Bruce Springsteen - Tougher Than the Rest

by June Skinner Sawyers

Simply put, Bruce Springsteen is the storyteller of our generation. Tougher Than the Rest discusses the best of Springsteen??'s vast body of work, from Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ to Devils & Dust.

Genres: Music

Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, June Skinner Sawyers is the author or editor of more than twenty books, many with a Celtic theme, including Celtic Music; Dreams of Elsewhere: The Selected Travel Writings of Robert Louis Stevenson; Praying with Celtic Saints, Prophets, Martyrs, and Poets; The Road North: 300 Years of Classic Scottish Travel Writing; and The Scots of Chicago: Quiet Immigrants and Their New Society.

Her essays, Weeping Willows and Long Black Veils: The Country Roots of Rosanne Cash, from Scotland to Tennessee appeared in Walking the Line: Country Music Lyricists and American Culture and Celtic Music in America in The Encyclopedia of Music and American Culture, respectively. In addition, her work has appeared in Scottish Tradition, The Chicago Tribune, The San Francisco Chronicle, Sing Out!, Dirty Linen, Booklist and The Common Review. In 2013, she was the recipient of the Flora Macdonald Award from St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, North Carolina, which is given to a woman of Scots birth or descent who has made an outstanding contribution to the human community.

Reviews

[Xavi Fuentes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

[Thunderroad · Rating 2 out of 5]

June Sawyers´ excursion is an often amateurish insight into the monumental work of one of the greatest songwriters in rock history. It features only very few interesting and inspiring moments. Furthermore, the "essays", or rather the comments on the songs are hardly useable, which is mostly due to the sometimes shockingly simplistic and downright false statements. Best example is Sawyer´s judgment on Springsteen´s "Cadillac Ranch", describing it as "pure rowdy-fun".

The book is best, when it sticks to the factual basis of information, but if you need this kind of thing, you should rather consult other books, such as The Rolling Stone Files, or Springsteen´s official web presence.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author does a good job culling information from interviews and other books and biographies of Bruce Springsteen to produce this book that evaluates certain key songs in the context of Bruce's overall career and rock music and society at large. Although I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who wasn't already a fan, and I vehemently disagree with her assessment of some of Bruce's songs (I don't know how anyone can think so highly of that irredeemable piece of garbage The Ghost of Tom Joad) the book was a pleasure to read and I tore through it quickly.

[Desiree Koh · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a horribly written book -- how do you write about His songs by paraphrasing the lyrics? However, much as I cringed at almost every line, it re-awakened something in me... I now suffer from the Bruce Blues and cannot wait for the next album and tour. I have also been fervently listening to "Nebraska" and side two of "The River." Save me, somebody!!!

[Eugenio Chahin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good insight on the themes and pathos of some of the songs. But also dull/obvious descriptions of other ones. A good personal insight on Springsteen's work anyway, worth tracking down for hardcore fans.

[Jose Manuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leido en la versión en Castellano de la editorial Ma Non Troppo. Excelente guía por los entresijos y las historias de una extensa selección de canciones. Puedes discrepar en la selección, pero los análisis y las referencias son apabullantes.

[Kevin Mcnally · Rating 5 out of 5]

His songs touch people's hearts and minds. Simply put, he is the storyteller of our generation.