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Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story
Profiles the life and career of one of the leaders of contemporary rock and roll music, noting the character of his stage performances and the inspirations for his songs.
268 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 18, 2015
Now, a two star review for this book is not a two star review for Bruce Springsteen. It's a two star review for this book.
The way I see it, rock and roll began as a music of sensuality and power, full of sinful swagger, racial tension, and illicit seduction. Later, it became so many more things -- from the innocent harmonies of the Beach Boys to the Satanic power of the Rolling Stones, from soulful grooves of Motown to the laid back jams of the Grateful Dead. And among those things, most certainly, was the working class drama of Bruce Springsteen's greatest songs. Funny like THE HONEYMOONERS, tragic like ON THE WATERFRONT, Bruce is as much a dramatist as a musician, and just about everyone from Presidents to prostitutes agrees he deserves to be known as The Boss.
The problem is, Dave Marsh, in making a case for Springsteen, has to make a case AGAINST everyone else. The whole point of this book is that rock and roll is and can only be what Bruce Springsteen's music happens to be, which is white working-class protest music. The problem is, rock and roll is a lot bigger than Bruce Springsteen. And Marsh being Marsh, he has to indulge in little Stalinist purges every three pages or so just to clear the way for the dictatorship of the proletariat. The Beach Boys were spoiled rich kids. The Who created rock opera. The Rolling Stones fiddled with sitars.
Obviously, not all of these experiments were successful, but rock and roll doesn't grow when Dave Marsh's inferiority complex is the only measure of success. It's painfully obvious throughout this book that Marsh in a big hurry to declare "The Sixties" a mistake, an aberration, a crime that needs to be forgotten. Bear in mind this is a guy who did not serve in Vietnam, sanctifying a rock artist who also did not serve in Vietnam. But there are approximately 345 cheap shots aimed at "hippies" in this book. About five of them are legitimate.
The sad thing is, Springsteen really is great. But not great enough to make Dave Marsh into a Vietnam veteran, or a working class hero, or even someone who can write a compelling account of a true rock legend.
The way I see it, rock and roll began as a music of sensuality and power, full of sinful swagger, racial tension, and illicit seduction. Later, it became so many more things -- from the innocent harmonies of the Beach Boys to the Satanic power of the Rolling Stones, from soulful grooves of Motown to the laid back jams of the Grateful Dead. And among those things, most certainly, was the working class drama of Bruce Springsteen's greatest songs. Funny like THE HONEYMOONERS, tragic like ON THE WATERFRONT, Bruce is as much a dramatist as a musician, and just about everyone from Presidents to prostitutes agrees he deserves to be known as The Boss.
The problem is, Dave Marsh, in making a case for Springsteen, has to make a case AGAINST everyone else. The whole point of this book is that rock and roll is and can only be what Bruce Springsteen's music happens to be, which is white working-class protest music. The problem is, rock and roll is a lot bigger than Bruce Springsteen. And Marsh being Marsh, he has to indulge in little Stalinist purges every three pages or so just to clear the way for the dictatorship of the proletariat. The Beach Boys were spoiled rich kids. The Who created rock opera. The Rolling Stones fiddled with sitars.
Obviously, not all of these experiments were successful, but rock and roll doesn't grow when Dave Marsh's inferiority complex is the only measure of success. It's painfully obvious throughout this book that Marsh in a big hurry to declare "The Sixties" a mistake, an aberration, a crime that needs to be forgotten. Bear in mind this is a guy who did not serve in Vietnam, sanctifying a rock artist who also did not serve in Vietnam. But there are approximately 345 cheap shots aimed at "hippies" in this book. About five of them are legitimate.
The sad thing is, Springsteen really is great. But not great enough to make Dave Marsh into a Vietnam veteran, or a working class hero, or even someone who can write a compelling account of a true rock legend.
August 3, 2017
He needs an editor but a fascinating insight into his life
February 13, 2012
Even though I'm reading Marsh's Two Hearts, which includes both of his Springsteen books and a fair amount of new material, I wanted to review Born to Run on its own. In the intro to Two Hearts, Marsh writes about having set out to create a new genre, the "Rock Book," incorporating biography, fan's notes, photos (sadly not reproduced in Two Hearts), music biz book, discography, and tour chronology. BTR did/does all that, but most importantly, it captures the energy of Springsteen's emergence, the reasons why he mattered then, which have been the foundation of why he matters now. I'm teaching the book to a class full of freshmen, only a few of whom were real fans when they signed up; most are there because their parents are fans and/or they're interested in music more generally or the 70s and 80s in historical perspective. Three weeks in, most of them get it. That's partly listening of course (and tonight we're watching a full concert video from 1975), but it's also because Marsh frames things so deftly. BTR, like the record its named for, communicates the vision of rock and roll (and the soul which is so much a part of Bruce's sound and sensibility) as something that can save your life. Jungleland and Backstreets got me through some very difficult times and BTR knows how and why. If you're a Springsteen fan and haven't read it, do. Upgraded my review from the four stars it was in memory to the five it deserves for being a crucial point of reference.
