Born to Run

This review is from Jim Loving, husband of CKL.Let me add my review to the nearly 2300 other Amazon reviews. I highly recommend this book, for Springsteen fans, casual and rabid, and to others who may not even be familiar with his work. He is a highly accomplished American, with a great personal story, and he tells it very well. Actually, Bruce pours his heart out, as usual. He opens up. He shares, he let's you in to better understand what makes him.... Bruuuuuce!Bruce does not write about his accomplishments or rather his awards, but here are a few of them: from About the Author: “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 twenty Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors. He lives in New Jersey with his family. For more information, go to www dot brucespringsteen dot net.” Additionally, he is also the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.I read both the hard back (first 1/3) and the Kindle edition. This is an auto-biography, with Bruce telling his personal story, breaking it up into three sections, or “books”, spanning 79 chapters (making it also feel like a memoir in its format). These are 1- Growin Up, 2- Born To Run, 3- Living Proof. In the foreward, this is how Bruce describes this story:“I come from a boardwalk town where almost everything is tinged with a bit of fraud. So am I. By twenty, no race-car-driving rebel, I was a guitar player on the streets of Asbury Park and already a member in good standing amongst those who “lie” in service of the truth . . . artists, with a small “a.” But I held four clean aces. I had youth, almost a decade of hard-core bar band experience, a good group of homegrown musicians who were attuned to my performance style and a story to tell.This book is both a continuation of that story and a search into its origins. I’ve taken as my parameters the events in my life I believe shaped that story and my performance work. One of the questions I’m asked over and over again by fans on the street is “How do you do it?” In the following pages I will try to shed a little light on how and, more important, why.”It helps if one is somewhat familiar with his music, as much of the story centers around this. The good news is that one can (I did) go to Youtube to hear most of it (I was unfamiliar with much of his later work) and to see events described in the story (e.g. Danny Federici’s (near) last performance in IN playing “Sandy” (Asbury Park, 4th of July). You can watch interviews of Bruce from 2016 around the release of this book, you can see the award ceremony for the Medal of Freedom, the 2005 documentary on the making of Born to Run, the R&R HOF ceremony, many concert performances, band member interviews, and much more. Reading this book made me binge watch all of this. It was like re-discovering a story I had sort of been following most of my adult life.I am what I would call a casual Springsteen fan. He is 4 years older than me. I saw him perform only live twice – in 1973 touring in support of the Wild, Innocent and E Street Shuffle, and in 1974-75 supporting Born to Run. I was familiar with his other work because of FM radio, then the Internet and TV. Reading this book, I learned a lot about him, and his influences. I learned we have a few things in common:1- Catholic upbringing;2- Italian mother with immigrant Italian grand-parents,3- Richmond VA connection (I was born there and stayed through HS, graduating in 1972 and have returned often since visiting family)– before recording his very first album, Bruce’ first foray outside NJ was in Richmond. Reading this, I put a post on FB to a group called “Richmond Underground – 1970-1990” asking about his band Steel Mill and visits to Richmond, and as of this review 58 people have posted numerous comments, memories, posters, sightings, photos, etc.;4- Family with a history of mental illness.The fourth was the biggest revelation and the perhaps most important part of the book. Bruce openly discusses his father’s mental illness and his own battle with depression and his many years of therapy. This was an important and brave thing to do. If anyone reading has a connection to Bruce, I would love for him to take this up as a “Cause” and become a spokesman for this – he could continue to do great good.If you are a Springsteen fan – you MUST read this book. If you are a fan of American music, you must read this book. If you are songwriter, you must read this book. If you are casual fan, a great read, if you are a fan of auto-biographies of great Americans and the power of the human spirit, read this book.

