Critics at Large | The New Yorker cover image

Critics at Large | The New Yorker

Britney Spears Tells Her Horror Story

Nov 2, 2023
Britney Spears, pop star who rose to fame in the early 2000s, discusses her new memoir detailing the horror story of her life, including her struggles with mental health. The podcast hosts explore the broader context of celebrity memoirs and how they contribute to the overarching narrative of a celebrity's life. They also discuss the responsibility of readers and the desire for redemption in these stories.
43:33

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Britney Spears's memoir highlights the horror of her life under the control of her father and the betrayal she faced from those around her.
  • Celebrity memoirs fall into different categories, including reclaiming narratives, settling scores, and catastrophe memoirs, offering readers a range of narratives within the genre.

Deep dives

The Life and Trials of Britney Spears

Britney Spears' memoir, 'The Woman in Me,' delves into her rise to fame as a teenage pop star in the early 2000s and the subsequent struggles she faced with her mental health. From her public breakups with Justin Timberlake and Kevin Federline to her custody battles and the infamous conservatorship that lasted for 13 years, the memoir offers a harrowing account of her life. It portrays the horror of being in the clutches of her own father, who controlled her finances and personal decisions, and the psychological toll it took on her. The book also explores the broader celebrity memoir genre and what readers seek from these books, such as authenticity, drama, and behind-the-scenes insights.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode