This book fed my competitive spirit! Brown chronicles the story of the motley crew, University of Washington rowers and their unlikely success to win seats to the 1936 Olympics. As much a story of their individual characteristics and backgrounds, the book also depicts two powerfully disturbing backgrounds of the time: Seattle during the Great Depression and the rise of Nazi Germany. The Boys in the Boat illustrates how a team is greater than any one individual, real hardship and overcoming obstacles in spite of the pain. A must read, you will be racing to the finish!