100 Best Boating Books of All Time

Daniel James Brown's robust book tells the story of the University of Washington's 1936 eight-oar crew and their epic quest for an Olympic gold medal, a team that transformed the sport and grabbed the attention of millions of Americans.

The emotional heart of the story lies with one rower, Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not for glory, but to regain his shattered self-regard and to find a place he can call home. The crew is assembled by an enigmatic coach and mentored by a visionary, eccentric British boat builder, but it is their trust in each other that makes them a victorious team. They remind the country of what can be done when everyone quite literally pulls together—a perfect melding of commitment, determination, and optimism.

Drawing on the boys' own diaries and journals, their photos and memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, The Boys in the Boat is an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate story of nine working-class boys from the American west who, in the depths of the Great Depression, showed the world what true grit really meant. It will appeal to readers of Erik Larson, Timothy Egan, James Bradley, and David Halberstam's The Amateurs.

Anne manages to pull things together bit by bit, but just as they begin feeling like a family again, something catastrophic happens. Survival may be the least of their concerns.
Written with the blistering pace and shocking twists that only James Patterson can master, Sail takes "Lost" and "Survivor" to a new level of terror.

For Anthony, It was his first job as captain, bound for Cannes following a long and arduous route through the Belgian and French canals. It was a life choice he had made many years earlier, but could not have foreseen then the challenges it would bring

A serendipitous decision had resulted in him experiencing the harsh life of a Thames Tugman, with its long hours and ever-present dangers. He had relished the risks and enjoyed the comradeship, but after seven years, he had felt the urge to move on. An electrifying flash of inspiration led him to the exhilarating world of ocean racing. Gripped by the thrills of sailing, he set himself the new goal of combining yachting with his overwhelming desire to travel.

However, he was not expecting to have to deal with a gun-toting con-man, Americans demanding that he control the weather, perverts, orgies, and the chaotic fiascos of a boat not fit for purpose.

From the Thames steam tugs to private yachts in the Med, this is a perceptive and very entertaining story of living and working afloat.

‘Anthony Edwards’ story is not only absorbing but unforgettable. His ability to risk it all for everything he had only dreamt about is beyond inspirational. Paid to Live the Dream is definitely captivating and, on top of that, enlightening.’
From a review by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite