Springsteen on Springsteen: Interviews, Speeches, and Encounters
Chicago Review Press
http://www.amazon.com/Springsteen-Interviews-Speeches-Encounters-Musicians/dp/161374434X

Rating: B+

Jeff Burger was one of the first people to interview Bruce Springsteen for a national publication.  Now, many, many years later, he has painstakingly put together the ultimate interview collection by The Boss.  Bruce’s fans will likely read this book, seriously, nine, maybe ten times…maybe more.  There are over 400 pages of interviews with the man and all of them are in-depth and well done.

This is Bruce’s Greatest Interview Hits, if you will.  The oldest interview is from 1973 and they continue on from there.  Bruce opens up about his hopes, dreams and goals and later he opens up about his beliefs, his politics and his ever changing and growing worldview.  This book shows the progression of a rock star, a man and an artist.  In addition to the interviews, there are speeches that Bruce gave at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and transcripts from television and radio interviews. 

Not many books go this in-depth when it comes to collecting the words said off the stage by a major celebrity musician.  Burger does just that.  He has collected a treasure trove of Springsteen in the public eye, speaking his mind and, as usual with Bruce, he bares his soul, putting it all out there for all too see. 

This is a good read. 

By Jeb Wright