NF

well written, interesting life ( )

I admit it is hard for me to be entirely objective about this book, given that I am a 40 -year fan of Mr. Springsteen. Many of his fans who have been following for a long time, know bits and pieces of his life through the stories he is told over the years at his epic concerts, in addition to witnessing his rise to fame and his enduring musical legacy. Mr. Springsteen is and always has been an excellent storyteller, in the songs he has written and in his monologues accompanying the music and in interviews with media. That storytelling capability carried over very well to this autobiography. I savored every word of this book, from his observations about family and love and life and fatherhood, in general, to the insights into the music business, the specific events that shaped his rise to stardom and the enduring professionalism of the E Street Band, his discussion of his own sometimes debilitating depression and the mental illness that plagued his father and other members of his family. Even though I read this slowly, digesting chapters or partial chapters before moving on, I so enjoyed the writing itself, the beautiful prose and imagery, that I plan to re-read this lovely book again very shortly. ( )

The central question of Springsteen's Born to Run is: How the hell do you get from Freehold, N.J., to superstardom (including hosting a podcast with a former president) in only 50 ish short years? The Boss’s autobiography, “Born to Run,” answers this paradox nicely. Many of the stories that Springsteen tells diehards will know about it but what makes this book special is how Springsteen pulls back the curtain to reveal how his own family life - including his upbringing - and search for love and acceptance as an adult has shaped his blue-collar songwriting. The most poignant parts of the autobiography come towards the end, when Springsteen discusses connecting with his mentally ill father as he nears his death bed, muses on his friendship with Clarence Clemons, and discloses his own struggles with depression. This is a surprisingly vulnerable autobiography ("Chronicles Vol.1" by Dylan this isn't). We often think of rock stars as being larger than life, but in many ways, Springsteen has always tried to remain true to his roots. What this autobiography reveals is the heart of the rock star. The Boss is just a man, with his own demons and struggles, searching for living proof and a bit Lord's undying light, just like the rest of us. And perhaps that is why his music connects with his fans. ( )

Beautiful storytelling. So happy to see his openess to tough topics like race and politics and war. Thankful for his honesty when it comes to mental health. Thank you for sharing more than your music! ( )