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Taylor's Version: The Poetic and Musical Genius of Taylor Swift
A preeminent Harvard professor and poetry expert explains the artistry—and the celebrity—of Taylor Swift
“This is an outstanding look at one of the world’s most beloved entertainers.”―Kirkus (starred)
Taylor Swift has become a peerless superstar, ceaselessly productive and internationally beloved. From her teen country debut to her Eras tour and beyond, Swift’s career and her creations have captivated and bewitched us, opening up new ways to see both her life and our own.
In Taylor’s Version, the poet and literary scholar Stephanie Burt offers an insightful and heartfelt critical appreciation of Taylor Swift, her body of work, and the community that her art has fostered. Drawing from her 2024 Harvard course, Taylor Swift and Her World, as well as from her years as a Swiftie, Burt examines Swift’s particular form of genius – not the destructive genius of tortured poets, but the collaborative and joyful genius of an artist who has mastered her craft. She highlights the ways Swift’s work remains at once intimate and relatable, portraying people we feel that we know and people we wish we could be, from the first loves and girlhoods on Fearless through the public and private angst of Midnights. How does she do it (with a broken heart)?
Tracing a path through the Eras, Taylor’s Version shows what Swift has created, how it works, and why her songs will endure.
“This is an outstanding look at one of the world’s most beloved entertainers.”―Kirkus (starred)
Taylor Swift has become a peerless superstar, ceaselessly productive and internationally beloved. From her teen country debut to her Eras tour and beyond, Swift’s career and her creations have captivated and bewitched us, opening up new ways to see both her life and our own.
In Taylor’s Version, the poet and literary scholar Stephanie Burt offers an insightful and heartfelt critical appreciation of Taylor Swift, her body of work, and the community that her art has fostered. Drawing from her 2024 Harvard course, Taylor Swift and Her World, as well as from her years as a Swiftie, Burt examines Swift’s particular form of genius – not the destructive genius of tortured poets, but the collaborative and joyful genius of an artist who has mastered her craft. She highlights the ways Swift’s work remains at once intimate and relatable, portraying people we feel that we know and people we wish we could be, from the first loves and girlhoods on Fearless through the public and private angst of Midnights. How does she do it (with a broken heart)?
Tracing a path through the Eras, Taylor’s Version shows what Swift has created, how it works, and why her songs will endure.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2025
123 people are currently reading
5411 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Burt
66 books81 followersStephanie Burt is the author of fourteen books of poetry and literary criticism, including Super Gay Poems and Don’t Read Poetry. A past judge for the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, she served as a board member of the National Book Critics Circle, is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, and writes regularly for the New York Times Book Review, the New Yorker, London Review of Books, the New York Review of Books, Raritan, and other publications. She is the Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Professor of English at Harvard University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 16, 2025
Swiftie and academic Stephanie Burt builds on her Harvard course on Taylor Swift. Central to Burt’s discussion is how Swift became a global phenomenon. In order to address this question Burt focuses as much on Swift’s output as her personal life. Unsurprisingly – for a literature professor – Burt puts Swift’s music into a wider literary context: from pastoral traditions to specific poets and writers from Wordsworth and Keats to Daphne du Maurier. Burt interweaves reflections on Swift’s musical influences and her genre-shifting albums with thoughts about the intricate forms of identification that have grown up between Swift and her devoted fans. Burt fully comprehends Swift’s specific brand of relatability, her near-uncanny ability to connect with her followers and create a sense of intimacy that’s hard to resist. As much as Burt clearly admires Swift, this is far from a hagiography. Burt examines Swift’s complex appeal for queer audiences – herself included; critiques her difficult negotiations with notions of white privilege; chronicles her gradual moves towards political candour. The result’s a well-researched, intriguing blend of the personal and the analytical, there were moments when Burt’s explorations felt a little laboured but they could also be strangely moving and pleasingly insightful.
Thanks to Netgalley and Basic Books for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
Thanks to Netgalley and Basic Books for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
October 22, 2025
This is a divisive book because Taylor herself is divisive.
At the heart of Burt’s project is a provocative claim: Taylor Swift is not only a global pop star, but an iconoclast in the sense of redefining what it means to be a singer‑songwriter in this moment. Burt shows how Swift bends genres, rewrites her narrative, controls her own output, and in doing so, destabilises the old boundaries of country, pop, folk, and “celebrity as product.” According to the book’s description, Swift has become “a peerless superstar, ceaselessly productive and internationally beloved.”
Burt emphasises that Swift’s genius lies not in a tragic “tortured poet” cliché but in her collaborative, relational, work‑hard, deeply ambitious yet accessible mode.
In this respect, the book does more than simply retell Swift’s hits; it situates her in a literary‑critical frame. Burt draws unexpected lines: for instance, the idea that Swift’s early country work invokes the pastoral tradition, and that her successive stylistic shifts mirror greater cultural and literary traditions.
In doing so Burt confirms that Swift isn’t just chasing trends — she is assembling them, reframing them, and in many ways rejecting them.
From this vantage, Swift becomes an icon‑builder: someone who takes the raw materials of her life (breakups, friendships, fame, regret, ambition) and shape‑shifts them into art that then reflects back on her audience. Burt emphasises that key duality: that Swift is at once aspirational (what we wish we could be) and relatable (who we are).
If we accept that framing, we see Swift’s ascendancy not simply in commercial terms, but in the way she reorganises the role of pop artists in the 21st century: self‑narration, reinvention, re‑recording, remixing, multiple‑editions, and an ongoing conversation with fandom and culture.
Artistic powerhouses: Reputation, 1989, Folklore (and more)
What the book does particularly well is trace Swift’s major explosion moments — albums that shifted her from “pop star” to “pop phenomenon” and then to genre‑agnostic auteur. It is worth zooming in on three key albums that Burt highlights (either explicitly or implicitly) as pivotal.
1989 — According to Burt, this album is a central turning point: the moment Swift leaves behind (or transforms) her country roots and enters full pop‑metropolis mode. The book notes the “New York City–based, pop‑oriented, pleasure‑loving” character of 1989.
Here, the cultural shift is real. Swift doesn’t simply release a pop album; she defines a new pop‑star mode: maximal, sleek, confident, with a muscular production (thanks in part to Max Martin, Shellback etc) and anthemic hooks. The cultural shift caused by 1989 is that Swift became the pop star for the streaming/playlist era — the mega‑brand, the showstopper, the one whose visuals, videos, fashion, and fandom all aligned and amplified the music. Burt argues convincingly that Swift uses fame’s accoutrements (paparazzi, high‑profile break‑ups, red carpets) and remakes them into “relatable, empathic dilemmas” about uncertainty and self‑doubt.
In other words: she takes our world of screens and spectacles, and makes it emotionally real.
Reputation — While Burt might not treat every track as equal, she emphasises the dark‑glamour reinvention Swift attempted here. Reputation is the icon‑smash, snake‑theme, selfie‑culture‑revenge album. It is in many ways very Swift‑but‑also‑not Swift. The “undeniable iconoclast” element shows up in this phase: Swift is no longer just the “girl next door” (even if part of the myth remains) — she is remaking herself, in public, as a brand, and that move unsettles some of her earlier audience while spawning new ones. In a book that aims to map her “form of genius,” this album stands as evidence of her willingness to up‑end expectations.
Folklore (and by extension *Evermore) — One of the most remarkable things Burt shows is how Swift pivoted with the pandemic (2020) and delivered an album that felt intimate, low‑key, narrative‑driven, literary in style. In the book summary: “the narrative‑driven folk of her two pandemic albums.”
Folklore feels like a creative reset: stripped of spectacle, high‑gloss pop, tour‑mode, celebrity‑pressures, and instead it foregrounds storytelling, lyrical detail, character sketches, fractured narratives. This is where the “tortured poets” idea becomes a cultural reference point. In fact, Burt describes the subsequent The Tortured Poets Department as drawing on the poète maudit tradition (i.e., the doomed, self‑destructive poet).
The shift from Folklore to TTPD is thus one of mood, tone, and ambition — from subtle reinvention to overt myth‑making of self as artist.
