Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U. S. A.” and the End of the Heartland
by Steven Hyden
First sentence: “My story opens like a Bruce Springsteen song – with a car, my father, a life-changing moment, and an indeterminate mix of autobiography and myth.”
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Content: There is some swearing, including a few well-placed f-bombs. It’s in the Music section of the bookstore.

Some context: I was 12 when Born in the U.S.A. came out, and not quite 13 when it hit big. I remember the album, I have a vivid memory about the first time I saw the Dancing in the Dark video, and I’ve listened to it on and off over the years. (My favorite song is the very pedantic Glory Days.) While I’ve listened to Springsteen’s music, I would, in no way call myself a fan. However, my daughter, A, has recently discovered The Boss and has become a massive fan of his music. And when I saw this one come in at the store, I immediately thought of her. But I decided to read it before sending it along.

In it, Hyden takes an interesting journey with the album, detailing the role it played (and has continued to play) in both pop culture and Springsteen’s life and music. It’s an interesting look at the album – Hyden gets into the weeds a bit with the music and the making of the album, but not so much that I couldn’t follow along. He details how Springsteen reacted to his fame following the record, as well as the influences it has had on the bands of the era as well as ones that have followed.

I enjoyed reading it, though I’m not sure it’s meant for those who aren’t Springsteen Fans. I don’t know the albums he talks about or the songs he details, but I still found the book interesting. Hyden’s a good writer, and he made a good case for the influence Springsteen had in the mid-80s, his reaction to it, and how he fits in the fragmented culture we have today.