Born to Run

Version: Unabridged
Author: Bruce Springsteen
Narrator: Bruce Springsteen
Genres: Biography & Memoir
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published In: December 2016
# of Units: 16 CDs
Length: 16 hours, 39 minutes
Ratings:
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Overview

The revelatory and wildly bestselling memoir by legendary rock star Bruce Springsteen: “Glorious…a philosophically rich ramble through a rock ’n roll life…It’s the lyric he was born to write” (USA TODAY, 4 out of 4 stars).

Over the past seven years, Bruce Springsteen has 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 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.

“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).

Selected Reviews

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by Joanne R.
  • Book Rating: 3/5

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by Gary Y
  • Book Rating: 5/5

More...

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Reviews (25)

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Written by Joanne R. on August 22nd, 2018

  • Book Rating: 3/5

Nice to listen to Bruce but way to much boring details. Story should have been half the length.

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Written by Gary Y on May 3rd, 2018

  • Book Rating: 5/5

So insightful, pure, surprising and also helpful. I'm not even a huge Bruce fan, although I've always casually enjoyed his music. This book is further proof that every man has a story beyond what their persona shows.

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Written by Brenda B on April 30th, 2018

  • Book Rating: 5/5

An intimate look at a gifted man, who takes responsibility for himself and his life, while paintbig those around him with grace and kindness. I can really hear the poet that he is, in much of his book. ????

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Written by Tina M on January 25th, 2018

  • Book Rating: 5/5

I loved this book! I enjoyed being carried through Bruce's honest and open story of his life by his extraordinary voice. He's a wonderful story teller with a very pleasing rhythm, depth and texture to the telling. His heartfelt story of love, family, career, challenges, pain and his commitment to his art took me through a range of emotions, brought tears at times but, all along, his exceptional creative talent and insight shone through. This is a man I enjoyed getting to know. This audiobook is one to keep and revisit. I highly recommend it.

Written by Adam B on November 18th, 2017

  • Book Rating: 5/5

An honest sounding narrative of a man's life. The ups, downs and strange events that shaped one of the world's best musicians.

Written by Kenn D on October 30th, 2017

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Honest and raw. I enjoyed following through the hard yards of Bruce’s journey. Nothing comes easy in life. This book inspires a deeper look into what I can do with what is left of my life. Great read.

Born to Run

Written by Tracy T on July 30th, 2017

  • Book Rating: 5/5

What a fantastic journey! Bruce really opened up his heart and soul. He\'s a very brave, and courageous artist.

Born to Run

Written by Gary B on July 9th, 2017

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Brilliant book and read with meaning, loved it, thanks Bruce .

Written by Damien S on May 24th, 2017

  • Book Rating: 5/5

A total surprise in every aspect. Honest , original , heartfelt, soul baring , poetic and insightful. It was a true pleasure to listen to Bruce talk about his life in a way most famous people don't. Loved it.

Written by Cathy B on May 21st, 2017

  • Book Rating: 5/5

I really enjoyed this book. Bruce is a good writer and narrator and although I know little of his music it made me want to hear more outside of his top hits that I was familiar with. He is surprisingly open about some aspects of his personal relationships and I really came to like him as a person. His descriptions of this walk with depression are honest and frightening and his love and respect for Patti comes shining through. I was surprised at how accomplished a story teller he is and the book led me back to list to his music again and understand more of what it's about. Can highly recommend it. I would have loved more music clips though.

Selected Reviews

0

by Joanne R.
  • Book Rating: 3/5

0

by Gary Y
  • Book Rating: 5/5

More...

Read All 25

Author Details

Author Details

Springsteen, Bruce

"The Boss" hit the music industry with the release of his first album Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J., in 1973. The Wild, the Innocent, and The E Street Shuffle quickly followed this release. The albums received critical claim with comparisons to Bob Dylan, but did not sell well with the fans. Bruce Springsteen's career had begun.

Springsteen was born in Freehold, New Jersey, on September 23, 1949. He grew up in a "normal middle class family" and first started playing around with the guitar in High School. After graduating from High School he moved to New York to try and break into the Fol