A Most Beautiful Thing

"Uplifting and always enlightening . . . [A Most Beautiful Thing] is a coming-of-age story told with the benefit of adult insights and mature hindsight . . . This book is less about this specific sport than how that sport becomes transformative, empowering some kids, giving others a direction."—Chicago Tribune

"The sport made intense demands on the young men, requiring them to train hard, learn how to swim, and make countless sacrifices—including not reacting to the racist jeers from competitors and spectators. The experience turned a team of strangers into brothers and unleashed their potential. The book is as uplifting as its title suggests, and sections detailing the races are downright heart-pounding."—The Christian Science Monitor

"Cooper details how he and his teammates experienced racism and discrimination in the community around the boathouses the team traveled to and how they took a risk in trying a mostly all-white sport that had never seen anyone like them before—and how it ultimately transformed his life."—Sports Illustrated

"I was immediately captivated. Arshay's writing evokes the emotional angst of teens growing up in the inner city of Chicago. It is a triumphant tale of overcoming odds, with the sport of rowing—not the conventional football or basketball—as a catalyst to his and his crew's salvation. I wholeheartedly recommend Arshay's work and look forward to his future projects."—Ron Stallworth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Black Klansman

"Arshay’s remarkable story reminds us of the life-changing power of will over hopelessness, of belief over despair, and shows us what it looks like when we stop listening to demons and start honoring our own potential. This is the story of rising from the ashes stronger, faster, and focused—not in spite of the circumstances of birth but because of them. Arshay’s refusal to let his life story be written for him is a testament to the resilience and beauty of the human spirit, and his eagerness to succeed, on the water and in life, is an inspiration."—Elizabeth Gilbert, The New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic

"Spirited . . . memorable . . . Engrossing a sports memoir but also relevant to any conversation about privilege and race."—Kirkus Reviews