“Finding herself at loose ends both personally and professionally, Anne Abel made the stunning decision to travel from her home in Philadelphia to Australia for a month in order to see eight concerts by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Eighteen months earlier, at the age of 59, she did not know who Bruce Springsteen was. However, Bruce’s music lit a spark in her soul, and she was determined to let it burn. High Hopes tells the rapturous—and wildly improbable—story of her journey. If Bruce has taught us nothing else, it’s that ‘it ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive.’ Abel takes that lesson deeply to heart, and her book reaffirms it for us.”
—Anthony DeCurtis, Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone

“High Hopes traces the story of one woman’s unexpected journey to Australia at the age of 60, and a series of life-changing insights she could never have imagined. With the Boss’s humanism and boundless energy as her guide, Abel discovers a renewed sense of self in the wake of years of depression. A story of inspiration and rediscovery, High Hopes is the perfect tonic for our troubled age.”
—Kenneth Womack, author of Bruce Songs and John Lennon 1980

“Anne Abel’s solo journey, at the age of 60, to the other side of the world to follow Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is an extraordinary Bruce story. With bracing honesty, Abel immerses readers in the challenges of ill health and complicated relationships, as well as the joys of fandom and community, all of which help her realize her gifts as an observer, storyteller, and critic.”
—Daniel Cavicchi, author of Tramps Like Us

“Anne’s ‘come to Bruce Springsteen’ moment, and the vibrant stories that unfolded from it, is the most unusual path I’ve heard about, and I have heard about quite a few from fans over the years. As Anne shared her deeply personal journey, I was reminded of the universal magic of unlocking pieces of yourself that is a side effect of Bruce Springsteen’s music—particularly when being immersed in his live performances. But don’t be mistaken. This isn’t really another book about Springsteen; this is an inspirational book about Anne’s self-discovery. Whether you have never seen Springsteen perform or you just exited the stadium of his last sold-out show, Anne’s storytelling will resonate long after the concert echo has faded.”
—Donna Gray, founder of BruceFunds.Org

“Anne Abel, sixty years old, is a survivor of severe depression. She finds the route to emotional healing through Bruce Springsteen: eight concerts, twenty-six days, in Australia! A solo traveler, she displays enormous courage and perseverance on the road to her own empowerment. She turns her doubt and hesitation into a travelogue of faith and commitment as she slogs through the days, becoming stronger and more determined in each concert venue. High Hopes is an authentic, gripping, heartfelt read. If you’re new to Anne Abel and/or Bruce Springsteen, you’ll come away as a fan of both!”
—Jane Seskin, LCSW, author of Older, Wiser, Shorter: The Truth and Humor of Life After 65

“Anne Abel’s memoir began as a winning story at a Moth StorySLAM in Chicago. It tells the story of how this sixty-year-old woman who hates to travel and hates to be alone put her hopes on this trip. Anne did not go to Australia to change. She went to Australia for distraction and structure. She also hoped that harnessing some of Bruce Springsteen’s energy would keep her out of the abyss. But, twenty-six days, five cities and eight concerts later, much to her surprise, she came home a different person. This story is a lyrical account of the resilience of the human spirit. It shows how Anne’s gritty determination, tempered by an open mind and an open heart, enabled her to find her long-silenced voice.”
—Lee Ann Gullie, The Moth

“Reading this book as someone who is both a psychologist and a major Springsteen fan, and who has done my own work researching what matters to women fans of Bruce Springsteen, was compelling. . . . Anne’s psychological and physical journey, and the validation she felt through her experience of the Springsteen concerts and her time on the road, was a very fitting example of what many women in our study spoke of as seeing Springsteen as a therapist, teacher, or guide. While we devoted a chapter to this sense of therapy in Mary Climbs In, we could not illuminate the ongoing story and the ups and downs of life and working through one’s issues over time. Anne is able to do that. Her vulnerabilities make themselves known throughout the book. And you don’t have to be a psychologist to appreciate the journey, as the book is written for all fans.”
—Lorraine Mangione, coauthor of Mary Climbs In: The Journeys of Bruce Spingsteen’s Women Fans

“Anne Abel takes a trip that few fans would have the resources to undertake, allowing us to travel along with her through Springsteen’s 2014 High Hopes Australian tour. Central to her journey, and her memoir, is a candid exploration of her lifelong struggle with depression and the ways in which becoming a Springsteen fan fuels her healing. Many aspects of her story are unique—not least her sudden discovery of popular music in late midlife—but the meaning, inspiration, solace, and joy she finds in Springsteen’s music and performances will resonate with many longtime fans.”
—Donna Luff, coauthor of Mary Climbs In: The Journeys of Bruce Springsteen’s Women Fans

“While not everyone with treatment resistant depression will benefit from concerts or travel, the model Anne provides has wide-ranging application: Find what makes you happy and do that. Find what gives you positive energy and guard that energy against people—even if they happen to be your closest friends or nearest relatives. Do not give up. Keep putting one foot in front of the other until you find your path. . . . Anne cleverly replicates some of the healing elements of an inpatient treatment program: structure, positive conversations with strangers, and time for personal reflection. One of the things that lifts this book out of the predicable genre of self-help is the spirit of fun that sets in once Anne joins the worldwide cadre of Springsteen fans, after learning at the age of 60, that such a thing exists. What could be more therapeutic than a community of people enjoying the energizing Springsteen music? . . . The pervasive message is of hope, love and connection. And, of course, fun. The reader of High Hopes gets to share this experience with Anne as she brings it to life with her words. The reader may even find that their mood uplifts along with Anne’s as they see, hear, and feel the world as she experiences it.”
—Jeanne Gemmill Griffin, PhD