Favorite rowing books?

[mromero680]

I've been into sports science type books lately. I've read a few rowing books about training like Rowing Faster and I took a chance on 101 Best Rowing Workouts and liked it since I needed to mix things up a bit. Never really considered combining on and off rower workouts but that was good motivation for me and it makes the meters go by faster. Any other recommendations?

[Nomath]

I like The Complete Guide to Indoor Rowing, by Jim Flood and Charles Simpson (2012, latest edition 2019), because it has a lot of scientific background on biomechanics, physiology and comparison to on-water rowing.
I am looking forward to the new edition of Biomechanics of Rowing, by Valery Kleshnev, now expected for mid-2021.

[mromero680]

Thanks Nomath. Will check that one out. Moderator redirected my post to this forum. Even the most recent threads have cobwebs on them so I'm not expecting a flood of responses so that title may be the extent of it!

[Dangerscouse]

I haven't ever read any rowing specific books, but I'm a fan of sports science and sports motivation books.

For an amateur indoor rower, I'd be surprised if you will find anything in any book that you won't find in the forum posts or from asking questions.

[Dino]

Not rowing performance but still a great rowing book, one of my favourites has to be 'True Blue: The Oxford Boat Race Mutiny' by Dan Topolski and Patrick Robinson.
It's well written and real page turner.
Read quite a few autobiographies as well but True Blue best of ones I have read so far.

[MPx]

I agree - really enjoyed True Blue. But you need to realise that its Dan T's version of the story. The stroke's comment was that he didn't recognise it as what went on. The Americans I'm sure would dis it. But it is a great book.

[Nomath]

I haven't ever read any rowing specific books, but I'm a fan of sports science and sports motivation books.

For an amateur indoor rower, I'd be surprised if you will find anything in any book that you won't find in the forum posts or from asking questions.

Let you surprise by the last edition (2016) of Biomechanics of Rowing. In depth way beyond what you find in forum posts, especially of course regarding on-water rowing, but also for stationary and dynamic indoor ergs.

The search engine of the forum also doesn't help to find coherent content.

[mromero680]

I did read The Amateurs by David Halberstam a long time ago but I remember enjoying the story. Boys in the Boat a good rowing story too though neither are training books.

[UCanRow2]

I’m so glad you liked 101 Best Rowing Workouts, that’s my book!

I also second the recommendation for Jim Flood’s book.

For a story that will inspire you to think about how rowing can change and heal the world I highly recommend “A Most Beautiful Thing” by Arshay Cooper. There’s also a Mary Mazzio documentary of the same name that’s fantastic.

Happy rowing!!

Sarah

[mromero680]

The link to a Youtube video in your book was really helpful too. I've seen form videos before but that one was really well done. The rower looked so smooth and powerful it stuck with me.

Forgot about A Most Beautiful Thing even though I finished it recently, maybe because it was about a lot more than rowing. Another good one though.

[Dino]

I did read The Amateurs by David Halberstam a long time ago but I remember enjoying the story. Boys in the Boat a good rowing story too though neither are training books.

I just finished The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown this week. It is an excellent book. I don't think you need to have rowed on the water to appreciate it, the lives of the main characters or the training and what they went through to get a place on the team. It's a fascinating picture of life in the 30's with the background of the 1936 Olympics and the gathering gloom of Hitler's Germany. I found myself stopping reading every now and then to look up more of the historical events that are depicted.

[mict450]

I just finished The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown this week. It is an excellent book. I don't think you need to have rowed on the water to appreciate it, the lives of the main characters or the training and what they went through to get a place on the team. It's a fascinating picture of life in the 30's with the background of the 1936 Olympics and the gathering gloom of Hitler's Germany. I found myself stopping reading every now and then to look up more of the historical events that are depicted.

I didn't think I would enjoy this book, but was quickly drawn into the narrative. Poor, depression-era working class kids triumphing over the privileged, monied Ivy league class, and wresting Gold from Nazi Germany & Fascist Italy despite an unfavorable lane assignment. Triumph of the underdogs!!

[Stelph]

I agree - really enjoyed True Blue. But you need to realise that its Dan T's version of the story. The stroke's comment was that he didn't recognise it as what went on. The Americans I'm sure would dis it. But it is a great book.

The Yanks at Oxford is a "response" to True Blue written by Ali Gill who was at oxford at the time, its impressively hard to get a copy mind you

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yanks-Oxford-1 ... 0863326625

[mict450]

Currently reading Men of Kent by Rick Rinehart. Slow, boring at the beginning, but interest picks up when he starts focusing on rowing.