393. Rob Sheffield: An Era Like No Other — How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

Throughout her storied career, Taylor Swift has kept her name in the news with chart-topping hits, aesthetic reinvention, and nonstop global influence. Over the years and across the genres, die-hard fans and scholars alike have chronicled the cultural phenomenon that is Taylor Swift. And long story short, pop music expert and self-described Taylor Swift aficionado Rob Sheffield has been along for the whole ride. In his newest book, Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music, Sheffield dives fearlessly into the labyrinth of Taylor Swift’s extensive artistic legacy, personal lore, and professional highlights.

From her diaristic songwriting to her command of live audiences to her media presence speckled with both acclaim and criticism, Sheffield presents a case for why Taylor Swift’s impact on the pop music landscape just hits different. Heartbreak Is the National Anthem reaches deep into the many award-winning chapters of Taylor Swift’s career, from teenaged girl with a guitar to multi-hyphenate record breaker. In this bejeweled biography, Sheffield explores the depths of the golden grip Taylor Swift has on style, storytelling, and her legions of fans across the globe.

Rob Sheffield is a music journalist and best-selling author who has extensively covered music, TV, and pop culture over the years. He is a longtime contributor to Rolling Stone and has previously contributed to Blender and Spin. His previous publications include music biographies On Bowie and Dreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World, as well as the autobiographical memoir Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time.

Buy the Book Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music

Third Place Books