If you have ever actually listened to the lyrics of most Springsteen songs (except maybe Waitin’ on a Sunny Day), you know that Bruce Springsteen is a really deep guy. There was a book published 15 years ago called Songs, which contained all the lyrics of every Springsteen song written to that time. I loved that book. I read it cover to cover, several times. You could read and contemplate all his lyrics. Born to Run helps explain the factors that helped Bruce’s amazing catalog of music come into creation.Bruce’s autobiography, Born to Run, gives his fans tremendous insight into what it was that has driven Bruce over the course of his life and career. The motivations, the demons, the anxiety, the joys, the fears, the hopes, the dreams, all the elements that have constituted the Boss’s muse over these past 50 years are explained here. And not only is Bruce one of the great writers of lyrics and music, he is a great writer of prose. He amply demonstrates this here for all the world to see. He shares his story in a way only he could.If you intend to purchase and read this book, I will tell you it is a real page turner. I could not put this book down. It has a somewhat imposing profile at 528 pages, but it is an easy read. An inspiring read. I do not want to reveal any of the revelations the reader will discover within the pages of this book, but I can say it was interesting to learn that Bruce possesses many of the same insecurities of us mere mortals.Bruce discloses, in great detail, particulars of his early years, his upbringing, the issues that influenced the way he thinks, his musically formative years, his wide held acclaim, his family, his doubts, his fears, and a treasure trove of personal details I have never heard before. I have been a Springsteen fan for over four decades. I grew up less than 30 miles from Freehold, NJ. I used to go see Bruce in those little seaside bars he used to sing about. I have seen many Springsteen interviews. I have attended over 60 shows. I have read most of the previously published articles and books. Much of the material in this book has never been publicly presented before, and all in his own words. Bruce has obviously spent much time in intense introspection, and he shares many of his insights and conclusions here.Bruce is arguably the world’s greatest showman. Now that the great James Brown has passed on, the moniker, “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” clearly belongs to Bruce. His unique gifts of lyric writing, musical composition, musicianship, and studio and on stage performance have rarely been seen in a single person. Bruce has won 20 Grammys (out of 49 nominations), 2 Golden Globe Awards, an Academy Award, 2 Emmy Awards, has been inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame, has received a Kennedy Center Honor, and so much more. He now shows himself to be a gifted writer as well. And this book provides tremendous insights into how all that came about.Bruce’s drive for perfectionism is explained. Why “good enough” is not in his vocabulary. Bruce is keenly aware the music will last forever. Here he is, 67 years old, and still performing to sold out stadiums and arenas every time he plays. His fans love him. He knows that, and he knows why. He strives to produce and deliver the best product he can, and he almost always succeeds.If you have ever wondered exactly what it is that makes one of the greatest of this or any other generation’s musical talents tick, it is all right here. Bruce’s candor is striking. He has generally been a reserved and very private person in the past, but in this book, he puts it all out there. If you are a fan, you will love this book.Bruce Springsteen is not just one of the world’s greatest musicians, writers, and performers, he is one of the world’s greatest people. Through a lifetime of events he details here, his skills developed and he has evolved into the national and world treasure affectionately referred to as "The Boss."

Ich brauche überraschend viel Zeit, um mit der Lektüre dieser Autobiographie voran zu kommen. Unerwartet, wenn die sehr guten Englischkenntnisse ihr Fundament bei Springsteen haben.Das Format ist dabei ganz klassisch, chronologisch, von der ersten Kindheitserinnerung an - die Eltern, Elvis und die Beatles, der allen Musikern heiligen Erinnerung an den ersten Gitarrenkauf und dem ersten Gig. Es sind aber die Details, die aus dem Rahmen fallen und mich bei Seite 11 bereits wissen ließen, worin Springsteen's Ausnahmestellung begründet liegt.Bei allem inneren Ringen, den menschlichen Abgründen, die Springsteen stets besungen und auch anderweitig beschrieben hat, der Rockstar, dem man abnimmt, dass er sich immer vor Drogen und Alkohol gescheut, der die größten Stadien der Welt aufgerollt hat, mit dem man ebenso einige der besten Party-Erinnerungen verbindet, kann auch in Prosa mit auffallenden, ungewöhnlich düsteren Bildern dienen! Es ist, wie immer, Springsteen's atmosphärische Dichte, die vereinnahmt und ausgiebige Aufmerksamkeit einfordert - Psychologen würden diesem Schluss, den Künstler betreffend, vermutlich zustimmen. Bekannter, die sozialen und politischen Diskussionen, die sich um den Arbeiter, der tatsächlich in seinem ganzen Leben nur einen “echten“ Job als 15-Jähriger hatte, Vietnam-Untauglichen, dem missverstandenen Sohn ranken. Jemand der immer mal wieder verhaftet wurde, vor allem weil er dem Anforderungsprofil, jung, männlich, langhaarig entsprach, sollte ein gespaltenes Verhältnis zum Vaterland und/oder dessen Autoritäten haben, nicht zuletzt in der Reagan Ära fanden sich dafür viele Gleichgesinnte. Auch die Mondlandung z.B., verknüpft er mit einer recht individuellen Erinnerung. Wer, “Born In The USA“, falsch versteht, will es nicht verstehen.Zufällig oder nicht, treten in “BTR“ gefühlt ähnlich viele Charaktere auf wie in Tolstoi's “Krieg und Frieden“, mit ebenfalls allen möglichen Namensvariationen, die das Auseinanderhalten manchmal nicht ganz leicht machen. Die Genauigkeit ihrer Beschreibung aber, lässt viel von den Zeiten erfühlen in denen sie lebten, sind zudem ein deutlicher Beweis für Springsteen's Begabung Menschen zu beobachten und die Fähigkeit auf ihre Eigenarten und Verdrehungen zuzugehen.Sprachlich, so amerikanisch wie es geht. Bruce Springteen meets Robert Zemeckis meets Kurt Vonnegut, ein Amerikanistik Zeitgeschichte/Popkultur Proseminar deluxe! Aus meiner Sicht dennoch gleichermaßen als Einstiegslektüre denkbar, wie zur intensiven Vertiefung für Fortgeschrittene.

