Born to Run

"Self-written rock star biographies often hit two potholes: They’re not particularly insightful and they’re not particularly well-written. Thankfully, rock ’n’ roll wise man Bruce Springsteen leaps past both obstacles with a bracing story that reads like extra stanzas to epic songs like “Jungleland” or, yes, “Born to Run.” Springsteen dishes on the father who struggled with mental illness and never really understood him, how he sidestepped early efforts to present him as the new Bob Dylan and how a rock superstar hailed by millions as The Boss could endure his own struggles with depression. There might be a bit too much detail about ‘70s-era rock joints in New Jersey for casual fans, but this book sets the record straight on everything from the despair of his failed first marriage to fights over money with members of the E Street Band. And there’s a little bit in here about rock ’n’ roll inspiration, too."

"I thought the Springsteen memoir was an amazing piece of work."

"When I heard Bruce Springsteen's music I reread John Steinbeck — when I read his memoir Born to Run, I re-listened to Patti Scialfa's Rumble Doll."

"Since I enjoy music I like reading biographies of musicians, or their autobiographies. One I read recently that I particularly enjoyed was Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run.""

"I was really into Born to Run."

"Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" is a model for how to tell your own story."