In sum: these albums — 1989, Reputation, Folklore (and its successor) — mark Swift’s ascension as artist beyond pop star. That Burt frames them in literary/historical context elevates the discussion beyond chart‑numbers and PR‑moves. She shows how Swift’s work engages with traditions (pastoral, Künstlerroman, mythic self‑narration) and how the cultural shift she provokes is real: from teen‑star country to global auteur of genre‑fluid pop.
What works in Taylor’s Version (the book)
There is much in this book to admire:
Ambitious scope: Burt goes album by album, tracing Swift’s development chronologically but with thematic coherence. The fact that the book is rooted in a Harvard course (“Taylor Swift and Her World”) gives it intellectual heft.
Literary‑critical framing: It’s rare to see a pop star treated with genuine academic seriousness (rather than fanzine‑howls). Burt engages lyric by lyric, album by album, placing Swift in relation to poets, literary traditions, music genres. For instance, she argues that Swift treated her own life as “worthy of artistic obsession and grandeur,” while Burt treats her oeuvre “as worthy of academic and poetic attention.”
Balanced fan/critic tone: Burt is unabashedly a “Swiftie,” yet as the Kirkus review notes, she doesn’t write with kid gloves — she is willing to critique.
In that sense, her vantage is both affectionate and rigorous, which is a difficult balance.
Accessibility: Despite the critical apparatus, the book remains readable by fans, not only academics. The cover blurbs emphasise that even sceptics will “see the phenomenon in a way they never have before.”
Thus for readers interested in mapping Swift’s body of work, understanding her place in pop culture and in the literary‑musical nexus, Taylor’s‑Version is a strong choice.
But: some reservations and missed opportunities
Even the best books have caveats, and in this case there are things the reader should know:
Selective depth: While the book covers many albums, inevitably some tracks and phases receive less attention than others. For instance, the later albums (post‑Midnights, or the multiple re‑recordings) can feel compressed. Burt herself notes that she “urges readers not to treat [Swift’s lyrics] as poems.”
kirkus.us-east-1.elasticbeanstalk.com
That’s smart, but might disappoint some readers who hoped for ultra‑deep lyric‑unpacking of every track.
Timing vs latest work: The book is published in 2025, but Swift’s output has been extremely rapid. The chapter structure (one per album, plus tour) means that the most recent material may not have the same historical distance or critical assessment yet. A reader expecting major critique of The Life of a Showgirl (released Oct 3 2025) will find the book’s treatment is likely preliminary.
Pop‑star dilemmas glossed: While Burt does not shy away from critiquing Swift, the sheer scale of Swift’s branding, franchise logic, variant editions, and commercial manoeuvres sometimes lurk in the background rather than front‑and‑centre. In other words: the art is given the spotlight more than the business.
Fan‑land blind spots: For all the academic framing, some of the most controversial or problematic behaviour in Swift’s camp (e.g., issues with streaming metrics, variant editions pushing sales, forest‑for‑the‐trees marketing) are treated with a lighter hand. It’s understandable — the book is a study of artistry — but means that a fully rounded critical reader will want to bring in supplementary sources.
Critique of the latest era: The Life of a Showgirl
Now to apply the book’s framing — and our own critique — to what is widely seen as Swift’s newest album, The Life of a Showgirl (2025). While Burt’s book may not afford a deep chapter on it (given timing), she has nonetheless commented publicly on the release. For example: in an interview about the album she describes it as “a retrospective … she’s retelling the stories we tell about her” rather than launching entirely new territory.
From the listener’s vantage, there are both upsides and downsides.
What works:
Some tracks (e.g., “The Fate of Ophelia”) show Swift still wielding her literary instincts: the Ophelia reference to Hamlet evokes self‑mythologising and the idea of choosing a different path than a “tortured poet.”
The aesthetic of the record (the show‑girl fantasy, retro influences, cabaret‑pop) signals Swift still willing to play with persona, stage‑craft, theatricality rather than simply leaning on past formulas.
Some fans have appreciated the playful indulgence of the theme; a show‑girl, glitter, performance, spectacle — Swift leans into the “star” rather than fledgling songwriter.
Where it falters / disappoints:
Though some songs shine, many feel limp or lacking in the emotional urgency or narrative richness that characterised Swift’s best work. As one Reddit poster put it:
“The Life of a Showgirl disappointed… the calibre of work the Folklore/Evermore/Midnights/TTPD sequence set was just really high. Feel like TLOAS is a pretty typical pop album, not an instant classic.”
That sense of “typical pop album” suggests that Swift, after years of scale‑shifting, may be trading some of her sharp edge for safety or spectacle.
The multiple variants/editions issue looms large. The album launched with at least four named editions (Sweat & Vanilla Perfume; It’s Frightening; It’s Rapturous; It’s Beautiful) each marketed under the same 12‑track standard.
Yet industry and fan tracking list 28 or more physical/digital variants.
This raises concerns about art vs commerce: the listener may wonder if the multiple editions add genuine creative value—or simply serve as a sales‑engineering device. One Redditor writes:
“These variants are very much motivated by greed… the obsession with making sure each of her last 3 albums breaks some type of record by artificially inflating sales…”
From a critical standpoint, the proliferation of bundles can dilute the sense of the album as a singular artistic statement and shift it towards product‑strategy.
Lyrically and thematically, the album lacks the emotional stakes or narrative inhabitation found in Swift’s best work. Rather than inhabiting characters or unfolding arcs, some songs feel delightfully fun but lacking the bite or risk – the “tortured poet” aesthetic is more surface than substance. Burt herself, as noted, observed that Swift’s philanthropic/relationship lyrics on this album (“Wood,” “Cancelled!”) sometimes feel not bad but also “goofy‑ass pieces of writing” in her words.
As Burt says of “Wood”:
“It’s not a great song, but it’s not bad as sex education.” (My note: the stronger value here is not in profound lyricism but in open discussion of sexual agency; however, the artistic ambition feels modest).
In light of all this, The Life of a Showgirl emerges as a mixed bag: a reminder that Swift is still capable of spectacle and hitmaking, but also a moment where her momentum feels slightly flattened; the hallmarks of her audacious reinvention are less visible and the mechanics of release (many variants, multiple editions) feel more loudly commercial. For a listener who has grown used to the expectations set by Folklore, Evermore, and The Tortured Poets Department, this represents a somewhat disappointing plateau — not a crash, but a levelling off.
Recommendation & Conclusion
Overall, Taylor’s Version (the book) is a valuable read for anyone who wants to understand Taylor Swift beyond just the biggest hits, who wants the intellectual and cultural context of her work, and who appreciates serious writing about pop. It succeeds in reminding us that Swift is more than a product — she is a phenomenon, an artist who challenges genre, reinvents her story, and engages with her audience meaningfully.
At the same time, the book leaves room for further critical work (especially on the commercial‑mechanical aspects of Swift’s empire), and it reminds us that Swift — iconic though she is — continues to iterate, sometimes with more sparkle than substance.
In parallel, The Life of a Showgirl should be approached with tempered expectation. Enjoy the glitz, the show‑girl persona, the references and flourishes; but also recognise that this might not be Swift at her most daring. The multiple‑variant strategy may signal skeptical fans’ cynicism more than creative confidence.
If you’re a Swift aficionado, Taylor’s Version will give you rich reflection and insight; if you simply like pop and cultural commentary, it’ll likely broaden your view. In either case, the juxtaposition of the book and the album underlines the dual nature of Taylor Swift’s world: the artistic and the commercial, the grand reinvention and the steady brand‑machine.
At the heart of Burt’s project is a provocative claim: Taylor Swift is not only a global pop star, but an iconoclast in the sense of redefining what it means to be a singer‑songwriter in this moment. Burt shows how Swift bends genres, rewrites her narrative, controls her own output, and in doing so, destabilises the old boundaries of country, pop, folk, and “celebrity as product.” According to the book’s description, Swift has become “a peerless superstar, ceaselessly productive and internationally beloved.”
Burt emphasises that Swift’s genius lies not in a tragic “tortured poet” cliché but in her collaborative, relational, work‑hard, deeply ambitious yet accessible mode.
In this respect, the book does more than simply retell Swift’s hits; it situates her in a literary‑critical frame. Burt draws unexpected lines: for instance, the idea that Swift’s early country work invokes the pastoral tradition, and that her successive stylistic shifts mirror greater cultural and literary traditions.
In doing so Burt confirms that Swift isn’t just chasing trends — she is assembling them, reframing them, and in many ways rejecting them.
From this vantage, Swift becomes an icon‑builder: someone who takes the raw materials of her life (breakups, friendships, fame, regret, ambition) and shape‑shifts them into art that then reflects back on her audience. Burt emphasises that key duality: that Swift is at once aspirational (what we wish we could be) and relatable (who we are).
If we accept that framing, we see Swift’s ascendancy not simply in commercial terms, but in the way she reorganises the role of pop artists in the 21st century: self‑narration, reinvention, re‑recording, remixing, multiple‑editions, and an ongoing conversation with fandom and culture.
Artistic powerhouses: Reputation, 1989, Folklore (and more)
What the book does particularly well is trace Swift’s major explosion moments — albums that shifted her from “pop star” to “pop phenomenon” and then to genre‑agnostic auteur. It is worth zooming in on three key albums that Burt highlights (either explicitly or implicitly) as pivotal.
1989 — According to Burt, this album is a central turning point: the moment Swift leaves behind (or transforms) her country roots and enters full pop‑metropolis mode. The book notes the “New York City–based, pop‑oriented, pleasure‑loving” character of 1989.
Here, the cultural shift is real. Swift doesn’t simply release a pop album; she defines a new pop‑star mode: maximal, sleek, confident, with a muscular production (thanks in part to Max Martin, Shellback etc) and anthemic hooks. The cultural shift caused by 1989 is that Swift became the pop star for the streaming/playlist era — the mega‑brand, the showstopper, the one whose visuals, videos, fashion, and fandom all aligned and amplified the music. Burt argues convincingly that Swift uses fame’s accoutrements (paparazzi, high‑profile break‑ups, red carpets) and remakes them into “relatable, empathic dilemmas” about uncertainty and self‑doubt.
In other words: she takes our world of screens and spectacles, and makes it emotionally real.
Reputation — While Burt might not treat every track as equal, she emphasises the dark‑glamour reinvention Swift attempted here. Reputation is the icon‑smash, snake‑theme, selfie‑culture‑revenge album. It is in many ways very Swift‑but‑also‑not Swift. The “undeniable iconoclast” element shows up in this phase: Swift is no longer just the “girl next door” (even if part of the myth remains) — she is remaking herself, in public, as a brand, and that move unsettles some of her earlier audience while spawning new ones. In a book that aims to map her “form of genius,” this album stands as evidence of her willingness to up‑end expectations.
Folklore (and by extension *Evermore) — One of the most remarkable things Burt shows is how Swift pivoted with the pandemic (2020) and delivered an album that felt intimate, low‑key, narrative‑driven, literary in style. In the book summary: “the narrative‑driven folk of her two pandemic albums.”
Folklore feels like a creative reset: stripped of spectacle, high‑gloss pop, tour‑mode, celebrity‑pressures, and instead it foregrounds storytelling, lyrical detail, character sketches, fractured narratives. This is where the “tortured poets” idea becomes a cultural reference point. In fact, Burt describes the subsequent The Tortured Poets Department as drawing on the poète maudit tradition (i.e., the doomed, self‑destructive poet).
The shift from Folklore to TTPD is thus one of mood, tone, and ambition — from subtle reinvention to overt myth‑making of self as artist.
In sum: these albums — 1989, Reputation, Folklore (and its successor) — mark Swift’s ascension as artist beyond pop star. That Burt frames them in literary/historical context elevates the discussion beyond chart‑numbers and PR‑moves. She shows how Swift’s work engages with traditions (pastoral, Künstlerroman, mythic self‑narration) and how the cultural shift she provokes is real: from teen‑star country to global auteur of genre‑fluid pop.
What works in Taylor’s Version (the book)
There is much in this book to admire:
Ambitious scope: Burt goes album by album, tracing Swift’s development chronologically but with thematic coherence. The fact that the book is rooted in a Harvard course (“Taylor Swift and Her World”) gives it intellectual heft.
Literary‑critical framing: It’s rare to see a pop star treated with genuine academic seriousness (rather than fanzine‑howls). Burt engages lyric by lyric, album by album, placing Swift in relation to poets, literary traditions, music genres. For instance, she argues that Swift treated her own life as “worthy of artistic obsession and grandeur,” while Burt treats her oeuvre “as worthy of academic and poetic attention.”
Balanced fan/critic tone: Burt is unabashedly a “Swiftie,” yet as the Kirkus review notes, she doesn’t write with kid gloves — she is willing to critique.
In that sense, her vantage is both affectionate and rigorous, which is a difficult balance.
Accessibility: Despite the critical apparatus, the book remains readable by fans, not only academics. The cover blurbs emphasise that even sceptics will “see the phenomenon in a way they never have before.”
Thus for readers interested in mapping Swift’s body of work, understanding her place in pop culture and in the literary‑musical nexus, Taylor’s‑Version is a strong choice.
But: some reservations and missed opportunities
Even the best books have caveats, and in this case there are things the reader should know:
Selective depth: While the book covers many albums, inevitably some tracks and phases receive less attention than others. For instance, the later albums (post‑Midnights, or the multiple re‑recordings) can feel compressed. Burt herself notes that she “urges readers not to treat [Swift’s lyrics] as poems.”
kirkus.us-east-1.elasticbeanstalk.com
That’s smart, but might disappoint some readers who hoped for ultra‑deep lyric‑unpacking of every track.
Timing vs latest work: The book is published in 2025, but Swift’s output has been extremely rapid. The chapter structure (one per album, plus tour) means that the most recent material may not have the same historical distance or critical assessment yet. A reader expecting major critique of The Life of a Showgirl (released Oct 3 2025) will find the book’s treatment is likely preliminary.
Pop‑star dilemmas glossed: While Burt does not shy away from critiquing Swift, the sheer scale of Swift’s branding, franchise logic, variant editions, and commercial manoeuvres sometimes lurk in the background rather than front‑and‑centre. In other words: the art is given the spotlight more than the business.
Fan‑land blind spots: For all the academic framing, some of the most controversial or problematic behaviour in Swift’s camp (e.g., issues with streaming metrics, variant editions pushing sales, forest‑for‑the‐trees marketing) are treated with a lighter hand. It’s understandable — the book is a study of artistry — but means that a fully rounded critical reader will want to bring in supplementary sources.
Critique of the latest era: The Life of a Showgirl
Now to apply the book’s framing — and our own critique — to what is widely seen as Swift’s newest album, The Life of a Showgirl (2025). While Burt’s book may not afford a deep chapter on it (given timing), she has nonetheless commented publicly on the release. For example: in an interview about the album she describes it as “a retrospective … she’s retelling the stories we tell about her” rather than launching entirely new territory.
From the listener’s vantage, there are both upsides and downsides.
What works:
Some tracks (e.g., “The Fate of Ophelia”) show Swift still wielding her literary instincts: the Ophelia reference to Hamlet evokes self‑mythologising and the idea of choosing a different path than a “tortured poet.”
The aesthetic of the record (the show‑girl fantasy, retro influences, cabaret‑pop) signals Swift still willing to play with persona, stage‑craft, theatricality rather than simply leaning on past formulas.
Some fans have appreciated the playful indulgence of the theme; a show‑girl, glitter, performance, spectacle — Swift leans into the “star” rather than fledgling songwriter.
Where it falters / disappoints:
Though some songs shine, many feel limp or lacking in the emotional urgency or narrative richness that characterised Swift’s best work. As one Reddit poster put it:
“The Life of a Showgirl disappointed… the calibre of work the Folklore/Evermore/Midnights/TTPD sequence set was just really high. Feel like TLOAS is a pretty typical pop album, not an instant classic.”
