Home › Rowing › The Shell Game: Reflections on Rowing and the Pursuit of Excellence
  • The Shell Game: Reflections on Rowing and the Pursuit of Excellence by Stephen Kiesling book cover
  • The Shell Game: Reflections on Rowing and the Pursuit of Excellence by Stephen Kiesling book cover
1 2

The Shell Game: Reflections on Rowing and the Pursuit of Excellence

by Stephen Kiesling

Rowing, rivalry, and the pursuit of Olympic selection

$17.71 USD
$23.62 USD $17.71 USD
Save 25%

Paperback New

Delivery to your door
In stock·Dispatches in 1–2 business days
Standard shipping* from $4.35
Standard shipping transit* 5–8 business days after dispatch

Faster options are available.

Rates and delivery estimates depend on your destination and item quantity. Estimates are informational only; the final shipping method and rate are selected at checkout.
Secure checkout
American Express Apple Pay DiscoverGoogle Pay Mastercard PayPalVisa
30-day eligible returns Returns & refunds policy

AlbakiReads Editorial

Rowing, rivalry, and the pursuit of Olympic selection

Stephen Kiesling’s account joins two ambitions: writing a senior project on the philosophy of sport and competing for a place on the Olympic team. The narrative begins with his arrival at Yale as a novice rower and places the reader inside the varsity eight, then follows his path toward the World Championships and Olympic selection. Competition is unusually close to home: Kiesling’s rivals include Yale teammates, while the Olympic coach is identified as Harvard’s coach, with the Yale–Harvard contest still in view. The book’s rowing focus is paired with questions about excellence and the meaning of sport, grounded in the author’s experience as a competitor.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Rowing enthusiasts interested in varsity and elite competition
  • Readers curious about the philosophy of sport and athletic ambition
  • Those interested in the Yale–Harvard rowing rivalry

Themes

RowingAthletic excellenceCompetition and rivalryOlympic ambitionPhilosophy of sport

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

A Californian who had never touched an oar before arriving at Yale, Stephen Kiesling became part of the "engine room" of the varsity eight. His senior project was to write a book on the philosophy of sport while attempting to qualify for the Olympic Team. This is his story, told from inside the shell, of one of the most exciting races ever rowed. It is also his journey to the World Championships and, finally, the Olympic Team-when his competitors were his own Yale teammates and the Olympic coach was the Harvard coach, still aiming to beat Yale.
Shipping & returnsShipping options, delivery timing, and our return policy.

In-stock items normally dispatch within 1–2 business days. The ZIP-code estimator on this page is informational only; the final shipping method, price, and availability are confirmed at checkout for your full order.

For the initial delivery estimate we use these transit windows after dispatch: Standard 5–8 business days, Expedited 2–4 business days, and Priority 1–2 business days. Holiday delays are not included.

Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in accordance with our return policy.

Customer reviews

You may also like

View all