Born to Run

Written by:
Bruce Springsteen
Narrated by:
Bruce Springsteen

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
449
Narrator
92
Release Date
December 2016
Duration
18 hours 11 minutes
Summary
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).
Reviews
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Tina M

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.

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Eva Prieto

This book is fun, interesting and really inspiring. I have learned a lot and I am grateful to The Boss for having shared so much. I loved that he read his memoirs, listening to Bruce's voice telling his story is very powerful. Highly recommendable!

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Anonymous

He is the boss

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Joanne R.

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

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Patty Oole

Insightful, self aware, and inspiring.

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Rosanne D.

Excellent. Could listen to Bruce talk all say. Really enjoyed his narration.

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Terry R.

Fabulous 100 million times!

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Anonymous

Good but too long

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Stephen M.

Loved this book.Bruce is a natural at the read and the adventure of his life. Telling of how he grew as a musician and as a man. I lived in Jersey for 20 years and its a place thats beautiful to the eye but its the locals that bring you back Bruce describes the struggles of trying fit into a world knowing that the right people help but at the end if the day its a "dog eat dog world" . You go dude you deserve it

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Gary Y

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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Brenda B

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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Adam B

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

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Kenn D

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.

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Tracy T

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

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Gary B

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

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Damien S

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.

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Cathy B

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.

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Jordan C

Amazing to hear Bruce read it. The cadence of his prose matches his lyrical voice. Really humanizing and endearing to have such an open discussion of one's past.

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J Paul K

Born and raised in Philadelphia, of course I'm a Bruce fan, but I wouldn't have considered myself an acolyte. This book, with Bruce's own voice delivering it, was compelling! I was so impressed with his history, thought process, capacity, tenacity, and endurance that I might be on the edge of acolyte status. I'm really very impressed by the audio book, and highly, highly recommend it. As I just did, and have been doing with friends and family.

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Sharese R

It was like Bruce Springsteen was sitting next to me telling stories from his private life. I found his writing style and visual imagery beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to every moment.

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Patrick Rea

Great listen!!

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Nicole Bradley

The best audio book I've listened to yet. It was so honest and inspiring. Highly recommend!

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Charles Rowland

The Boss has been a backing vocal to my life. But it wasn't until I read this book that I understood why those songs resonated and lived beyond the top 40 pop of the day -Why Hungry Heart,The River, Thunder Road and Born To Run seem to show up on almost every mix tape I've ever made. The prose of the book is stunningly beautiful and deeply profound. I cannot imagine it being read by anyone but the author and it is the best audiobook I've ever heard. Good on you Bruce Springsteen.

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Jeremy Shere

Coming to this book, I was not a particularly ardent Springsteen fan. I was a teenager during the Boss' height of fame in the mid '80s and got to know his big hits, but I never really dug into his larger catalogue. So I wasn't sure how much I'd dig his autobiography. But my God ... this is one of the best books/audio books I've experienced in a long, long time. The writing is lyrical, eloquent, blunt, honest, and riveting. The prose would sing no matter who narrated it, but Springsteen's reading is remarkable and adds an extra special dimension that moved me, sometimes to tears, sometimes to laughter. The basic "plot" of the story is unremarkable: Jersey kid growing up in the late '50s/early '60s gets the rock 'n roll bug, learns guitar, joins a band, hits it big, has lots of ups and down, logs lots of time on the road, etc. What's special is Springsteen's keen eye for detail and his unbending honesty and introspection. In short, it's a great, great book. And best of all, listening to it inspired me to finally check out Springsteen's work, starting with "Greetings from Asbury Park." Wow. I'm super late to the game, but the songwriting is remarkable, so full of life, energy, heart, and wisdom. Bruce Springsteen is an American treasure.

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Gregory Monokian

One of my all time favorite audio books! Bruce writes and speaks with such passion, empathy, compassion, love, and all qualities that make up a complex and extremely interesting life. Listening to the book made me a huge fan from a casual one. A must read.

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Claire Maccallum

As a Springsteen fan, this is the best!! Bruce is pretty verbose but I love that he narrated, it added so much depth to his story. It was super candid and he didn't hold back at all. The only thing that would have improved it for me would be more music clips! I'm not sure how the legal side of that works, but if you're preparing to listen to this book, have the albums handy to listen for all the fun insights into some of those greats.

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Nicola Lee

I think if you're a mad keen Springsteen fan you will absolutely love this book! I did find the first part of the book a little but dull at times but overall I really enjoyed it. Fantastic that he does the narration.

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Debra Grannick

Spectacular experience. I felt like I had Bruce Springsteen narrate his autobiography only to me, telling his story , the evolution of a man and music powerhouse. He takes you from his childhood to present day, being intimate and candid without disrespecting the people in his story . He lets you in, but doesn't make you feel like you're listening in on something you shouldn't be. Although, I don't agree 100% with all his points of view ( i.e. He contemplates what a Palestinian suicide bomber thinks about his after life just before he commits his act- I think about all those maimed and murdered and don't give a rats ass about what the murderer thinks about his lost life - that's just it, they don't value life- I'm at a loss how Bruce seems to have lost this). But, Bruce lets you into his mind , his thoughts, and his honest views on life, love, loss, mental health, and so much more. Thank you, Bruce. One of the best auto biographies I've ever experienced.

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Michael Luecht

Could not put it down. Excellent!!

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Sean O\'Hara

Since my first concert experience at the age of 12 I've always been very clear to explain that I was a fan of Bruce Springsteen with The E Street Band. Bruce on his own and political message, not so much. This book gave me a better understanding of his life and what formed his thinking. The genius in his writing of music for the band may never be understood, but at least for now, I feel I know the man himself better. His narration was perfect, to hear his story told by him was and is how biographies should be listened to.

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Robert Earley

I recently took a trip and felt like Bruce Springsteen went with me. I have never had the luxury of meeting him but I consider him a friend. Robert Earley

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Hailey W.

I went into this book not knowing much about Bruce Springsteen and just liking some of his music, but came out absolutely loving him and having an entirely different appreciation for his music and songwriting. His writing is captivating and heartfelt, it feels like you’re talking with an old friend. I was genuinely sad when the book was over, I’m definitely keeping this one in my library

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Jaime Vega

Ever since hearing his music for the 1st time coming out of an old radio at the small grocery store I worked as a high schooler, I had an experience with it. They way he talked about leaving and hitting the road. How adventures abound and life would open your eyes. Highly recommend this book for anyone He does a brilliant job as he does in his songs painting a picture.

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Anonymous

Like having Bruce sat next to you in a bar, telling you his life story whilst slowly getting through a decent bottle of whiskey. It’s fascinating stuff! The fact that he lays out all of his destructive appetites and foibles makes him more human than your average rock god!

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