Why Alanis Morissette Matters

by Megan Volpert

The first critical biography of iconic musician Alanis Morissette, creator of Jagged Little Pill.


The 1990s hardly saw a bigger hit than Jagged Little Pill. Alanis Morissette’s defining album won Grammys, dominated the Billboard charts, and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. It left a deep mark on the psyches of countless listeners. Three decades later, Megan Volpert checks in with Morissette, probing her rich and varied post-JLP career and bearing feminist witness to the existential anger that ties her recent work to enduring classics like “You Oughta Know,” “One Hand in My Pocket,” and “Ironic.”


Why Alanis Morissette Matters builds a bridge from Jagged Little Pill to the fascinating life and subtle intellect of its creator, exploring how the artist’s philosophical interests and personal journey are reflected in each track. Morissette’s struggles with censorship, mental health challenges, and Catholicism; her queer allyship, spiritual skepticism, zealous fandom, and philanthropic passions—all are carefully observed by a critic whose own life was touched by Jagged Little Pill. In the album’s wake, Morissette has evolved as an artist and global citizen. With sensitivity and a profound love for the music, Volpert guides readers through the case for Morissette’s enduring cultural relevance and creative impact.

Genres: Music, Audiobook, Nonfiction

136 pages, Hardcover

Published March 4, 2025

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

read my review here: https://thedailytexan.com/2025/04/07/... 📚❤️❤️❤️

[Joshua Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some people not paying attention, this may seem like a focus on Jagged Little Pill. What it actually does is use Jagged Little Pill as a framework to not only discuss Alanis and her importance and influence, not only discuss the individual songs, but also explore every other album she's ever made, the Jagged Little Pill Broadway show, and even her cover of "My Humps." It delves into Alanis's purpose and how she using that purpose in everything she does. It discusses women in music, women in 90s music, riot grrrl bands of the 90s, artists and artistic expression and the idea of selling out as opposed to sticking to your ideals.

The author does reference song lyrics too much in her writing, it's only sometimes effective, but overall does a great job exploring the many facets and issues related to Alanis Morrisette and her body of work. JLP hit just as the author and I and a whole generation were teenagers and ready to receive it, becoming a part of us and creating a lifelong respect and enjoyment of Alanis and her music.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not wholly what I was expecting, based on the blurb. This was less of an Alanis bio and more of a dissection of Jagged Little Pill. Alanis' inspirations for each song are discussed, more surface level than with great depth. Subsequent albums and tracks are used to illustrate that while Alanis has matured, she is still an advocate and ally- which all goes against the argument some make that Alanis "sold-out" and drastically changed her musical style. Artists may grow & change, but lyrically, Alanis is still on fire.

Thanks to the publisher for making the eARC available through Edelweiss.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A autora é o tipo de fã que costumava me irritar antigamente: aquelas que só gostaram de Jagged Little Pill e depois não continuaram acompanhando a carreira da Alanis, hahahahaha. Ainda bem que o tempo passa, né? Hoje, não ligo mais pra isso, e a autora também mudou bastante a sua visão - tanto que resolveu voltar atrás e fazer essa pesquisa sobre o impacto da Alanis no mundo da música.

Achei que ela levantou pontos bem importantes, me relembrando de coisas que até já tinha esquecido. Não é uma biografia, é mais uma análise das músicas e do contexto social no qual a Alanis surgiu. É uma ótima leitura para quem cresceu sendo inspirado por essas músicas que até hoje ainda abrem caminhos para novas artistas na indústria.

[Brandy Silvers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have gone back and forth on what to rate this book. I enjoyed it, it inspired me to listen Alanis Morissette’s more recent albums but I wasn’t what I expected from the blurb. I thought it would be more bio wrapped in the context of jagged little pill but it was really more how important the album was to the author and a shallow exploration of each of the songs. This book did remind me of how powerful it felt the first time I listened to the album.

[Bradley Morgan]

My interview with the author for the New Books Network: https://newbooksnetwork.com/why-alani...

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite possibly the most late-Gen-X / Xennial women's book ever written. Also, its been way too long since I've listened to this album, and I'd forgotten just how many good songs are on it.