True Blue [Hardcover]

Daniel Topolski (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Canada (May 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385268920
• ISBN-13: 978-0385268929
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,798,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lessons beneath the politics of sport, December 5, 2001

By 

LF - See all my reviews

This review is from: True Blue (Hardcover)

I am puzzled that this book seems to have been taken out of circulation sometime in the last two years. It is now impossible to find it in any bookstore, and virtually impossible to find a new copy for sale anywhere online. I feel fortunate that I had bought my copy before the publishers froze their presses. Perhaps, it is deemed too sensitive in the Boat Race world to merit further propagation.

The book is written from the viewpoint of the Oxford Boat Club coach, Dan Topolski, who's had to deal with the tumultuous mutiny staged by the American rowers on his crew. His only ally was the club president, Donald MacDonald. The book paints the Americans as villains and prima donnas who could neither adapt to nor accept the harsh training practices and traditions of the Oxford Boat Club. Obviously, this book is highly partisan in its viewpoint, and has the agenda of attributing blame and responsibility for the mutiny amongst the American rowers, most of whom are still living and active in the rowing world.

Beneath the politics and the purpose of the book, however, it is still a worthwhile read. Topolski and his co-writer Robinson, do not write with a light trivial style. Topolski takes his statements seriously, substantiating them with systematic arguments that appeal by turns to logic, common sense, and the rugged traditions of elite rowing. He explains the psychology of rowing, of pain, of excellence, of teamwork, of self-sacrifice, with a passion and detailed understanding that can be quite exhilarating to read. When I was still active as a rower, I liked to underline key phrases in his book which I found to be extraordinarily motivating. Unlike "Assault on Lake Casitas" which is a macho book about a macho rower overcoming the odds, the prose of "True Blue" is very deliberate, very British, slightly ironic, sometimes moralistic, shorn of excessive testosterone, but always impactful. The Topolski-Robinson team is quite a remarkable marriage of sports wisdom/passion and writing sophistication.

I am sorry that the book is now almost extinct. I have a feeling that the American rowers indicted in the story may have rallied against it -- it is obviously biased but it is also quite convincing, making a devastating case against the American oarsmen. I do not know if the dispute is settled with any consensus in the rowing world, or whether the rowing world is still divided about whether the Americans were the cause of the unhappiness and scandal in the Blue boat. Apart from the political ramifications of the book and the agenda it advances, I have plenty of praise for its insights into the spirit of sport and rowing.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, a great read for rowing enthusiasts, July 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: True Blue (Hardcover)

True Blue is probably one of my favourite books. Although some friends dislike it, this is probably due to their complete lack of knowlege about the sport, which does admittedly make up the bulk of the book. However, I do also have a few non-rowing friends who love the book, which has given them a real insight into both rowing and the university of Oxford. The book is very well written, by a man who was one of the central characters in this true life story. The story is incredibly gripping, full of tension, and very hard to put down once you've started it. Read this book, especially if you're a boatie, and give it to all your drybob friends to either put them off rowing for life, or inspire them to get interested in rowing themselves.

5.0 out of 5 stars True Blue, July 13, 2009

By 

Dr. J. C. Tuffley (Brisbane, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: True Blue (Hardcover)

Every serious team sportsman should read this book. You will not be able to put it down. It is tremendously motivating and a moving story about self belief, hard work, and reward.