The Last Amateurs, by Mark de Rond
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tom James won Olympic gold at Beijing in the Team GB men's four. Last year, as president of the Cambridge University Boat Club, he led his crew to victory in the Boat Race, and Mark de Rond, a Cambridge don, has chronicled the months of blood, sweat, toil and beers that culminated in that triumph.
De Rond was given unprecedented access to the oarsmen and coaches during training and selection, so it's a pity he devotes so much space to talking about himself, detailing everything from his dreams to his erections, and exhibiting a disturbing penchant for stripping naked in front of full-length mirrors. When he can tear himself away from his favourite subject, De Rond makes a good fist of dramatising the squad's tensions, rivalries and self-doubt as they fight to make the Blue Boat, though he throws away one crucial selection battle in an asterisked aside.
Still, the rowers did seem to value rather than merely tolerate his input, as James acknowledges in an epilogue. A case of whatever floats your boat, perhaps.
Published by Icon Books in hardback, £17.99
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments