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

A thinking person's exploration of the cultural significance of Bruce Springsteen.

Moving beyond the biographical and journalistic approaches of most writing on Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A. was the first major work of cultural criticism to situate Springsteen's work in the broader sweep of American history―the heir of Walt Whitman and Woody Guthrie, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King. Springsteen is an influential chronicler of our society, says Jim Cullen, a "good conservative" who preserves the traditional values of hard work, inclusive families, and genuine concern for the less fortunate. In the new edition to this landmark work, Cullen also discusses new currents in Springsteen's music since 9/11, notably his 2002 album The Rising. This Wesleyan edition includes a new foreword, introduction, and afterword. Must reading for any serious fan―or anyone who has ever been curious about what all the fuss has been about.

JIM CULLEN teaches history at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York. His articles and reviews have appeared in publications ranging from Rolling Stone to the American Historical Review, and he has published seven books, including The American Dream (2003). DANIEL CAVICCHI is author of Tramps Like Us (1998).