Born to Run
By Bruce Springsteen
- Release Date: 2016-09-27
- Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Description
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 2025’s 50th anniversary of Springsteen’s seminal album “Born to Run” and coinciding with the highly anticipated 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).
Reviews
Captivating
5By Trac_seaThe first book I’ve read in years and I couldn’t put it down. Easy-to-read, with shorter chapters kept my interest. I enjoyed the way he descriptively recalled events & helped the ready see the surroundings while digging deep in sharing his thoughts and feelings. It’s a fascinating journey through his personal life from childhood thru fatherhood, his career’s starts and stops, struggles and successes. The insights into what his music meant to him, what it was about and how it evolved was fascinating.This explains why….
5By Deni6'4"I am NOT the starry-eyed Bruce fan who owns every album and has gone to twenty concerts, but I do appreciate his talent and the breadth of his work. This book totally explains why he’s “THE BOSS.” There are only a few memoirs out there with this kind of honesty, vulnerability and emotional depth. Yeah, it still has the requisite amount of name dropping and humble bragging, but the honesty and genuine humility of a very complex man and artist outshine even that. Loved it.Amazing
5By BfishergrBruce, I am a fan for 40 years. Thanks for letting me inside the tent. You have nailed the essence of autobiography here.Generous to a Fault
5By SDWillI am not a life long Springsteen fan, for no other reason than there was so much music available that I just never came around to his work. It wasn’t until recently that I read some fiction loosely titled The Austin Trilogy (specifically, The Return), that brought Springsteen to my attention front-and-center. Simultaneously, I read an article about his release of Western Stars, his broadway show and this autobiography, so I figured I’d better check him out. I am thrilled to report that Born to Run is spectacular. Immediately readable, the author is generous to a fault. I still don’t know if I’m a fan of his music, but I am definitely a fan of the man as Artist.Thanks
5By Lisbeth salander 708Was really honest .Went a lot deeper than I thought he was going to. It’s hard for someone with mental illness to open up about it. Thanks for letting your fans get to know you a little betterJust a bad read
1By BillntI understand rock stars have to be narsasistic, but this was over the top. This is one of those books that you get into and just don’t like, but you feel you need to finish. His writing is horrible, he feels he has to use 22 big words to describe something to tell the world even though I barley got through high school, but I am smart. His cheap shots at deceased band member was the worst. Move on, there are much better reads out there.True story of determination and amazing music
5By Gonzo105I must say that I never new the whole story of what made Bruce Springsteen, and I'm glad he told it. And told it he did! What an incredible writer and story teller. You may know every song word for word as well as note for note but this brings everything to life. To listen to one of the most humble people tell a tale of beginning in a world so many unfortunately know and to fight to become one of the greatest musicians the world believes in is simply inspiring. Mr.Springsteen (I say Mr. Springsteen because he deserves it) had me from the first page to the last. If you want to feel good and incredibly inspired while learning about an incredible life, buy this book and you will not want to put it down until the last page is read and your heart filled. And no this review was not written by the publisher or a super fan. Just a normal man who happened upon the life story of a sound that I grew up with and love.Born to Run
5By CathlikgirlI was really looking forward to reading this and it did not disappoint! The Boss portrays himself as an imperfect human (aren't we all!). His struggles with and through depression definitely helped this Georgia girl. He has been and remains one of my musical and social heroes.Unreadable
1By MTM529I just could not get into it. It never got me interested. After 50 pages I quitBorn to Run
5By BldBeachBeautifully written, every fan should read! Excellent and hard to put down, wonderful memories revived, feel like I know the story behind the music! Intimate, revealing, inspirational!Great storyteller
5By Carnie10He can do it all.Ever the Boss...
5By Gray Ghost is.I've been a Bruce Springsteen fan for a long, long time, and I've read at least a couple of biographies—as well as I don't know how many articles and interviews over the years. Still, reading the Boss' account of his life and experiences is a revelation. His voice is clear throughout the book, and his perspective on his albums and tours is invaluably informative.Stick to the three chords you know - Bruce
1By bluesman 007Because you cannot write! Slogging through this mishmash of self congratulatory clap-trap was akin to staying till the end of a Molly Cyrus concert!Born to Run
5By Greekygirl5As a true Jersey girl, I have the honor of calling Bruce one of our own. If Sinatra was " the King of New Jersey" Bruce is and will always be the "prince". Loved this book and his truthful insights and memories of New Jersey and his musical genius will be ingrained in musical legend forever.Inside an artist's head
5By jromanoaustinAfter reading this book, I am going to put on my best headphones and listen to every Bruce album cover-to-cover and will find new personal meaning to the songs he has written. It took a lot of guts for him to write this soul-bearing book but just like the 5 concerts I have seen him at over the years, he gives you every ounce of himself. Sending my peaceful vibes to Bruce and his family on their remaining journeys.Beautifully Written
5By Mrbond313Written in the continuing prose of "hard to be a saint in the city" it is no doubt a vivid literary tale somewhere between Angela's Ashes and a classic Playboy interview... I kind of wish he never got famous... he's a great writer. In full disclosure I'm one of those fans that love the first four albums and Nebraska ... the early fan that spent years telling people " you've got see this Bruce Springsteen guy!!" Only later to have fans of Dancin in the Dark tell me " man have you heard of Bruce ?" I know there are thousands of us that always want to hang on to when he was just ours... kind of how he holds onto his memories of growing up with his grandparents unconditional acceptance ... I still remember lying in bed staring at my $5.50 Springsteen ticket for the Milwaukee auditorium show.. months away .. he always came in the fall.. He was always was a beautiful working class Messiah ... yeah maybe New York claimed him ... but we NEEDED him .. And this book is no different It is just what I needed ... so.....thank you .... again !! Kevn KinneyAn Excellent Autobiography
5By Mister TCMThe author writes with candor and great introspection. It leaves you wanting more, more stories, more revelations. But the point of the book is to present the "story of the author". Discretion and respect are important principles of this author and that's one of the things you draw from this book. You learn about the person and probably learn how to better understand yourself.Great read!
5By oregondave57Not only a great songwriter but a great author as well. I don't read many autobiographies but this one was fantastic. Don't miss it!Better be a big BS fan
3By lrpitzerHis story is an interesting one - his roots, self taught musician with a strong work ethic. And it is well written too but there is Too much detail about every performance and concert. It becomes tiresome and worthy of skimming. He's also fairly self absorbed ........as most superstars are.
