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Born to Run cover art

Born to Run

By: Bruce Springsteen
Narrated by: Bruce Springsteen
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Editorial 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

Publisher's 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

What listeners say about Born to Run

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Not just for fans

I listened to this as a lover of rock music, not really a fan purely because the music is before my time. However I do appreciate good music and a good artist. Anyway, this book is well written, and very well narrated. He tells you his whole life story from start to present, and an interesting story it is. I highly recommend this book to anyone - Fan or not, it is a great story.

PS - because of this book I have bought 3 albums :)

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loved it

I loved this. and having Bruce springsteen himself read you his words made it so much more than just a great read. he is very open and honest. not holding back his most vulnerable moments. 17 hours long. wasn't long enough. thank you bruce.

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3 people found this helpful

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  • Jan
  • 28-12-2016

Swept Away

I cannot imagine anyone else narrating this story of Bruce.
His distinctive gravel tone lending an authenticity to a classic rags to riches and everything in between story that feels more like, at times, you are sitting with him crossing vast open landscapes in a battered Cadillac on a back country road..
I've a ticket to see him play in Australia in a few weeks, at hanging rock.
Having listened to this wonderful biography these past days the experience will resonate even more deeply. Thanks Bruce. You've taken me somewhere I've never been and I'm a little bit changed for it.
Honesty, authenticity and sharing our humanity, the good, the bad and the ugly, does that.

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Brilliant

Bruce Springsteen's story will bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye, I knew some of his hits, Born In The USA, Streets of Philadelphia and the like, and knew he was legit.

But his story is EPIC and the way he tells it is a work of art in its self, do yourself a massive favour and the pleasure, of hearing Bruce's story from the man him self.

I'm now a fan, and the fact that he couldn't sing for shit when he started has given me some hope that I might be able to hold a tune one day.

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Heart

This book was an interesting insight into a person driven to fulfill a strong vision. At first I thought I didn't want as much minutiae or detail as I was getting - but as it moved along I felt like this was an honest, genuine - setting the record straight, journey. The Boss he is and was and will remain.... this book has a great beating heart.

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Fantastic story telling

A fantastic insight into a life of music. It gave me chills down my spine, made me laugh and made me cry. I loved every minute of it.

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That’s how to be true to yourself

What a tough road to rock and roll super stardom. Bruce is a celebrated writer, musician, composer, and story teller. Bruce’s perseverance, dedication and always knowing what he wanted in his professional life, is outstanding. Thank you to Bruce for sharing the tender side too. The story of his family beginnings, struggles and difficult relationship with his dad resonates with many from that era. I loved the way Bruce spoke with deep love for his own family and for the E Street Band. Bruce is so much more than a successful rock star. A man of quality and substance.

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Biased reviewer here

If you read my other ratings you’ll see I hate biased authors. Well I’m a biased reader, I love Bruce and as such thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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So good!

Bruce opens up about success and mental illness, relationships and love. A fantastic read worthy of your time.

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From growing up to getting wise

A story of ambition and leadership (not always the best type) in the context of mental and friendship

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