The delicate balance between self-reliance and trusting others forms a central theme in The Boys in the Boat. Brown crafts a narrative that ultimately demonstrates that, in rowing, true success emerges not just through powerful individual efforts but through coordination amongst hardworking, determined teammates. This theme not only underpins the athletes’ journey to victory but also serves as a metaphor for personal growth and the human capacity to overcome adversity through cooperation.

Joe’s journey from a self-reliant orphan to a team player on the rowing crew exemplifies the tension between independence and interdependence. Throughout his childhood, Joe was repeatedly forced to fend for himself due to circumstances beyond his control. The death of his mother, his father’s abandonment, and his stepmother’s rejection all contributed to Joe’s belief that he must rely solely on himself to survive. This self-reliance reached its peak when his family moved away without him at the age of fifteen, leaving him “on his own” (54). This abandonment cemented Joe’s belief in self-reliance as a survival strategy. However, as Joe joined the University of Washington rowing team, he began to learn the value of trusting others and working as part of a cohesive unit.