Audiobooks are one of the few things that save me from my horrendous, traffic-ridden commutes to work. So when my husband gave me Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography, Born to Run, which clocks in at 16-CDs and is narrated by Springsteen, I was excited about the prospect of driving to work for MANY days accompanied by the Boss himself.
It’s a lot to commit to but I’m a Bruce fan, and like I said, I NEED something to get me through my commute – and what better way to enjoy the stories and words of wisdom from the king of songs about cars, driving and personal travels, than from the front seat of an automobile.
I was not disappointed. I’m not saying anything new when I say that Bruce is an amazing storyteller. He deftly crafts phrases as poetry and builds stories that drive with emotion, nuance and passion – in his songs, and as is apparent in his book, in his prose.
It’s also not a revelation to know that he is an amazing band leader and musician. His career is proof of this. It’s wonderful to have it revealed in this book, however, how his success is the direct result of his sheer will and serious focus on methodically building his career. And how it’s clear that he wants to pass this knowledge on to others who are interested in music careers. If you’re interested in being a successful musician/band leader, this book is a must-have primer.
The book is presented chronologically and traces the roads Bruce takes to building his career, with anecdotes and stories about relationships with his parents, teachers, clergy, bandmates, industry reps, buddies and girlfriends. Bruce makes no secret about having gone to therapy to get to the happy place he’s in today – which is obvious through the analysis and depth he gives to the telling of these stories...."It’s reflective. It’s introspective. It’s instructive. It’s seductive. It’s got perspective. Can I hear you?"
Sorry for the lapse. At any rate, yes, I can testify that it was an awesome ‘read,’ and highly recommended. Get in your car and take a ride with this book. In fact, maybe I’ll just put it back on and drive all night. You know...just to to buy some shoes.