That sense of “typical pop album” suggests that Swift, after years of scale‑shifting, may be trading some of her sharp edge for safety or spectacle.
The multiple variants/editions issue looms large. The album launched with at least four named editions (Sweat & Vanilla Perfume; It’s Frightening; It’s Rapturous; It’s Beautiful) each marketed under the same 12‑track standard.
Yet industry and fan tracking list 28 or more physical/digital variants.
This raises concerns about art vs commerce: the listener may wonder if the multiple editions add genuine creative value—or simply serve as a sales‑engineering device. One Redditor writes:
“These variants are very much motivated by greed… the obsession with making sure each of her last 3 albums breaks some type of record by artificially inflating sales…”
From a critical standpoint, the proliferation of bundles can dilute the sense of the album as a singular artistic statement and shift it towards product‑strategy.
Lyrically and thematically, the album lacks the emotional stakes or narrative inhabitation found in Swift’s best work. Rather than inhabiting characters or unfolding arcs, some songs feel delightfully fun but lacking the bite or risk – the “tortured poet” aesthetic is more surface than substance. Burt herself, as noted, observed that Swift’s philanthropic/relationship lyrics on this album (“Wood,” “Cancelled!”) sometimes feel not bad but also “goofy‑ass pieces of writing” in her words.
As Burt says of “Wood”:
“It’s not a great song, but it’s not bad as sex education.” (My note: the stronger value here is not in profound lyricism but in open discussion of sexual agency; however, the artistic ambition feels modest).
In light of all this, The Life of a Showgirl emerges as a mixed bag: a reminder that Swift is still capable of spectacle and hitmaking, but also a moment where her momentum feels slightly flattened; the hallmarks of her audacious reinvention are less visible and the mechanics of release (many variants, multiple editions) feel more loudly commercial. For a listener who has grown used to the expectations set by Folklore, Evermore, and The Tortured Poets Department, this represents a somewhat disappointing plateau — not a crash, but a levelling off.
Recommendation & Conclusion
Overall, Taylor’s Version (the book) is a valuable read for anyone who wants to understand Taylor Swift beyond just the biggest hits, who wants the intellectual and cultural context of her work, and who appreciates serious writing about pop. It succeeds in reminding us that Swift is more than a product — she is a phenomenon, an artist who challenges genre, reinvents her story, and engages with her audience meaningfully.
At the same time, the book leaves room for further critical work (especially on the commercial‑mechanical aspects of Swift’s empire), and it reminds us that Swift — iconic though she is — continues to iterate, sometimes with more sparkle than substance.
In parallel, The Life of a Showgirl should be approached with tempered expectation. Enjoy the glitz, the show‑girl persona, the references and flourishes; but also recognise that this might not be Swift at her most daring. The multiple‑variant strategy may signal skeptical fans’ cynicism more than creative confidence.
If you’re a Swift aficionado, Taylor’s Version will give you rich reflection and insight; if you simply like pop and cultural commentary, it’ll likely broaden your view. In either case, the juxtaposition of the book and the album underlines the dual nature of Taylor Swift’s world: the artistic and the commercial, the grand reinvention and the steady brand‑machine.
November 30, 2025
I was mostly curious what this book had to say. It got pretty repetitive which I think would have been hard to avoid given how much material the author was trying to cover. I learned some interesting things about Taylor but also was hoping for more lyrical analysis than what was offered.
December 1, 2025
I really struggled with rating this. I’m not sure what I was expecting from this, but how are you going to write a whole book about TS’s musical genius and get the name of a song wrong? As soon as I saw “The Saddest Man Who Ever Lived” written in chapter 12, I sighed out loud.
October 3, 2025
It’s important to preface this review by stating what a 2 star rating means when it comes to me. It’s only 1 star that means, in my opinion, a book is awful. Like, I can’t read this again and hope no one reads it. For me, 2 stars means I personally didn’t enjoy the book and, apart from that, I found too many flaws in it. Would I recommend it to people? Not really. Maybe just to very specific people who I know could look past the issues I had. But I can acknowledge there’s some quality in this book which puts it higher than a 1. Still, there is a lot I need to say.
I’m not a Swiftie and pop isn’t a genre I listen to often but I’m a lover of music. I have been my whole life so the little bits of music theory in the book were great to see. When something was pointed out about the specific notes used for a verse, I would try to sing it out loud to fully see what the author meant. And I’m a marketing nerd so the side of how Taylor became so big was also appealing to me. I know when she visited my country during either her second world tour or the third, a friend of mine met Taylor. She was still not so crazy famous that she had to fully hide from fans and she got out of her hotel and took photos with those Swifties who were there waiting to see her. That made me appreciate Taylor as a person, even if her music was not my thing. So reading about her relationship with her fans and how it started on the social media platforms of the time was pretty cool. I’m a 1989 baby too so I’m familiar with MySpace and wonder what young Swifties imagine that platform to be.
My favourite album is Reputation. Not just because some songs are angrier but because I love rock and metal and can imagine Taylor doing that kind of music more when she sings “Ready for it” than when she sings “Cardigan” (even if that’s one of my favourite songs she’s ever written). Funnily enough, it was “Blank Space” that metal band I Prevail covered and I love both the original and the metal version. The country albums…I only knew because of the hits. I would say not many people outside of the US care for country music so that’ll be my excuse. It was interesting to read about those albums in the sense that I knew very little about them and the genre. But I was also waiting for them to be done so we could move on to what I knew better.
I remember watching the “Miss Americana” documentary and while it was obviously only showing what Taylor wanted to be shown, it did show a very human side of her I enjoyed learning more about. And that included some topics covered in this book too. While I enjoyed the way they were covered in the documentary…I can’t say the same about the book. And that's my biggest issue with it.
As previously mentioned, my favourite Taylor album is Reputation. I was really looking forward to reading the chapter about the album and saying I was disappointed would be an understatement. How many times can one write the word white in just one paragraph? The limit does not seem to exist.
I know Taylor was used by white supremacists to, well, be the awful people they are. I know people wanted Taylor to speak up about politics and human rights because she has so many fans, her voice will be heard more than anyone else’s. I also know it’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t for her. And this book shows it. Reading the Reputation chapter, I truly wondered if the author hated Taylor. I know North Americans have this issue about feeling like they have to feel guilty for any small bit of privilege. To the point where no one seems to be able to complain about any sort of oppression because “what about this other person? They have it way worse!” It’s…hard to comprehend as someone who lives a much different reality.
Reading a sentence that went “white…whiteness…white…whiteness” was too much. “Taylor makes white girl music” (whatever that is) and that’s bad. “Taylor uses Black pop as inspiration” (again, whatever that is) and that’s bad. “Taylor doesn’t talk about politics” and that’s bad. But when she does, it’s bad too. Some criticism I can fully understand but the rest is trying too hard. Taylor probably said she didn’t know she could advocate for a community she’s not a part of because of reactions like these. Because people sometimes have to come out when they don't feel ready just so they don't get attacked for saying something as basic as gay people deserve basic rights. It truly bothers me.
As I said, this has never been my reality so maybe I’m too harsh but I live in a country where race is a fact and not a social construct so that influences my reaction. I live in a country where music from all places is celebrated. Where white people dance to pop, rock, latin music, west and east European music, R&B, hip hop, …and it’s beautiful. And no one runs after a black person of African origin to tell them they can’t enjoy reggaeton or after a white kid telling him liking hip hop is cultural appropriation. To be quite honest, I thought we got over this kind of conversation once the world decided Eminem could be a rapper even if he was white because talent should matter more.
Overall, I expected more from the analysis of each album but had it not been for the “fake progressive speech” (which sounds very not progressive outside English speaking countries), I would have enjoyed the book a lot more. But I couldn’t take more “Taylor’s activism is shallow” when it comes from a country where activism is just using buzzwords. And look how well that’s going…
Also, I do have to say the whole “Taylor is trying to be relatable” thing felt very odd to me. Maybe because I'm as old as she is. Or maybe because I don’t see how someone who’s in that 1% of filthy rich who had the easiest life possible could ever be relatable but…maybe that’s just me.
Thank you to John Murray Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of the book.
I’m not a Swiftie and pop isn’t a genre I listen to often but I’m a lover of music. I have been my whole life so the little bits of music theory in the book were great to see. When something was pointed out about the specific notes used for a verse, I would try to sing it out loud to fully see what the author meant. And I’m a marketing nerd so the side of how Taylor became so big was also appealing to me. I know when she visited my country during either her second world tour or the third, a friend of mine met Taylor. She was still not so crazy famous that she had to fully hide from fans and she got out of her hotel and took photos with those Swifties who were there waiting to see her. That made me appreciate Taylor as a person, even if her music was not my thing. So reading about her relationship with her fans and how it started on the social media platforms of the time was pretty cool. I’m a 1989 baby too so I’m familiar with MySpace and wonder what young Swifties imagine that platform to be.
My favourite album is Reputation. Not just because some songs are angrier but because I love rock and metal and can imagine Taylor doing that kind of music more when she sings “Ready for it” than when she sings “Cardigan” (even if that’s one of my favourite songs she’s ever written). Funnily enough, it was “Blank Space” that metal band I Prevail covered and I love both the original and the metal version. The country albums…I only knew because of the hits. I would say not many people outside of the US care for country music so that’ll be my excuse. It was interesting to read about those albums in the sense that I knew very little about them and the genre. But I was also waiting for them to be done so we could move on to what I knew better.
I remember watching the “Miss Americana” documentary and while it was obviously only showing what Taylor wanted to be shown, it did show a very human side of her I enjoyed learning more about. And that included some topics covered in this book too. While I enjoyed the way they were covered in the documentary…I can’t say the same about the book. And that's my biggest issue with it.
As previously mentioned, my favourite Taylor album is Reputation. I was really looking forward to reading the chapter about the album and saying I was disappointed would be an understatement. How many times can one write the word white in just one paragraph? The limit does not seem to exist.
I know Taylor was used by white supremacists to, well, be the awful people they are. I know people wanted Taylor to speak up about politics and human rights because she has so many fans, her voice will be heard more than anyone else’s. I also know it’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t for her. And this book shows it. Reading the Reputation chapter, I truly wondered if the author hated Taylor. I know North Americans have this issue about feeling like they have to feel guilty for any small bit of privilege. To the point where no one seems to be able to complain about any sort of oppression because “what about this other person? They have it way worse!” It’s…hard to comprehend as someone who lives a much different reality.
Reading a sentence that went “white…whiteness…white…whiteness” was too much. “Taylor makes white girl music” (whatever that is) and that’s bad. “Taylor uses Black pop as inspiration” (again, whatever that is) and that’s bad. “Taylor doesn’t talk about politics” and that’s bad. But when she does, it’s bad too. Some criticism I can fully understand but the rest is trying too hard. Taylor probably said she didn’t know she could advocate for a community she’s not a part of because of reactions like these. Because people sometimes have to come out when they don't feel ready just so they don't get attacked for saying something as basic as gay people deserve basic rights. It truly bothers me.
As I said, this has never been my reality so maybe I’m too harsh but I live in a country where race is a fact and not a social construct so that influences my reaction. I live in a country where music from all places is celebrated. Where white people dance to pop, rock, latin music, west and east European music, R&B, hip hop, …and it’s beautiful. And no one runs after a black person of African origin to tell them they can’t enjoy reggaeton or after a white kid telling him liking hip hop is cultural appropriation. To be quite honest, I thought we got over this kind of conversation once the world decided Eminem could be a rapper even if he was white because talent should matter more.
Overall, I expected more from the analysis of each album but had it not been for the “fake progressive speech” (which sounds very not progressive outside English speaking countries), I would have enjoyed the book a lot more. But I couldn’t take more “Taylor’s activism is shallow” when it comes from a country where activism is just using buzzwords. And look how well that’s going…
Also, I do have to say the whole “Taylor is trying to be relatable” thing felt very odd to me. Maybe because I'm as old as she is. Or maybe because I don’t see how someone who’s in that 1% of filthy rich who had the easiest life possible could ever be relatable but…maybe that’s just me.
Thank you to John Murray Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of the book.
October 28, 2025
As an English Lit graduate I am excited to see the way so many Taylor Swift fans get excited about her lyrics and share their literary observations. I was therefore interested in reading this book written by the Harvard professor who ran a course on Taylor Swift's lyrics. The book is a gossipy mix of pop culture, online research, personal fandom and a few literary connections. I enjoyed the last chapter 'Eras' most, as it works better, acting as a conclusion for the book and the over arching themes, giving a glimpse into the academic rigour I was expecting. If you are curious to understand more about Taylor Swift, her music and her success then this could be interesting. If you are a committed Taylor Swift fan, I'm pretty sure there's nothing new in here for you and that you will have lots of thoughts, (just like some of Goodreads reviews I've read).
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2025
This would have been rated half a star higher if there were not so many editing/factual errors in this. Based on the ones I noticed in my first read through, there were probably some I missed. Here are direct quotes from my updates while reading this book that relate to editing/fact-check issues I noticed:
"How did none of the fact checkers check the fact that Maren Morris sang a Vault Track on Fearless TV, not Red?"
"The narrator just pronounced Chappell Roan as 'Shuh-pell Row-in'"
"Girl, that’s literally Benjamin walking over her piano keys, not Olivia."
"SMH. She just called it “The Saddest Man Who Ever Lived.” Ma’am."
"She got the song title right this time after getting it wrong earlier??"
"How did none of the fact checkers check the fact that Maren Morris sang a Vault Track on Fearless TV, not Red?"
"The narrator just pronounced Chappell Roan as 'Shuh-pell Row-in'"
"Girl, that’s literally Benjamin walking over her piano keys, not Olivia."
"SMH. She just called it “The Saddest Man Who Ever Lived.” Ma’am."
"She got the song title right this time after getting it wrong earlier??"
This book had many great moments and kept me coming back to it, but the factual errors really distracted me from the book. Also, the choice to only briefly mention the rerecording process felt like a missed opportunity to me. It highly influenced Taylor's later work, the growth of the fandom, the Eras Tour as a concept, some of her music videos, and Taylor's viewpoints of the world. I would have liked to see it woven through the chapters or had an additional chapter to focus on the Taylor's Version project. (The author did discuss it, but it felt underdeveloped). An additional aspect of Taylor's artistry that would have been interesting to explore is her work with music videos. Taylor intially came up with the concepts for her earlier videos and later became even more involved as a director/producer; this is an important part of her image as an artist. The imagery from some of her music videos helped attract fans and craft how Taylor's work is perceived.
January 10, 2026
Honestly wasn't expecting much after the disappointment of Rob Sheffield's book but this blew me away. It was a true deep dive into Taylor as a person and an artist, about her writing and how well it works, what makes it So Good, and why so many of us are drawn to it and to her. It also shows the faults and flaws in Taylor (cishet white girl privilege being prevalent) without coming across as derogatory or hateful, instead addressing the discourse around her and her popularity, as well as her music, in a way that's insightful and even seems unbiased at times, despite noting they themselves are a Swiftie. The author gives personal anecdotes that add to the book rather than take away and their background as a literature critic and professor shine in the best way. Had no idea when I bought this (ironically the day after Showgirl's release) that it was by the person who did the college course on Taylor's songwriting but it makes so much sense. Kind of wish to hear their thoughts of Showgirl and all the discourse around it, maybe in a future book? Lol. All in all love and it feels like a must read for all Swifties. Major hand hearts thrown to the author
January 8, 2026
Mostly interesting. I found perhaps the most illumination about The Tortured Poets Department. Overall, I thought this book was enjoyable, but it was not quite what I was expecting. A mix between academic writing and popular writing that resulted in feeling a bit flat.
September 22, 2025
This book is not just about Taylor Swift and her fantastic career, song writing abilities and her private life but as a guide to the Harvard course.
It dissects her choice of word's, comparing them to other literary pieces, the time and setting of Taylor's career and world, especially American events and music.
Not a puff piece but a serious look and powerful reading.
It dissects her choice of word's, comparing them to other literary pieces, the time and setting of Taylor's career and world, especially American events and music.
Not a puff piece but a serious look and powerful reading.
December 3, 2025
A very good, very accessible, if a bit repetitive, academic (but not too academic) book about Taylor Swift, discussing her entire career until the Eras Tour. I loved it for the kindness and understanding it shows for Swift and for Swifties – a group of which the author is clearly a part. The book has clear thesis statements: Taylor Swift’s “genius,” power or success lies in her being at once relatable and aspirational. A strong emphasis is given to how Swift makes the words fit the music and the music fit the words. As a poetry scholar, Stephanie Burt knows well that these are not poems but pop songs she’s talking about, so there’s much analysis of how certain notes and rhythms are employed, and how they contribute to the songs’ specific feelings and stories. The book also discusses Swift’s type of genius as contradictory to the (male) ideal of the genius artist as naturally gifted and as above and apart from their audience. Instead, Swift strives to be accessible and connect with her crowd, while also showing us her striving, the effort she puts in. Because – another important, recurrent argument in this book – Swift is a work person, always trying, trying, trying to be good. And this constant labor and commitment to people-pleasing is something in which many fans see themselves, as well.
These ideas are stated early and then reiterated throughout, with the author explaining how they apply to each era and many individual songs. A chapter is dedicated to each of Swift’s albums/eras, each with its own major theme or argument (dutifully reiterated and explained) about what makes this era interesting.
The book includes many references to source materials (including obscure interviews and the little-discussed early Swift documentary, Journey to Fearless), to general academic texts (like Lauren Berlant’s Cruel Optimism), and to relevant fan analysis, as well (Burt clearly listens to podcasts, reads blogs, and follows social media accounts of other serious Taylor Swift fans, and she respects their insights as valuable – an approach that I appreciate very much). Scattered throughout the book, there are also comparisons drawn between Swift and other writers, contemporary but mostly older, “canonical” poets. I think these are woven in very well and make a lot of sense: because the comparisons are warranted and interesting, but perhaps even more because it’s clear these references are up Burt’s alley. Each of us approaches Swift’s work (and all art works) from within our own frames of references, our own contexts. Burt is, after all, a poetry scholar, and this is (part of) her context. Her context also includes her own love of Swift’s songs – with some closer to her heart than others – and experience as a fan. And so, while this book has clear academic grounding, it’s also a personal work, allowing us to glimpse at the author’s relationship with the artist she writes about.
At times I felt that the book points too heavily at the various people about whom the songs are supposedly written – something that it feels like you can’t not do when writing about Taylor Swift, never mind that my preference is against it. But ultimately, the book stresses that the subjects of Swift’s songs don’t matter as much as the songs themselves, as the craft and power and joy in writing them, in performing them. And this is, Burt argues, what Swift tells her audience, in different ways throughout her work: I see you, I understand you, I am just like you, there’s power in writing one’s stories, and you can have that power, too.
These ideas are stated early and then reiterated throughout, with the author explaining how they apply to each era and many individual songs. A chapter is dedicated to each of Swift’s albums/eras, each with its own major theme or argument (dutifully reiterated and explained) about what makes this era interesting.
The book includes many references to source materials (including obscure interviews and the little-discussed early Swift documentary, Journey to Fearless), to general academic texts (like Lauren Berlant’s Cruel Optimism), and to relevant fan analysis, as well (Burt clearly listens to podcasts, reads blogs, and follows social media accounts of other serious Taylor Swift fans, and she respects their insights as valuable – an approach that I appreciate very much). Scattered throughout the book, there are also comparisons drawn between Swift and other writers, contemporary but mostly older, “canonical” poets. I think these are woven in very well and make a lot of sense: because the comparisons are warranted and interesting, but perhaps even more because it’s clear these references are up Burt’s alley. Each of us approaches Swift’s work (and all art works) from within our own frames of references, our own contexts. Burt is, after all, a poetry scholar, and this is (part of) her context. Her context also includes her own love of Swift’s songs – with some closer to her heart than others – and experience as a fan. And so, while this book has clear academic grounding, it’s also a personal work, allowing us to glimpse at the author’s relationship with the artist she writes about.
At times I felt that the book points too heavily at the various people about whom the songs are supposedly written – something that it feels like you can’t not do when writing about Taylor Swift, never mind that my preference is against it. But ultimately, the book stresses that the subjects of Swift’s songs don’t matter as much as the songs themselves, as the craft and power and joy in writing them, in performing them. And this is, Burt argues, what Swift tells her audience, in different ways throughout her work: I see you, I understand you, I am just like you, there’s power in writing one’s stories, and you can have that power, too.
October 25, 2025
An insightful and thought provoking study of Taylor Swift, the songwriter, that I found really compelling.
Written by Harvard Professor (and self proclaimed Swiftie) Stephanie Burt, we delve into the vast catalogue of songs, lyrics and musical evolutions to find out how Taylor (and her music) became soo culturally significant.
As a Swift fan myself, I love nothing more than decoding and analysing Taylor’s lyrics (I’ve been doing so for about seventeen years now.) So naturally, I jumped at the chance to review such an in-depth exploration into the music and community that Taylor’s songwriting has inspired.
I will say, that readers will definitely gain even more appreciation for Taylor’s music (and lyrical prowess) after reading this. As we compare eras, themes and the personal experiences that helped craft all our fave songs. The analysis of the lyrics and melodies, chord progressions and thematic elements (that connect every album, song or performance) were really intriguing as well.
And though, readers may not all agree with every point made, I can’t deny how exceptionally well researched they all were. With an extensive, Swift-esque level of detail (and receipts to back each point.)
I do think that literature lovers and music history buffs are the ones to be in their element the most, reading this. As Burt also shares critiques and comparisons to soo many iconic greats in literature and music, including John Keats, Alexander Pope, Buddy Holly and even Riot Grrrl. I was in awe of some of the insights!
It’s quite a tricky one to review, as it does explore so much. So I’ll just say if you love Taylor Swift’s music, were the kid in school who loved researching, or counted comparative literature (or music theory) as one your fave lessons. Then this is definitely the book for you!
Though, you will need some prior knowledge of Taylor Swift and her music to get the most enjoyment out of this.
Also, a huge thanks to Rachel Quin and John Murray Press for this incredible finished copy
Written by Harvard Professor (and self proclaimed Swiftie) Stephanie Burt, we delve into the vast catalogue of songs, lyrics and musical evolutions to find out how Taylor (and her music) became soo culturally significant.
As a Swift fan myself, I love nothing more than decoding and analysing Taylor’s lyrics (I’ve been doing so for about seventeen years now.) So naturally, I jumped at the chance to review such an in-depth exploration into the music and community that Taylor’s songwriting has inspired.
I will say, that readers will definitely gain even more appreciation for Taylor’s music (and lyrical prowess) after reading this. As we compare eras, themes and the personal experiences that helped craft all our fave songs. The analysis of the lyrics and melodies, chord progressions and thematic elements (that connect every album, song or performance) were really intriguing as well.
And though, readers may not all agree with every point made, I can’t deny how exceptionally well researched they all were. With an extensive, Swift-esque level of detail (and receipts to back each point.)
I do think that literature lovers and music history buffs are the ones to be in their element the most, reading this. As Burt also shares critiques and comparisons to soo many iconic greats in literature and music, including John Keats, Alexander Pope, Buddy Holly and even Riot Grrrl. I was in awe of some of the insights!
It’s quite a tricky one to review, as it does explore so much. So I’ll just say if you love Taylor Swift’s music, were the kid in school who loved researching, or counted comparative literature (or music theory) as one your fave lessons. Then this is definitely the book for you!
Though, you will need some prior knowledge of Taylor Swift and her music to get the most enjoyment out of this.
