Bound for Glory

The Hard-Driving, Truth-Telling Autobiography of America's Great Poet-Folk Singer

By: Woody Guthrie

Narrated by: Arlo Guthrie

Length: 2 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

A legendary folk singer and activist, Woody Guthrie and his songs changed the world. Born in an Oklahoma oil-boom town, Guthrie traveled America by boxcar, thumb, and foot. Along the journey, he composed and sang songs that have become a national heritage. His songs, however, are but part of his legacy.

This remarkable autobiography brings to life both his vibrant personality and a vision of America we cannot afford to let die. Funny, cynical, and earthy, Bound for Glory is the stirring account of Guthrie's life and a superb portrait of America's Depression years.

This Grammy-nominated recording is performed by his son, Arlo Guthrie, who—like his father—is known for engaging storytelling and performing songs of protest against social injustice.

©1983 Woody Guthrie (P)2022 Phoenix Books

It is a Song. A masterpiece.

Woody Guthrie is one of the most important human beings who ever lived. He left us the legacy of his recorded music. Along with Woody’s own catalog, we can add the music of Bob Dylan, who began as a Woody Guthrie impersonator but who went on to actually work in the spirit of Woody Guthrie for his lengthy career. But along with his songs, we have this masterpiece of an autobiography. Not a single word is out of place, even though he uses folksy grammar and style. In fact, this is less a prose work than it is a poem, or perhaps an extended song cycle. It is the most inspiring, authentic, truly American, romantic biography, or perhaps work of non-fiction that I’ve ever encountered. This book should be taught in every school, at least in America, if not the entire English speaking world. It is a core text and a foundational document for the modern psyche, wherever it is found. The criticisms that it levels at the powers that be are absolutely devastating. But they are never offered without a heaping helping of love, joy, humor, and good nature on the side. The man was a prophet. A saint. Predictably forsaken by those without eyes to see, but those who, like Bob Dylan, had ears to hear, once he was heard, he must be hearkened to. His example must be followed. I implore you to listen to this book and to try to be some fragment of the person that this man was. For the sake of everything and everyone that you love. Well, it will bring troubles and perhaps hard times, it is not a hard job. It ain’t hard being happy and trying to show folks how to do likewise. His yoke is easy, and his burden is light.

An essay-poem

A wonderful reflection on his life and the world as he saw it; a philosophical rumination and a poem. A wonderful delivery by Woody's son Arlo- catching his pop's cadence, rhythms and twang.

A powerful classical American tale

Brilliant! Highly recommended. His tale give meaning to his songwriting A lighthearted tale of a man struggling through the depression times.

Powerful work

Arlo Guthrie telling his father's story, powerful all around. Beautiful work. A must read!

Excellent performance, Okay story.

I loved Little Arlo reading his dad’s work. Woody Guthrie has a great knack for dialogue, and I love his story as he travels all over the USA in the 1930s. The narrative itself was just okay, nothing spectacular. This book is really more of an embellished memoir than an autobiography or anything.

Shame on Audible

I love Woody Guthie. I love Arlo Guthrie. I do not love Audible for fobbing off, without a hint of warning, an extremely abridged version of this book. Audible should refund a credit to everyone who was tricked into choosing this selection.

this is VERY abridged

Arlo Guthrie's performance is amazing and it is a wonderful story. That being said, I never would have bought this audiobook if I had known that it was abridged. About half of the book isn't there. whole chapters are not there.