Born in the U.S.A.: Bruce Springsteen and the American Tradition

In 1975, Bruce Springsteen Burst onto the American music scene with simultaneous appearances on the covers of Time and Newsweek magazines. His powerful, often stark portrayals of blue-collar life, his thunderous guitar, and his marathon live shows propelled him to the top of the charts for more than two decades. Now, in the first book of its kind, author Jim Cullen argues that Springsteen should be viewed not in terms of concerts or record sales, but as a cultural icon, a symbol of what's right with America, and an heir to Whitman, Lincoln, Steinbeck, King, and other American luminaries. He is, says Cullen, a good conservative, someone who conserves the traditional values of hard work, family, and compassion for the less fortunate -- ideas long co-opted and corrupted by disingenuous politicians.Springsteen's personal journey reads like one of his songs, playing out stories of class struggle, responsibility, and the increasing disillusionment and desperation behind the blue-collar pursuit of the American Dream. Yet he always retains the belief that somewhere, perhaps just around the next bend in the highway, waits the Promised Land. Intelligently written and carefully researched, Born in the USA is the first book to take a broad look at the impact of Bruce Springsteen on America's cultural landscape.Cullen's line by line analysis of Bruce's songs crackles with insight... -- New York Daily News