Also, a huge thanks to Rachel Quin and John Murray Press for this incredible finished copy
January 17, 2026
i was really excited to read this book because i anticipated not just an analysis of taylor’s songs but the interplay between her music and her life, as well as a compare and contrast with the taylor’s versions (it is, after all, named after those very same rerecordings) and how those changed not just taylor’s catalogue, but how other artists approach labels and their masters as well. what i got instead was a hodge podge of analysis, music breakdowns, and shoehorned in cultural criticism. it doesn’t feel like it’s written by a harvard professor- and not just any harvard professor but one who literally taught a class on swift- but rather a student; the writing is disjointed and the analyses are abysmal (most take up a paragraph or so, with the more popular songs getting a more thorough run down). i loved when burt pointed out the metaphors in songs, but then she ruined the analysis (for me) by then making it a literal interpretation. it all just feels like burt had thoughts and ideas but couldn’t really grasp the words to fully and thoughtfully describe what she’s hearing: for example, in the lover chapter she literally writes “‘you need to calm down’ tells haters, homophobes, and online bullies that they just ‘need to calm down’” like gee!! thanks!!! didn’t get that take away myself!!! not to mention, when burt is describing the actual music, not the lyrics, i have no idea what she’s saying bc i have no knowledge on notes or chords or anything like that. she says that knowledge isn’t needed, and gives a few crash course-esque tips in the beginning, but i still didn’t understand it enough for it to help with the actual musical analysis.
they say all art is subjective, and this book proves that.
they say all art is subjective, and this book proves that.
October 3, 2025
While most discussion on Taylor Swift’s success focuses on her public image or her business moves, this book takes a deep dive into the music and lyrics themselves. Burt goes album by album, examining how Swift’s music has been able to find such success so effectively.
Burt writes in a way that is accessible to all, even if you don’t have any prior knowledge of music theory or literary analysis, but that still has plenty to offer if you have a solid grounding in these subjects. There’s plenty on offer, from discussion of melody and harmony, to musical structure, to poetic devices used in the lyrics. For anyone with a more technical interest in Swift’s music, there is a lot to get stuck into!
With such a big catalogue to sort through, the album-by-album approach sometimes is at odds with a more universal viewpoint. On the whole, though, Burt’s analysis is eye-opening, and I definitely have a newfound appreciation for the albums Speak Now and Reputation! Burt doesn’t quite resist the urge to wade into the more Twitter-worthy debates about Swift’s public image, but on the whole the book sticks to its core thesis to great effect.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
Burt writes in a way that is accessible to all, even if you don’t have any prior knowledge of music theory or literary analysis, but that still has plenty to offer if you have a solid grounding in these subjects. There’s plenty on offer, from discussion of melody and harmony, to musical structure, to poetic devices used in the lyrics. For anyone with a more technical interest in Swift’s music, there is a lot to get stuck into!
With such a big catalogue to sort through, the album-by-album approach sometimes is at odds with a more universal viewpoint. On the whole, though, Burt’s analysis is eye-opening, and I definitely have a newfound appreciation for the albums Speak Now and Reputation! Burt doesn’t quite resist the urge to wade into the more Twitter-worthy debates about Swift’s public image, but on the whole the book sticks to its core thesis to great effect.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
October 21, 2025
This is a great book for anyone interested in the evolution of Taylor's career, as it explores her timeline from the very beginning, when she was just a teenager, all the way to the release of TTPD. The author provides an excellent analysis of the events from each era, showing us how the music industry, society, and personal factors influenced the singer's compositions and her public behavior.
I actually thought the book would be more focused on breaking down the songs, analysing each one in depth, but it’s not quite like that. The author takes a broader approach, connecting songs that explore similar themes, while focusing more on what each album as a whole represents and what message Taylor wanted to convey with that Era.
I’ve noticed a lot of people getting more interested in classic novels and Greek mythology after seeing the references Taylor makes in her work. I think that’s really cool.
I enjoyed the read. It felt like a trip down memory lane, revisiting so many iconic moments and remembering little details about the songs we love so much.
Thanks to Basic Books for providing a DRC!
I actually thought the book would be more focused on breaking down the songs, analysing each one in depth, but it’s not quite like that. The author takes a broader approach, connecting songs that explore similar themes, while focusing more on what each album as a whole represents and what message Taylor wanted to convey with that Era.
I’ve noticed a lot of people getting more interested in classic novels and Greek mythology after seeing the references Taylor makes in her work. I think that’s really cool.
I enjoyed the read. It felt like a trip down memory lane, revisiting so many iconic moments and remembering little details about the songs we love so much.
Thanks to Basic Books for providing a DRC!
January 6, 2026
I was going between 3 and 4 stars for this one but I did enjoy it so it’s getting 4 stars. It reminded me so much of when we got to write essays about whatever we wanted (just not a book) at the end of senior year. Clearly a passion project :) If you are a casual Taylor Swift fan and interested in learning about how she got so popular, this book could be awesome for you!
I think I might be an ideal audience for this book, especially with Burt’s description of the types of people who Taylor’s music relates to the most, lol. I do think if you were a super Swiftie this might not be the most enjoyable because there were a couple of factual errors (and if I caught a couple I’m sure someone who is more up to date might catch more). But for my level of Taylor Swift knowledge (could hum lots of the songs as Burt was discussing them musically but didn’t know much about her life), it was great.
I think my favorite chapter was about Debut. It was very very interesting to hear about the start to everything, and I thought the literary analysis of her songs was strong in that chapter. I also really enjoyed the Eras chapter (bookends)!
I think I might be an ideal audience for this book, especially with Burt’s description of the types of people who Taylor’s music relates to the most, lol. I do think if you were a super Swiftie this might not be the most enjoyable because there were a couple of factual errors (and if I caught a couple I’m sure someone who is more up to date might catch more). But for my level of Taylor Swift knowledge (could hum lots of the songs as Burt was discussing them musically but didn’t know much about her life), it was great.
I think my favorite chapter was about Debut. It was very very interesting to hear about the start to everything, and I thought the literary analysis of her songs was strong in that chapter. I also really enjoyed the Eras chapter (bookends)!
January 17, 2026
I expected more. While I enjoy Taylor’s music for the most part, I am more interested in the phenomena of her success, of the continuous building of the fan base, until you can endlessly tour the world and not run out of attendees. This book doesn’t cover much of that.
It is a good starting place for a new fan to learn some of the lore and the history of a very long career, album by album. It touches on some basic musicality of the songs (chord progressions, etc) but not enough if you were really here about the music. It covers a lot about the lyrics, but maybe over interpreting some, as all fans do (never knowing the real story). It does not acknowledge that some songs are just absolute clunkers, which there are more than a few.
But the fandom IS the story of Taylor Swift to me, and it just doesn’t look that deeply at how it came to be and how it persists—across genres and across generations. There could have been more glitter. It could have been bigger because the story is bigger. But it’s Perfectly Fine.
It is a good starting place for a new fan to learn some of the lore and the history of a very long career, album by album. It touches on some basic musicality of the songs (chord progressions, etc) but not enough if you were really here about the music. It covers a lot about the lyrics, but maybe over interpreting some, as all fans do (never knowing the real story). It does not acknowledge that some songs are just absolute clunkers, which there are more than a few.
But the fandom IS the story of Taylor Swift to me, and it just doesn’t look that deeply at how it came to be and how it persists—across genres and across generations. There could have been more glitter. It could have been bigger because the story is bigger. But it’s Perfectly Fine.
November 4, 2025
I'm going to be honest and my most listened to album last month was the new Taylor Swift album. What can I say, I'm a millennial who likes Swedish pop, so an upbeat Max Martin-produced album is totally my jam. And so I was interested to read this book, which is a critical appreciation of Swift's work, written by a professor who runs a course on her at Harvard. And it was interesting, but I had two key problems with it: one, I'm not a big enough Swiftie that I'm able to remember all the songs off all the albums without going back and listening to them again, and two, I'm not across (American?) music terminology and theory to be able to understand all the technicalities of the music and composition that Burt is explaining. I need someone to play it to demonstrate it to get it - like the Switched On Pop guys did with The Life of a Showgirl the other week - and to really understand the points that are being made. But I think it may well work for other people more than it did for me.
