story, the author's superbly descriptive prose style carries the reader along on a journey with Joe Rantz as he matures and tackles not just life in general, but the gruelling demands of rowing.

I liked the quotes from George Pocock, a central character in this story, that preceded chapters. His thoughtful, often poetic, insights into the art of rowing resonated with me. For anyone interested, George Pocock was a boat builder and is the longest established boat builder of rowing racing shells. Pocock racing shells are still producing fine boats today in Seattle.

Joe Rantz, like myself, never forgot his time on the water ... the pain, the victories and the lessons we learn best of all, the ones we learn in defeat. Like many other difficult and challenging exploits, his friendship with his crew mates endured all his life.

Narration is perfect for this book, Edward Herrman's voice adding to the flavour of the era and gravitas of the hardships endured.

For anyone wanting to read an inspiring story of the indomitable quality of the human spirit, this will certainly leave you satisfied in that regard.

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