Al igual que los discos de Springsteen este libro es el resultado del trabajo de un perfeccionista. Después de escribir y borrar el libro completo varias veces por fin decide publicarlo. Para entender qué es es se le puede comparar con los conciertos de Springsteen donde toca canciones para reflexionar, emocionarse hasta las lágrimas, pero sobre todo, para mover los pies. El libro incluye pasajes y reflexiones sobre su niñez, los problemas de llegar a la edad adulta, la tortuosa relación con su padre, su pelea con la depresión (sin ser deprimente) pero sobre todo es un libro lleno de anécdotas e historias muy divertidas. No va a ganar el Nobel con su prosa pero se puede leer muy bien. Este es en general un libro indispensable para quién guste de la música en general y una biografía reveladora sobre una vida donde el éxito nunca se definió por la fama o el dinero sino por una idea romántica y seductora: el rock'n'roll puede cambiar tu vida y, porque no, también el mundo.

One of the best books of the year. Proves that Springsteen is not just a great musician but an equally great author. The book is a must have for Springsteen fans but it's equally interesting for those who don't follow him. Go grab your copy.

Rather than the standard star auto-biography, Springsteen invites us behind the private persona to reveal the demons that drive his art and his struggles with depression and mental illness. Even better, he writes his memoir like he writes his lyrics: a few well chosen details that illuminate a bigger picture. I found I had to keep putting the book down to let the pictures and emotions settle before I could move on (and that happens very seldom).Like many of his songs, Springsteen wrote the book to make sense of his life - rather than because a publishing house offered a large advance. I doubt his editor did much more than tweak - because who would brave enough to question such an important star. The result is the book has its problems but ultimately these are its strengths. Let me explain, you get far more than you are really interested in about his early pre-fame bands. You get to know much more about the lives of his band mates than is really interesting - unless you are of course a die hard Springsteen fan. But as I read on, I realised that this was just another insight into Springsteen's personality. His obsession with rock and roll and his enormous loyalty to his friends and colleagues. Ultimately, you cannot help but admire him and be grateful for such unfettered access. You get a real sense that it would be a privilege to meet him but that he could be moody and a bit of pain in the arse too. By the end, I was just grateful for his generosity, for showing how creativity and success comes out of hard slog and never giving up. He has also learnt a lot in his journey from poverty to riches and twenty-five years in therapy. I found myself marking up several passages to share on facebook and a couple of quotes that help me make sense of my personal journey too.Even if you're not a huge fan of Springsteen (I have seen him in concert once and probably own one album) you will find this a memorable read about not just what it is to be a rock star but what it is like to be human (and truly alive).

I've been a Springsteen fan for almost 40 years so it was no surprise I loved his autobiography, I knew I would before I read it.What I didn't fully expect was how profound, funny, sad, hopeful, extremely human, simply well-written it is. This is a wonderful book for anyone who likes music, not only Bruce's fans. I don't know why I didn't know he would write a great book but he did. I should have known better. Sorry, Bruce.A very entertaining, honest account of a good man's life.