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Born to Run

By: Bruce Springsteen
Narrated by: Bruce Springsteen
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Summary

Winner of the 2018 Audie Award for Autobiography/Memoir

"Writing about yourself is a funny business.... But in a project like this, the writer has made one promise: to show the reader his mind. In these pages, I've tried to do this." (Bruce Springsteen, from the audio of Born to Run)

In 2009, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed at the Super Bowl's halftime show. The experience was so exhilarating that Bruce decided to write about it. That's how this extraordinary autobiography began.

Over the past seven years, Bruce Springsteen has privately devoted himself to writing the story of his life, bringing to this audio the same honesty, humor, and originality found in his songs. He describes growing up Catholic in Freehold, New Jersey, amid the poetry, danger, and darkness that fueled his imagination, leading up to the moment he refers to as "The Big Bang": seeing Elvis Presley's debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. He vividly recounts his relentless drive to become a musician, his early days as a bar-band king in Asbury Park, and the rise of the E Street Band. With disarming candor, he also tells for the first time the story of the personal struggles that inspired his best work and shows us why the song "Born to Run" reveals more than we previously realized.

Born to Run will be revelatory for anyone who has ever enjoyed Bruce Springsteen, but this book is much more than a legendary rock star's memoir. This is a book for workers and dreamers, parents and children, lovers and loners, artists, freaks, or anyone who has ever wanted to be baptized in the holy river of rock and roll. Rarely has a performer told his own story with such force and sweep. Like many of his songs ("Thunder Road", "Badlands", "Darkness on the Edge of Town", "The River", "Born in the U.S.A.", "The Rising", and "The Ghost of Tom Joad", to name just a few), Bruce Springsteen's autobiography is written with the lyricism of a singular songwriter and the wisdom of a man who has thought deeply about his experiences.

Author bio: Bruce Springsteen has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the New Jersey Hall of Fame. He is the recipient of 20 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors. He lives in New Jersey with his family.

©2016 Bruce Springsteen (P)2016 Simon & Schuster Audio
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Editor reviews

Editors Select, December 2016 - Having grown up in New Jersey, it's not too much of a stretch to say that Bruce Springsteen was something of a spiritual force. His voice is synonymous with a powerful sense of place, and it bears a rugged, scrappy idealism that can make you feel patriotic and subversive at the same time. That's what makes this autobiography, written and performed by The Boss himself, nothing less than magical. It's not simply a story of his path to success or a philosophy of greatness but a marathon concert tell-all wherein he confronts demons of mental illness, poverty, and familial strife. It is nostalgic for a simpler time but urgent in its display of discipline and individuality. Ultimately, Bruce delivers with this audiobook what he has done for nearly five decades with his music: a celebration of the commonplace and the struggles of American life with candor, imagination, and purpose. Michael, Audible Editor

What listeners say about Born to Run

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Unexpectedly engaging...honest and enlightening

Where does Born to Run rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

among the best of musician memoirs

Any additional comments?

...a long ago aspiring songwriter, i wondered why i never 'connected'...but in revealing the many sides of his personality....from the dysfunction and insecurities to his honest belief that he knew he was special and the stoic confidence that came with it, he opened my eyes to the true dynamics of the really few great success stories of the amazing music makers of the 1950's, 60's. 70's and 80's and understanding that unmatched era in time was built by people who found they were gifted with the ability to take the feelings they gained from an early age and fight as hard as necessary to output what they held so strongly inside.

Bruce was able to explain that undeniable connection to focused music self-confidence and never stop pushing forward until the hard work paid off, slowly but surely. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the story being told by Bruce and found myself a little surprised by the eagerness i felt to continue listening...since my interests were always musicians who came before him. It will inspire me to also go back and listen to more of his music.

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Simply amazing

Whilst I love Bruce, I must commend the audio book, Bruce reads this like he sings an album. This is a bone shaking, soul making, mind shaping story

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Simply a great book

I could not stop listening to this book. His life is inspiring and makes you question your own life.

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The most fantastic rock autobiography

The boss is on top with this. Deep honest and thorough look at his life and works. Absolutely perfect

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New love for The Boss

Really interesting insight to a man I vaguely new yet now feel I could reminisce over old times with. Really well read too.

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After 3 starts I loved it

It took me 3 attempts to listen to this. I found Bruce Springsteen spoke too slow but once I sped it up to x1.2 I listened to it non-stop.
Great story

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A new fan

Never been that engaged in the Springsteen back catalogue but was interested to find out more about him and was attracted by the good book reviews. Made all the more powerful by having Bruce narrate, able to deliver the content with the intended meaning and punchline. A new fan.

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incredible! what a legend

No wonder they call him The Boss! I wasn't necessarily a fan but heard the book was great and was hooked from the start. what a natural ability to convey thoughts feelings perceptions and observations. outstanding

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Great autobiography from the Boss!

narrated by the man himself, great to hear his life story. genuinely made me laugh out loud and cry in places, especially when talking about his Dad and the big man!

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Utterly Brilliant

I've been a fan of Bruce for over 30 years and this book gives so much insight into his music and motivations. It is so well narrated by the man himself and often felt like listening to one long glorious album.

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