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Born to Run

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Born to Run

By: Bruce Springsteen
Narrated by: Bruce Springsteen
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The revealing, wildly entertaining, and bestselling memoir from the legendary Bruce Springsteen, one of the greatest songwriters and performers of any era. Born to Run is the greatest rock ‘n’ roll story ever told.

Essential reading for the 50th anniversary of Springsteen’s seminal album Born to Run, the long-awaited release of Nebraska ’82, and a companion to the acclaimed film Deliver Me from Nowhere, starring Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong, about the writing and recording of Springsteen’s classic Nebraska record.

Following his 2009 Super Bowl halftime performance, Bruce Springsteen privately devoted himself to writing the story of his life. The result is “an utterly unique, endlessly exhilarating, last-chance-power-drive of a memoir” (Rolling Stone) that offers 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.

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 USA,” “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.

“Both an entertaining account of Springsteen’s marathon race to the top and a reminder that the one thing you can’t run away from is yourself” (Entertainment Weekly), Born to Run is much more than a legendary rock star’s memoir. This book is a “a virtuoso performance, the 508-page equivalent to one of Springsteen and the E Street Band’s famous four-hour concerts: Nothing is left onstage, and diehard fans and first-timers alike depart for home sated and yet somehow already aching for more” (NPR). Entertainment & Celebrities Music Celebrity Inspiring Funny Witty Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Health Memoir Mental Health Biography
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Don't usually rate rock star biogs, mostly ghosted and self-serving. And I fall into the 'like some of his stuff but not a fanatical fan' category. Heard his interview with Simon Mayo and thought I'd give it a try.This is a marvellous book. He's an honest and powerful writer and narrator, beautiful prose, often poetic and lyrical. I now want to listen to all of his music, beyond the 'Greatest Hits'. Highly recommended, even if you've never ventured beyond 'Born to Run' (the song!).

A real 'Brucie Bonus'

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Narrated by Bruce Springsteen and covering his childhood to 2015, this story is totally engaging.

The book is full of interesting insights and anecdotes - about the music industry and the difficulties of breaking in and getting a fair deal; the challenges of selecting the right people and keeping a band together; the absolute commitment, self-confidence and persistence required to achieve anything substantial. He talks about early pop-rock inspirations - amongst them Elvis, The Beatles, and Dylan.

Springsteen relates lots of personal details concerning his parents and family their working class origins, and the tensions with his father. He describes his initial fear of serious relationships and more so of settling down, until he found the right partner with whom to start a family. He details his struggle to control his tendency to depression, and the value of therapy and medication where indicated. He talks about melding a band into a single unit while also requiring leadership (his) - and of the clashes with some of the performers, managers, and industry representatives with whom he worked.

He shares insights into why the E Street Band has been such a success and details the world-class talents in the Band and the key players with whom he still performs - Steven van Zandt (guitar), Nils Lofgren (guitar), Max Weinberg (Drums), Clarence Clemons (deceased) and more latterly Jake Clemons (sax) and more. It's fascinating to learn about the origin of key albums songs, and even on the choice of album cover images.His songs of working class people and the struggles they face, the post-9/11 period and his efforts to recognise and promote diversity, all receive attention.

Downsides aren't many - it is a little on the long side (19 hrs on audio) and there is some repetition (perhaps by design)... but overall my recommendation is overwhelmingly positive.

I hope he adds a post-script to bring the book up to date in the Trump and post-truth era and the popular protests and opposition that have emerged. The role of singer songwriters, a key theme in this story, is once again driven home.

This book is full of humanity, humour and wisdom and provided the ideal backdrop to re-listening to his music... Having since seen The Boss (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) perform live in Sydney - all I can say is ... Wow!!

Wonderful book by superb performer

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You don’t need to be an ardent fan to be amused and entertained by this warm, honest and heartfelt account of what it takes to reach and maintain superstardom.
An all round brilliant listen.

A wonderful listen! As passionately crafted as his songs.

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What a book, what a writer! Bruce Springsteen is a towering talent and personality. His gift when playing live is making the listener feel he is taking to them alone. As a narrator he does the same thing.

Glorious from beginning to end.

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A great book that provides the material to relate Bruce Springsteen's music to his life especially during the early stages of his career. The book is well read by the Boss himself in which he tells his story, his successes and failures. it is a heartfelt and honest account of his feelings and his relationships with his family, friends and himself. Great work and thank you for opening your heart and mind to your fans.

fantastic insight into Bruce Springsteen's life

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