In celebration of the album's 50th anniversary, a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of Bruce Springsteen’s groundbreaking Born To Run.
Third Place Books welcomes music writer and journalist Peter Ames Carlin to our Seward Park store for a conversation about his new book, Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run. This richly detailed account captures a defining moment in Bruce Springsteen's career and takes readers behind the scenes on one of his most iconic albums. Peter is joined in conversation by KEXP DJ Cheryl Waters.
This event is free and open to the public. For important updates, RSVP is highly recommended in advance. This event will include a public signing and time for audience Q&A. Sustain our author series by purchasing a copy of the featured book!
About Tonight in Jungleland. . .
A New York Times and Boston Globe Best Book of the Summer
A fascinating behind-the-scenes account of the making of Bruce Springsteen’s ground-breaking album, Born to Run – one of the most iconic records in rock history – Tonight in Jungleland combines lush music writing with unprecedented inside access to Springsteen, his bandmates, and the full story behind every song… and coincides with the album’s 50th anniversary in August 2025.
From the opening piano notes of “Thunder Road,” to the final outro of “Jungleland” – with American anthems like “Born to Run” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” in between – Bruce Springsteen’s seminal album, Born to Run, established Springsteen as a creative force in rock and roll. With his back against the wall, he wrote what has been hailed as a perfect album, a defining moment, and a roadmap for what would become a legendary career.
Peter Ames Carlin, whose bestselling biography, Bruce, gave him rare access to Springsteen’s inner circle, now returns with the full story of the making of this epic album. Released in August, 1975, Born to Run now celebrates its 50th anniversary. Carlin reveals a treasure trove of untold stories, detailing the writing and recording of every song, as well as the intense and at times tortuous process that mimicked the fault lines in Springsteen’s psyche and career, even as it revealed the depth of his vision. A must-read for any music fan, Tonight in Jungleland takes us inside a hallowed creative process and lets us experience history.
Praise for Tonight in Jungleland. . .
“Carlin, who has published biographies of R.E.M., Paul Simon and the Boss himself, pulls back the curtain on the making of Springsteen’s “Born to Run” album 50 years after its release. Drawing on interviews with the artist and his inner circle, Carlin revisits how each song was written and recorded while shedding light on the arduous studio sessions and their parallels to Springsteen’s career.”
—New York Times
“Bolstered by interviews with Springsteen himself... this book thrives in exploring the hard work that preceded it. An admirably comprehensive study of a masterpiece and its creation.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred)
“Captivating. . . Carlin takes a fascinating look at the challenges of making an album whose success now seems inevitable, exploring what drives artists to create as well as how their relationship with their work can shift as it becomes part of popular culture. Springsteen fans should snap this up.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred)
Peter Ames Carlin is a cultural writer and journalist who has written several books about music and musicians, including Sonic Boom: The Impossible Rise of Warner Bros. Records; Paul McCartney: A Life; Homeward Bound: The Life of Paul Simon; Bruce, the internationally bestselling biography of Bruce Springsteen; and the critically acclaimed 2024 biography The Name of This Band is R.E.M. Carlin has also been a freelance journalist, a senior writer at People in New York City, and a television columnist and feature writer at The Oregonian in Portland. A regular speaker on music, writing, and popular culture, Carlin lives in Seattle with his partner, the writer Claire Dederer. (Photo credit: Terry Allen)
Want a signed edition of the featured book, but can't make it to the event? Order through our website or over the phone, and write your request for a signature or personalization in the comments field at checkout. Please call the hosting store if you're placing your order within 24 hours of the event.
For media or access inquiries, please email
ZXZlbnRzIHwgdGhpcmRwbGFjZWJvb2tzICEgY29t or call our Lake Forest Park store at (206) 366-3311.
You may also like the following events from Third Place Books Seward Park:
Also check out other
Arts events in Seattle,
Literary Art events in Seattle,
Music events in Seattle.