*****Copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*****
*****Copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*****
November 21, 2025
🎧Song Pairing: Long Live - Taylor Swift
🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:
Okay I enjoyed it well enough, goes through her albums in order, any other way would be diabolical….
Have you ever heard of university/colleges offering courses on Taylor’s music? Well this will save you a couple bucks but tbh I was kind of definitely bored. I never thought talking about TS make me long for a poppy field slumber 😂🩷💚
I don’t know if the author really loves Taylor’s music. You can tell she’s fascinated and respects her poetry but would I call her a fan based on the writing style…not necessarily. I’m sure I’m wrong. Just how it came across. Facts, no feelings.
Definitely one to pick up this holiday season for your Taylor loving friend/family. The one who watches the Eras Tour often (and mentions it in almost any conversation how they were actually there)
🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:
Okay I enjoyed it well enough, goes through her albums in order, any other way would be diabolical….
Have you ever heard of university/colleges offering courses on Taylor’s music? Well this will save you a couple bucks but tbh I was kind of definitely bored. I never thought talking about TS make me long for a poppy field slumber 😂🩷💚
I don’t know if the author really loves Taylor’s music. You can tell she’s fascinated and respects her poetry but would I call her a fan based on the writing style…not necessarily. I’m sure I’m wrong. Just how it came across. Facts, no feelings.
Definitely one to pick up this holiday season for your Taylor loving friend/family. The one who watches the Eras Tour often (and mentions it in almost any conversation how they were actually there)
October 10, 2025
I grabbed this because just like many others from outside the US I'm stuggling to understand why Taylor Swift is so huge. It's not that I feel she's a bad singer, far from it, but her being such a cultural phenomenon has always left me scratching my head, so I was hoping for some insight. Well, I didn't find it here. This is no true exploration of Taylor Swift's persona and her music, these are just reasonably intelligent swiftie ramblings. I should've guessed as much, with a grandiose title like that. Still, if you're already a swiftie yourself and are just looking to read something about her, that'll probably scratch the itch.
January 19, 2026
I’m sorry but when there are dozens of amateur content creators online who could write about Taylor this in depth, and with fewer resources at their disposal (and there are), I feel like you need to try to offer something more and better than what I can get elsewhere for free.
The academic insight is all well and good but honestly questionable after you realize that the author couldn’t be bothered to get Taylor’s own song titles correct, not to mention those of other artists. This book desperately needed another editor or another round of editing, and that distracted from the content itself.
The academic insight is all well and good but honestly questionable after you realize that the author couldn’t be bothered to get Taylor’s own song titles correct, not to mention those of other artists. This book desperately needed another editor or another round of editing, and that distracted from the content itself.
October 18, 2025
Taylor's Version by Stephanie Burt is the book of Swiftie dreams. Any fan of Taylor's will love it.
Knowing nothing about the author, I began reading it with the assumption that it would be like most other publications about her - a quick, surface level read. Yet rather than focus on her style or how many men she has dated, this book takes a deep dive into Taylor's back catalogue with a breakdown of her lyrics and how they compare to other songwriters and poets.
If you're interested in the lyrics of Taylor Swift, this book is for you.
Knowing nothing about the author, I began reading it with the assumption that it would be like most other publications about her - a quick, surface level read. Yet rather than focus on her style or how many men she has dated, this book takes a deep dive into Taylor's back catalogue with a breakdown of her lyrics and how they compare to other songwriters and poets.
If you're interested in the lyrics of Taylor Swift, this book is for you.
October 24, 2025
This was an interesting look into Taylor Swift as an artist and as a writer. This feels academic enough that i feel like it has scholarly credibility and has plenty of referencing to other resources and writers but it is easy enough to read that is enjoyable. I liked how this worked through her career from the pre Nashville days, all the way up to her more recent albums. This was interesting to read as a fan and also as someone who is interested in the academic side of publishing- the perfect treat for all those who love both!
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
December 2, 2025
I’m prefacing my review by saying that I had high hopes this audiobook would be similar to Malcolm Gladwell’s work on Paul Simon. I wanted it to feel like: Dear reader, here is the lyric—listen to it—and next I’ll tell you what it means within the Swift canon. Instead, the book is purely narration and analysis. Deeply disappointing, because it could have been so much more!
That said, it is a worthwhile read for anyone looking to understand Swift’s lyrics, her album construction, and the Eras Tour. Should I rate a book based on what I hoped it would be? Well… I just did! Ha.
That said, it is a worthwhile read for anyone looking to understand Swift’s lyrics, her album construction, and the Eras Tour. Should I rate a book based on what I hoped it would be? Well… I just did! Ha.
December 31, 2025
Avertissement: ce livre va vous donner envie de jouer du Taylor Swift 24/7.
Plus sérieusement, c’est un bon plongeon dans le Swift-verse. Pas sur sa vie particulièrement mais sur son art et sa manière de créer de l’art ; sur comment elle compose et pourquoi elle compose. C’est super intéressant- pour un fan ou pour quelqu’un qui s’intéresse à la musique en général. Il y a quelques passages qui parlent de composition de musique mais qui demeurent compréhensibles pour un néophyte ( surtout quand on connaît la chanson, on peut se la chanter et voir où on veut en venir).
Plus sérieusement, c’est un bon plongeon dans le Swift-verse. Pas sur sa vie particulièrement mais sur son art et sa manière de créer de l’art ; sur comment elle compose et pourquoi elle compose. C’est super intéressant- pour un fan ou pour quelqu’un qui s’intéresse à la musique en général. Il y a quelques passages qui parlent de composition de musique mais qui demeurent compréhensibles pour un néophyte ( surtout quand on connaît la chanson, on peut se la chanter et voir où on veut en venir).
January 1, 2026
It's an engaging exploration of Taylor Swift's success from an academic and literary perspective. The author acknowledges that she is a fan of the artist. If you like the music and know a little about the history surrounding this successful star's career, this book is an entertaining read. It doesn't offer anything new, but it does provide an in-depth look at the singer/songwriter's career to date and why she has been so memorable and thought-provoking for many. It concentrates on the music and is an absorbing read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
October 30, 2025
I have only really come into Taylor's world with the Midnight's album so am not that familiar with her earlier work. The book is very detailed and I loved how the author has gone back to see what was happening in Taylor's word whilst the albums were written,
As a result of this wonderful book, I have gone back to listen each album. Very insightful.
Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for the copy.
As a result of this wonderful book, I have gone back to listen each album. Very insightful.
Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for the copy.
November 3, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and John Murray Press for the chance to review this arc.
As a long time Taylor Swift fan, it was amazing to be able to take a deep dive into her work and writing style from an outside perspective. I loved to see how she has grown over the years in her craft, validating a lot of things I have seen and noticed myself as a swiftie and those details about Swift that I love so much.
I enjoyed it very much.
As a long time Taylor Swift fan, it was amazing to be able to take a deep dive into her work and writing style from an outside perspective. I loved to see how she has grown over the years in her craft, validating a lot of things I have seen and noticed myself as a swiftie and those details about Swift that I love so much.
I enjoyed it very much.
November 13, 2025
Amazing, insightful, critical, connecting! This is a book for Swifties or people interested in the language and writing of Taylor Swift. Burt provides citations and research into Swift's role in creating music and lyrics that generations will appreciate. I especially appreciated Burt connecting lyrics or takes on performing to Cather's "Song of the Lark." When I finished the book I wanted to go back through the book again. Swift is a mastermind and lyrical genius.
November 22, 2025
This was not my usual choice of reading but I found it very insightful. If you love Taylor Swift’s music then this should definitely go on your wish list. Looking at Taylor’s rise to the dizzy heights of fame it analyses her success through her music and lyrics. How and why she wrote her songs. Decisions on when the songs were released and comparisons of her work to others makes for very interesting reading.
I learnt so much from reading this book and I really enjoyed it.
I learnt so much from reading this book and I really enjoyed it.
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