July 5, 2025
This must've been fantastic in 1978 when there was no other books on Bruce Springsteen. 40 years later, it's pretty rudimentary stuff that you'd learn all of and more in any other book on the Boss.
June 26, 2017
A fun, quick bio on Bruce up to the release of The River. There have been many more bios since this release (Peter Ames Carlin version is much better and more comprehensive), but it's still a nice read if you want to remind yourself of why Springsteen is so great. Enjoyed the transcribed stories from Bruce's stage banter and thought the author did a really good job of analyzing the lyrics/meaning behind each of the five albums covered in the book. Didn't like his rock criticism (and cynicism) dealing with artists that weren't named Bruce Springsteen. Overall, nothing new in this book you can't get elsewhere in a better package, but for a hardcore fan, why not waste a few hours reading things you already know in another format?
April 1, 2021
Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story focuses on the early parts of Springsteen's career including his most famous record Born to Run. Of the Springsteen biography, I have read this book goes the most in-depth on Springsteen’s personal life and relationship with his bandmates.
Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story is my favorite Springsteen book I have read and I would recommend it to anyone who is at least a casual fan
Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story is my favorite Springsteen book I have read and I would recommend it to anyone who is at least a casual fan
July 3, 2022
Only fans of Bruce would like this one... I was in part fascinated by the Boss's drive and also sad there wasn't more reflection in the memoir. It was so straightforward, unlike his music. I wanted to know more about how he felt about some of his choices, successes, and set backs. My favorite part was he beginning - his childhood. Still, makes me appreciate his music and success even more. The man worked so hard. Nothing came easy.
May 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this more "boots on the ground" look at the Springsteen phenomenon as it happened, just slightly before its peak. Marsh's comments on the industry are quite frank, and really dispel the "rose-colored" view many millennials have of the 60s/70s music scene
July 10, 2017
What a life and demons, your upbringing does have an impact on who you are and what you become. Bruce fought all the way and even with all his riches he has demons.
December 29, 2017
If you are a Springsteen fan, this is a must read. Lots of inside stories and personal info that I had not heard before. It is a very long book.
March 7, 2022
The first big biography of the Boss is a bit of a hagiography, but it's essential reading for Springsteen fans.
March 19, 2021
As I prepare for the publication of my second book in October 2012, I turned for inspiration to Bruce Springsteen - through the words of the incomparable Rock & Roll critic Dave Marsh.
Disclaimer: Bruce's music has accompanied me for decades. I've been to dozens of his shows; witnessed many from the front row - elbows on stage. This book was not read without bias.
Marsh tells the story of Bruce's life, his art, life on the road, and the challenges of being true to himself while trying to share his music through the corporate path that mass-produced art must travel, as both a reporter and a true fan. The result is a book that any true fan of Bruce's will love. And any artist, writer, musician will know: you can be true to yourself and succeed.
Disclaimer: Bruce's music has accompanied me for decades. I've been to dozens of his shows; witnessed many from the front row - elbows on stage. This book was not read without bias.
Marsh tells the story of Bruce's life, his art, life on the road, and the challenges of being true to himself while trying to share his music through the corporate path that mass-produced art must travel, as both a reporter and a true fan. The result is a book that any true fan of Bruce's will love. And any artist, writer, musician will know: you can be true to yourself and succeed.
June 28, 2010
A fantastic rock & roll bio that covers Bruce's career from its very begginings up until his double album The River. Dave Marsh presents his subject matter expertly. If any fault can be found, it's the fact that this isn't really a biography. The reader winds up learning little about the person Bruce Springsteen but much about the musician Bruce Springsteen.
January 27, 2013
Loved this book. I remember being surprised to learn how hard Bruce was on himself and those in his band and his circle. The hours and hours and hours spent to produce a perfect cut for every song on Born to Run. Wow. He wouldn't have been easy to work with/for - you would really have to be totally into the vision and the passion to stick it out. But the album was incredible!
July 17, 2015
Tons of great photos in this book along with the story of how it all began. What a shame it would have been if this story didn't have a happy ending, for Bruce and for all of us fans. Baby, we were born to run!!!
July 5, 2020
An entertaining read for Bruce Slrinsteen's legions, by Dave Marsh -- one of the most knowledgeable rock writers on Springsteen's early days making music. Lots of photos accompany Marsh's narrative. So enjoyable I read it twice.
January 10, 2008
Gotta love Springsteen
February 27, 2009
Best ignore the "V. 1" indicator. Bruce before he was embalmed.
Want to read
November 16, 2012How I managed to wait this long to read it is beyond me.
December 18, 2012
A good, thorough book. Would've given it 5 stars but I didn't like how the author bashes several other artists to make a point about how good and different Bruce is. Bruce wouldn't approve.
Read
February 24, 2014not finished, no time, plus it dragged quite a bit in places. I didn't get a good feel for the start of Bruce Springsteen...but the early pictures were great!
January 14, 2017
Not well-written: Too much irrelevant detail
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews