80,000+ Books in-stock in NZ 📚

Auckland Bookstore open on Saturday & Sunday 🎉

Being Britney

Pieces of a Modern Icon
3.4 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 536 ratings, 60 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Being Britney by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike explores the life and career of Britney Spears, one of the most iconic pop superstars of modern times. The book delves beyond the headlines to reveal Britney as a mother, entrepreneur, victim, fighter, entertainer, and enigma, capturing the complexities of her public and private journey. Combining biography with social history, it draws from interviews, fan experiences, and cultural analysis to offer a sympathetic yet objective portrait of her influence amid ongoing issues of fame, mental health, and feminism. The narrative traces her enduring relevance through career reinventions, personal struggles, and the landmark #FreeBritney campaign.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of Being Britney. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book will appeal to fans of Britney Spears, readers interested in celebrity culture and music history, and those keen on understanding the intersections of fame, feminism, and mental health in contemporary society.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A timely and unique portrait of one of music's most talented, troubled and talked-about modern icons, re-examining the prolific career, publicised life and continued cultural relevance of pop princess Britney Spears.

A timely and unique portrait of one of music's most talented, troubled and talked-about modern icons, re-examining the prolific career, publicised life and continued cultural relevance of pop princess Britney Spears.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

With her canon of best-selling singles, electrifying stage performances and iconic music videos, Britney Spears is undoubtedly a modern pop superstar. But her story has long been clouded by society's dark obsession with beauty, youth and fame — a relentless glare that has threatened to eclipse her musical success.

A mother, an entrepreneur; a victim, a fighter; an entertainer, an enigma - Britney's life is as multi-faceted as the very contradictions, pressures and expectations that helped create her. Yet, beyond the eye-catching headlines and front-page fodder, an almost indecipherable question remains: who is the real Britney?

Part biography, part social history, Being Britney pieces together a collage of vignettes, stories, interviews, legends and fan experiences to construct a definitive portrait of the artist and her complex, far-reaching orbit. Written by acclaimed music author Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, this unique narrative is the first to provide a sympathetic yet objective re-examination of Britney's cultural impact in the wake of major collective shifts surrounding feminism, celebrity and mental health.

Despite her career spanning five presidents, multiple creative reinventions and over 100 million album sales, Britney's ability to come back again and again from highly publicised personal adversity has rarely been acknowledged. However, her successes keep stacking up and her relevance seems to grow with each passing year, culminating in a game-changing Las Vegas residency, a shocking conservatorship battle and a powerful #FreeBritney support campaign.

Being Britney is the compelling account of a talented, troubled and talked-about icon, whose life, work, and individual significance will be recognised for many years to come.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Times praises it as a shocking biography that astutely examines misogyny and exploitation in Britney's life. The Guardian commends its fragmented style fitting the digital age and calls it a wild, broad-stroked read. The Sun describes it as a well-researched and measured account, while Pandora Sykes calls it a thorough work from a seasoned "Britneyologist." Musicians and commentators also celebrate Bickerdike’s perceptive writing and deep celebration of Britney's legacy.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781788705240

Publisher: Bonnier Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 11 November 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Nine Eight Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 421g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Dr Jennifer Otter Bickerdike is a familiar name in the world of pop culture. With more than thirty years' experience, including time spent as a music industry executive in the US, Jennifer brings a unique perspective to the discussion of contemporary music and media. An academic, writer, presenter and historian, she has authored several books on the topics of pop, rock, fandom and celebrity, most recently 2021's You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone: The Biography of Nico and 2017's number-one bestseller Why Vinyl Matters: A Manifesto from Musicians and Fans. Jennifer is the global music ambassador for the British and Irish Modern Music Institute, co-creator of the Songs That Saved Your Life podcast and co-founder of Moving the Needle - a non-profit organisation that supports women in the UK music industry through their careers. Originally from Santa Cruz, California, she now lives in London with her husband and rescue dog.

Also by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike

View all

More from Arts & Culture

View all

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.