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Bruce

Written by: Peter A. Carlin
Narrated by: Bobby Cannavale
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Publisher's Summary

This sweeping biography of Bruce Springsteen features in-depth interviews with family, band members, childhood friends, ex-girlfriends, and a poignant retrospective from the Boss himself. It’s Bruce as his many fans haven’t before seen him - the man behind the myth, describing his life and work in intimate, vivid detail.

For close to four decades, Bruce Springsteen has reflected the heart and soul of America in a career that encompasses twenty Grammy Awards, more than 120 million albums sold, two Golden Globes, and an Academy Award. Yet despite the honesty of his songwriting, Springsteen has remained adamantly elusive and reserved.

In a groundbreaking biography that draws on unprecedented access to Springsteen and those closest to him, acclaimed music critic Peter Ames Carlin presents the most revealing account yet of New Jersey’s favorite son. With contributions from band members past and present, including the last interview given by legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons, Bruce encompasses the breadth of Springsteen’s astonishing career and explores the inner workings of an American icon right up through his most recent sold-out tour and number-one album, Wrecking Ball.

A must for fans, Bruce is a meticulously researched biography of one of the most complex and fascinating artists in American music.

©2012 Peter A. Carlin (P)2012 Simon & Schuster Audio

What listeners say about Bruce

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A Must Hear for Those Who Struggle With Affliction

An honest and heartfelt story of the genius and pain of a man conflicted with the gift and compulsion for music while remaining all too human beset with his own devils and angels. Compelling and weaved as never before through the music inspired by his driven spirit the life of an accomplished American hero is displayed in unadorned and as raw as the music itself. Read eloquently and capped with heartfelt sections by the author the book must not be overlooked

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Balanced and interesting

This is the third audiobook I've listened to about Bruce, this year.

While his self-titled autobiography was fascinating and very positive, it is of course one-sided, beyond the recognition of his own struggles with relationships and mental health. Bruce does however, try his best to never speak negatively about anyone in his past or present, which is very admirable and professional.

By contrast, the book "E Street Shuffle - The Glory Days of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band" starts out very positive, but becomes quite cynical and eventually just negative and snarky, like a jilted ex-girlfriend, by the end.

Then, came Bruce. This book is a happy middle ground. The author takes a reasonable approach to the subject at hand. He's very positive about Bruce's life and impact on music, successes and failures. He doesn't spend too much time over-analyzing every nuance of every song.

He recognizes and calls out Bruce's flaws, his ego, the unreasonable expectations he places on the E Street Band and how much he has taken them for granted, frequently tossing them aside, but then expecting them to drop everything, to come back to him on a moment's notice.

He doesn't spend too much time discussing Bruce's personal struggles with depression or commitment, but also doesn't shy away from sharing some of his spoiled rock star temper tantrums. In the end, you see the good and the bad and the author lets you make up your own mind how you feel, rather than trying to force his opinion down your throat, making it a very strong addition to the mountains of material that has been written about this icon of modern music.

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