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Ready All!
In the 1920s, an upstart West Coast college began to challenge the Eastern universities in the ancient sport of crew racing. Sportswriters scoffed at the "crude western boats" and their crews. But for the next forty years, the University of Washington dominated rowing around the world.
The secret of the Huskies' success was George Pocock, a soft-spoken English immigrant raised on the banks of the Thames. Pocock combined perfectionism with innovation to make the lightest, best-balanced, fastest shells the world had ever seen. After studying the magnificent canoes built by Northwest Indians, he broke with tradition and began to make shells of native cedar.
Pocock, who had been a champion sculler in his youth, never credited his boats for the accomplishments of a crew. He wanted every rower to share his vision of discipline and teamwork. As rowers from the University of Washington went on to become coaches at major universities across the country, Pocock's philosophy―and his shells―became nationally famous in the world of crew.
Drawing on documents provided by Pocock's family, photographs from the University of Washington Crew Archives, and interviews with rowers who revered the man, Newell evokes the times as well as the life of this unique figure in American sport.
The secret of the Huskies' success was George Pocock, a soft-spoken English immigrant raised on the banks of the Thames. Pocock combined perfectionism with innovation to make the lightest, best-balanced, fastest shells the world had ever seen. After studying the magnificent canoes built by Northwest Indians, he broke with tradition and began to make shells of native cedar.
Pocock, who had been a champion sculler in his youth, never credited his boats for the accomplishments of a crew. He wanted every rower to share his vision of discipline and teamwork. As rowers from the University of Washington went on to become coaches at major universities across the country, Pocock's philosophy―and his shells―became nationally famous in the world of crew.
Drawing on documents provided by Pocock's family, photographs from the University of Washington Crew Archives, and interviews with rowers who revered the man, Newell evokes the times as well as the life of this unique figure in American sport.
188 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 9, 2021
Sorry, not enough time for a full review.
The history of crew racing is surprisingly rich. In particular, it’s worth knowing the life story of the University of Washington’s George Pocock, who built the best boats in the world.
If you loved “The Boys in the Boat” (see my review), and are interested in a deeper dive into Pocock’s story, this is the book you want. If you’re convinced that crew racing is just a boring “sport” for rich boys, then there is little hope for you, alas.
The photographs in “Ready all!” are also wonderful.
The history of crew racing is surprisingly rich. In particular, it’s worth knowing the life story of the University of Washington’s George Pocock, who built the best boats in the world.
If you loved “The Boys in the Boat” (see my review), and are interested in a deeper dive into Pocock’s story, this is the book you want. If you’re convinced that crew racing is just a boring “sport” for rich boys, then there is little hope for you, alas.
The photographs in “Ready all!” are also wonderful.
November 16, 2025
A delightful read. Pocock was the embodiment of Proverbs 22:29: Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
November 20, 2019
Pocock Shells were the finest wooden racing boats ever made, and at one time were the choice of every varsity boat in the national rowing championships. This is the biography of the man who made them so. A modest man who was the best at what he did, and several times turned down financial gain to advance the sport he loved by providing the best possible boats for the lowest possible price to fledgling collegiate programs who could afford little.
In addition George Pocock nurtured rowers into coaches who then spread out across the country to bring his influence to many other rowing programs. An excellent telling of a man who spent his life doing what he most wanted to do.
In addition George Pocock nurtured rowers into coaches who then spread out across the country to bring his influence to many other rowing programs. An excellent telling of a man who spent his life doing what he most wanted to do.
January 5, 2020
Fun read about rowing history
July 14, 2015
George Pocock was born to a rowing family that lived alongside the Thames River, but in 1910 with no local job prospects he and his brother left for Canada hoping to find a job cutting trees. Instead he found his first job in Canada at the Vancouver Rowing Club where he fixed boats for $40 a month. These were very humble beginnings for a man who would change the future of college crew racing in the United States. His creative building skills and philosophies on team work let the University of Washington take the lead in a field that had always been dominated by east coast schools.
This is a well-written book that takes us from Pocock's childhood to his career as the foremost crew builder in the United States and perhaps the world. The book is well-organized and filled with photos and documents from his family.
I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a well-written book that takes us from Pocock's childhood to his career as the foremost crew builder in the United States and perhaps the world. The book is well-organized and filled with photos and documents from his family.
I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2016
The subject of this book deserves five stars and more. I learned of George Pocock in The Boys in the Boat and hoped to learn more about him as an individual through this biography. The events of his life and his living of it are certainly covered in greater scope, but I feel that this biography fell short of exploring the man himself. Perhaps Pocock's profound modesty would deflect any attempt to penetrate the mystique that surrounds him...
May 22, 2015
The Boys in the Boat is a great story of one crew with some of the history. This book gives us the rest of the history, told first-hand with keen personal observations.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews