Jim LemmonThe Log of Rowing at the University of California Berkeley, 1870-1987

This book definitely appeals to a niche audience: fans of competitive rowing and/or fans of University of California athletics. If you fall in either category, you will love this book. The rowers from Berkeley have won a total of 39 Olympic Medals in rowing (33 of them Gold!), as well as winning 19 national championships. This book was written by a former Cal men's crew head coach, and tells the story of Cal crew (which included such oarsmen as future stockbroker Dean Witter, future Academy Award winner Gregory Peck, and future Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara) from its beginning in the 1870s to the 1980s, including the three times Cal crew represented the United States in the Olympics in 1928, 1932 and 1948 (winning Gold each time). And it's filled with great photographs. For anyone who loves Cal sports or is interested in college crew, this book is a real treasure. Go Bears!

I rowed at Cal and Jim Lemmon was a great guy. He was a phi Beta Kappa and always a gentleman.