Born to RunBorn to Run
Score Modern
What it's about
Bruce Springsteen tells his own story, from growing up in Freehold, New Jersey, to the bars and clubs where he learned his craft, the E Street Band, and the songs that made him one of the great American rock stars. He writes with the same voice as his songs, and frankly about his struggles with depression.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It's widely considered one of the best music memoirs ever written.
You'll love it if you liked
Just Kids
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music
Chronicles: Volume OneGood to know
It's long and best for fans, though anyone can enjoy his writing. The audiobook, read by Springsteen, is wonderful.
By the numbers
- Readers73 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #133 of the 198 history books we rank
- #501 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #964 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is Born to Run worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #964 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Born to Run about?
Bruce Springsteen tells his own story, from growing up in Freehold, New Jersey, to the bars and clubs where he learned his craft, the E Street Band, and the songs that made him one of the great American rock stars. He writes with the same voice as his songs, and frankly about his struggles with depression.
How long does it take to read Born to Run?
About 12 hours (469 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Born to Run?
If you liked it, try Just Kids by Patti Smith, The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl or Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan.