There Was Nothing You Could Do

“But with the passion of a lifelong fan who first heard the cassette in a very-Springsteen way… and the keen mind of a music journalist, Hyden’s book is about far more than a dozen tunes produced in the mid-‘80s. And it’s a very welcome addition to the Boss Bookshelf.”

–Houston Press“There Was Nothing You Could Do explores how the album channeled our hopes for common ground while foreshadowing today’s extreme political polarization. It uses classic songs like ‘Dancing in the Dark’ to dissect the arc of Springsteen, rock culture and politics with an amusing blend of cultural criticism, music journalism and personal vignettes.”–Wall Street Journal”[Hyden] is an imaginative cultural omnivore…[the book] is an astute and briskly written look at the circumstances and legacy of an album whose outsize popularity has made it paradoxically divisive among Tramps Like Us.“–Washington Post“A damn fun read.”–Aquarian“An easy and enjoyable read.”–Americana UK“Balancing a fan’s enthusiasm with a critic’s attention to detail, Hyden sheds light on Springsteen’s legacy and the political moment that allowed him to occupy the cultural ‘center of American life.’ Fans of the Boss will want to add this to their bookshelves.” –Publishers Weekly“Even longtime Springsteen fans will learn a thing or two from Hyden’s entertaining examination of the man and his music.”–Booklist“Fascinating…A very well written, wise, and insightful book.”–Washington Examiner“Hyden scores good points …Fans of the Boss will find arguable interpretations on every page, but definitely a book worth their attention.” –Kirkus“Hyden’s thoughtful… deep dive explores how the Boss and his ‘ass-cheeks’ triumphed and yet proved the last time heartland rock could convincingly champion an ameliorative account of the American way. Four stars!”–MOJO“Steven Hyden writes about Bruce Springsteen’s monumental 1984 record as a watershed moment–for American culture, for Springsteen, and for the author himself. Hyden… mixes memoir, sociological observation, and good old-fashioned journalism to explore how this blockbuster album defined a decade and created–and in some ways ended–the Bruce Springsteen persona.”–AV Club“Steven Hyden’s excellent new book… traces the pop-cultural and political impact of that album.”–Rolling Stone