A frank and inventive blend of biography, music criticism, and memoir over the course of thirteen tracks. Like the best mix tapes, it balances joy and sorrow, laughter seasoning the dark-night-of-the-soul questions that haunt us all. Wiersema's book is the story of a man becoming a man (despite getting a little lost along the way), and of the man and the music that have accompanied him on his journey.

Also issued in electronic formats.

Three-minute records : a basic discography -- Growin' up : a short life of Bruce Springsteen -- Rosalita (Come out tonight) -- My hometown -- It's hard to be a saint in the city -- Badlands -- Born to run -- 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) -- Thundercrack -- Tunnel of love -- Living proof -- Brilliant disguise -- The rising -- Dancing in the dark -- Jesus was an only son -- Atlantic City -- Bootleggers, roll your tapes!.