Smart and incisive,this unique book takes us through Bruce Springsteen's life by tracing thecultural, political, and personal forces that shaped his music. Beyond hisconstant stylistic adaptations, Springsteen developed over the decades fromexpressing the voice of a guy from working-class New Jersey to writing aboutthe larger issues facing the country, including war, class disparity, andprejudice. Marc Dolan draws on a range of new and little-knownsources-including hundreds of unreleased studio recordings and bootlegs of liveperformances-making this an indispensable reference for avid Springsteen fansas well as those interested in learning the stories behind his music. Combiningpolitical analysis, music history, and colorful storytelling, BruceSpringsteen and the Promise of Rock 'n' Roll reveals how a gifted, ambitious communitycollege dropout achieved superstardom-and spent decades refining what he wantedhis music to say.