The Books That Inspired Bruce Springsteen’s Songwriting

Across an impressive six-decade-long career, Bruce Springsteen has become an American cultural icon and global superstar, winning 20 Grammy Awards and selling out stadiums the world over. 

His greatest asset is arguably his songwriting ability, which tracks such as Born to Run, Born in the U.S.A., and Glory Days matching emotional depth with toughness and nuance. It should perhaps come as no shock then that “the Boss” is a voracious reader. In an interview for the New York Times, Springsteen talked extensively about his favorite books, and some of his choices might surprise you.

Springsteen’s Favorite Reads

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz might be the most unexpected volume on Springsteen's shelf. The title brings to mind the colorful film version starring the great Judy Garland. But the Boss' admiration doesn't stem from the fantastic songs contained in the film adaptation; rather, he recalls that the book was the first one he ever read. His favorite character was Oz himself, and Springsteen describes the conman's line “‘pay no attention to that man behind the curtain’” as “one of the great quotes in American literature.”

Written by L. Frank Baum, the Oz books (there were many in the series), like all the best fiction written ostensibly for children, contain witty and even moving insights into adult life. 

In the interview, Springsteen also expresses his admiration for the Russian writers Anton Chekhov, Leo Tolstoy, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky. These authors were masters of unraveling the mysteries of the human condition, adept at spinning enthralling stories that contained timeless truths.

Celebrated American writers Richard Ford, Cormac McCarthy, and Philip Roth also make the Boss' list. All three chronicled everyday life and explored what it meant to be American. Their stories are deeply moving, unflinching portrayals of flawed characters, with arcs of redemption, painful truths, and plenty of pathos. 

The Boss’s Favorite Non-Fiction Reads

The History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell is another Springsteen pick—essential reading for a songwriter seeking to uncover the hidden tides that guide our existence. 

Three classic non-fiction works on music round out the list. First up is Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock ‘n’ Roll Music. Its author, Greil Marcus, remains one of America's most admired music critics, and here he chronicles the development of rock and roll by examining the life and work of key figures Robert Johnson, Harmonica Frank, Randy Newman, the Band, Sly Stone, and Elvis Presley.

Perhaps the definitive work on the early years of the King, Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick is another of Springsteen's choices, alongside Chronicles by Bob Dylan. 

Both Presley and Dylan, of course, played pivotal roles in the history of popular music, the latter being one of the most acknowledged master songwriters of all time. Listen back to Springsteen's discography, and it becomes apparent how each of the books listed above finds its reflection in his work.