Product guide

The Amateurs by David Halberstam: 1984 Olympic Rowing Story

Rowing: The Amateurs by David Halberstam follows four U.S. rowers pursuing a place at the 1984 Olympics, with the story focused on the physical strain and personal sacrifices behind elite competition. This Kindle edition also includes an extended author biography.

At a glance

Centers on four amateur U.S. rowers competing for the chance to represent the country as a single sculler at the 1984 Olympics.
Explores the sacrifices, pain and drive associated with pursuing Olympic competition without lucrative endorsement rewards.
The listing says the ebook includes an extended biography of David Halberstam.

Price

$3.99Save 78%

Reference price: ~~$17.99~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

A focused rowing story offers historical and sporting context alongside the athletes' personal ambitions.
Kindle accessibility and reading features include screen-reader support, enhanced typesetting and Word Wise.

Technical specifications

12 specifications

Edition details
Publisher	Open Road Media
Publication date	December 18, 2012
Edition	1st Ballantine Books Ed
Language	English
Print length	242 pages
File size	7.4 MB
ISBN-13	978-1453295151

Kindle features
Screen Reader	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	Enabled
X-Ray	Enabled
Word Wise	Enabled
Page Flip	Enabled

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The listing describes this as an ebook while identifying its edition as “1st Ballantine Books Ed.” Confirm the selected digital edition and reading format if that distinction matters to you.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers interested in rowing, Olympic competition and athlete biographies.
Fans of sports journalism and stories about the personal costs of high-level competition.

Less suited to

Readers seeking a light or uncomplicated sports narrative, since the account emphasizes pain and personal sacrifice.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.3 / 5 · 429 ratings

5 stars54%54%
4 stars31%31%
3 stars12%12%
2 stars2%2%
1 star1%1%

Customer feedback describes the book as engaging, well-written and informative, with particular appeal to rowing fans and praise for its historical research. Reactions are not uniform: some readers find the intensity overdone, and opinions differ on whether the narrative is easy to follow. That split may matter if you want a straightforward sports account rather than a detailed, intense story.

Positive themes

Customers describe the story as engaging and the writing as strong.
Readers report value for rowing fans and informative historical detail.

Mixed feedback

Some readers find the intensity over-the-top.
Readability divides readers, with some finding it re-readable and others saying it can be hard to follow.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Amateurs about?

It follows four amateur U.S. rowers pursuing the chance to compete as the country's single sculler at the 1984 Olympics.

Is this a digital edition?

The listing presents it as a Kindle ebook and gives a file size of 7.4 MB. It also lists a Ballantine Books edition designation, so confirm the selected format if needed.

How long is the book?

The listing gives a print length of 242 pages.