Bruce and Barack are friends? Really? How did this match-up happen? The answer, along with many other stories and discussions, are what we find within the pages of this hefty and highly illustrated coffee table book.

The project grew out of eight conversations that the two men recorded in Bruce's home studio during the summer of 2020. Those sessions turned into an eight-episode podcast that launched on Spotify in the spring of 2021. The produced broadcasts, which are still available, include a variety of audio clips that appear whenever they are relevant to the discussions. The published book edition is chock full of illustrations of all kinds. While both versions have merit, the more tangible and printed form is exponentially more substantial and satisfying.

The two men met during the 2008 presidential campaign, although both had obviously known of each other's work for a while. Through the years of the Obama administration, Bruce Springsteen performed at rallies and at the White House. The two families shared music and stories during those times; and they have continued to socialize since the Obamas left the office.

For these unscripted sit-down sessions, though, the men decided to add microphones. What a great decision!

What do they talk about? Well, a discreet additional subtitle shows up on the book cover and on the title page: "Dreams * Myths * Music." These concepts form a basic core of the subject matter. What Barack describes in his introduction is that the friends found that they had "a shared sensibility. About work, about family, and about America." (p. 3) With this opportunity, they call upon their separate lives, and they show that they have more in common than you may think. They speak about country, family, music, and especially, race. What does it mean to be an American? What does it feel like when you're an outsider? We learn about their life aims and intentions, as well as the backgrounds that helped to shape them. This is serious stuff.

But there's a lot of fun and laughter in here, too. They question one another, asking for answers. Barack wants to hear about "Born in the U.S.A." Bruce wants to hear about "Amazing Grace." Here are two guys who are both deep thinkers, talented writers, captivating speakers and polished performers. To have them open up to us in public is a true gift. These eight conversations offer major insights into both men. And they show us a great example of an unlikely friendship, as well.

Each chapter begins with an introduction by Obama. In addition to the dialogue transcriptions, the book includes handwritten and edited writings of both men. Here are pages of song lyrics, written in Springsteen's own hand, originally scribbled on three-hole-punched notebook paper. Here are typed texts of official presidential speeches, with Obama's many edits squeezed between the lines and noted in the margins. Writers and performers can thus be inspired to witness the creative processes revealed in both individuals.

And then, the photos! Here are tons from both participants, from both historical and family archives. So many illustrations are crammed onto these pages, that you will probably see different ones, each and every time that you open this book. Some you will recognize. Many, you won't. The extras alone are worth the purchase price of this volume.

If you call up the podcast to listen, and you open up the book to the same chapter at the same time, you can follow the printed dialogue along with the voices. You'll see that some editing has taken place, in both directions. You'll hear the extra audio clips, and you'll be able to simultaneously read the original lyrics and speeches. You'll certainly get a rich experience as a result. But really, each version is satisfying on its own, in its unique format. I will bet that someone who has only listened to the podcast will be prompted to at least peek into a copy of this book, if they see it in a library or a bookstore. And once venturing inside, I will bet that they will be hooked. They'll carry it right to the checkout counter and bring it home.

Fans of either man will be delighted when someone gifts them this book. Fans of both men will want to stop to scrutinize each and every page. Sure, you can read Bruce Springsteen's autobiography, Born to Run. You can read any one of Barack Obama's memoirs, including his most recent one, A Promised Land. You will still learn much more about each one of these men through their candid conversations here. Renegades is a true treasure.