ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Peter Ames Carlin’s book Bruce, which debuted at No. 4 on the New York Times bestseller list in late November, is by far the best Springsteen biography ever written.
A former newspaper wretch, Carlin attacked his research as ferociously and relentlessly as Springsteen attacks his songwriting. And Carlin writes like a songbird.
Another reason for the book’s artistic and commercial success is that Springsteen made it clear that the only thing Carlin owed him was an honest accounting of his life.
“He was really committed to the ‘warts and all’ treatment,” says Carlin over the phone from his home in Portland, Ore. “He even said near the end that if I kept anything back because I thought it would make him uncomfortable, put it in.”
After reading the book, Springsteen told Carlin he is pleased with it.
Carlin said that before he met the superstar, people told him he would discover that Springsteen is “exactly what he seems to be — and that’s true.
“He’s not a hero, although there are a lot of heroic things about him. He’s a great artist. He’s intense. He’s complicated. And some days he’s full of energy and fun and some days he’s really not.”