The Boys in the Boat - a review

I loved The Boys in the Boat because I felt like it not only told an incredible story, but also taught valuable lessons about perseverance and overcoming challenges, whether physical, financial, or mental.

Joe had an incredibly difficult life, but he never allowed his circumstances to become an excuse or keep him from becoming great. I think this would be a great book for youth today. So many young people have forgotten how to do hard things and persevere when something becomes difficult. This story is a powerful reminder of the importance of teamwork, discipline, hard work, and continuing to push forward even when the circumstances are against you.

My favorite part of the book came toward the end, during the final race, when Joe realized that he had to “abandon all doubt.”

I think that lesson goes far beyond rowing. So often, young people are focused on what other people think about them or even consumed by their own doubts about themselves. Joe had spent much of his life carrying the fear that he wasn’t good enough or that he was the weakest link. But in those final moments of the race, he showed that he possessed the mental fortitude to push past that doubt and become a gold medal champion.

This book is such a great reminder that where you come from and the challenges you face do not have to determine what you are capable of accomplishing.