Episode · Freakonomics Radio · 2026-08-19
Books mentioned on Meet Warren Zanes, the Author and Rocker Behind the Springsteen Movie | Better in Person
When he joined the Del Fuegos, his big brother’s band, all Warren knew how to play was a record player. Things went great for a while — and then it all fell apart.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Born to Run
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen is an acclaimed memoir that chronicles the legendary rock musician's upbringing, struggles, and path to stardom.
Discussed“Well, I think his memoir, Born to Run, is one of the great rock books.”
Where to get it
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Nebraska
Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen is a stark, acoustic masterpiece that captures themes of desperation, working-class isolation, and bleak crime across the American landscape during a period of severe economic anxiety.
Discussed“Well, I think his memoir, Born to Run, is one of the great rock books., But in it, Nebraska goes by in just a couple pages.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Passing Petty
“In 2015, Warren Zanes published Petty, the biography.”
Passing Deliver Me from Nowhere
“Eight years later, he published Deliver Me From Nowhere, the making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska.”