Most people mention the “Boys in the Boat” as the book through which they learned about rowing. But “The Red Rose Crew” gives you the history about the “girls in the boat” and I find this to be the MOST UPLIFTING book about rowing for women. Especially chapter 2 about Gail Pierson who started as a single sculler. Here’s a quote from that chapter:: “Single scullers were an odd lot, even in the peculiar world of rowing. They were both revered and distrusted by other rowers—-revered because sculling was a higher form of rowing art, much harder to learn than the “sweep” rowing done at colleges……..single scullers were outcasts in the world of rowing, frequently the one’s who couldn’t stand being coached or weren’t very tolerant of rowing in the same boat with others. ”

The Red Rose Crew  A True Story of Women, Winning and the Water