The Sphinx of the Charles: A Year at Harvard with Harry Parker

My rowing for Harry happened in the early years of his coaching. Many of the training techniques discussed here weren't available or developed then, but the essence of what I experienced and have valued for the rest of my life was a largely silent message that because we had put in the work, we could be confident. Back then, and probably for the rest of his life, he was a person of few words. The ones he spoke counted. Rowing coaches and oarsmen will find much to treasure here.

Loved the book. I raced against Harry's crews in the late 70's and we always got crushed. It was as if Harry had a secret and he wasn't telling. This book doesn't spell it out, and Harry certainly doesn't articulate the physics of his methods here, but the broad strokes (so to speak) seem to be here in the background. At least it works for me. I will never know what he truly knew/believed, but the book is kind of like an answer key to a test where the answer key is also a test. Provided excellent context and perspective for some things he said at an Olympic trials way back then, which I really didn't understand at the time. Book also had some good and interesting stories. Reignited a passion for understanding the sport.

Excellent read. Being a West Coast lightweight oarsman in the early 1970's, I knew little about Harry Parker, Harvard, or Eastern rowing, except that his crews won, and won, and won. Stuff of myths and legends.We only had a small startup team on a small lake miles from campus. Harvard and all other Eastern crews had rowing programs with 100 years of history, donors, and equipment, and outstanding athletes to choose from, many who rowed for four years in high school.First half of book stronger than the 2nd. The author name drops dozens of rowers names from Harry Parker's crews, only a very few I knew of.

An insightful, fascinating and humanizing portrait of iconic rower and coach Harry Parker. For rowers and non-rowers, coaches and athletes, sports and non-sports fans alike; this book offers an engaging and entertaining narrative for everyone. Toby Ayer takes you through the triumphs and challenges during a full academic year with Harvard's crews while weaving together pieces of rowing history, along with the history of Harry's incredible career in rowing.

Great book about one of Americas most famous and successful rowing coaches in the last 50 years. Loved by all his athletes who were fortunate to have Harry as their Coach either at Harvard or on the National Team and Olympic team.