This was a fun palate cleanser of a read, a collection of essays on music’s best divas. Some of these were a bit outdated - especially the one on Britney - but still interesting and enjoyable to read overall.

Thanks Zando Projects/Atlantic Editions for the ARC.

Thank you to netgalley and Zando Projects, Atlantic Editions for the advanced copy of this book. Nonfiction tends to be a hard genre for me to find books I enjoy reading that aren't memoirs. This collection of articles focused on pop culture and the "divas" who have shaped pop culture was so well done. Each article was different enough that the book felt segmented, the overall cohesive choices of "divas" made me interested in each article.

A brilliant book, a collection of essays about what is a diva and about divas.
I found it fascinating and it's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A great collection of Kornhaber's work - the curation here covers a wide swath of what it means to be a diva, and there's something for everyone. I'll be using the Tik Tok essay in my course curriculum moving forward.

A nice collection of essays about the iconic stars we love. Some articles felt a little out of place or outdated to be included in a collection published in 2023 but overall I enjoyed the nostalgia and insight.

This collection from <i>The Atlantic</i> creates a throughline and context for the stories and scandals you know. Tracing freedom from Janet to Mariah to Fiona to Kesha to Britney. And finding a lineage from Britney’s public motherhood to that of Bjork. Elsewhere, the choices in divas may surprise you, most notably investigating Trump through the lens of “diva” and “camp.”

At times, the collection already feels dated — pulling content from 2016-2022 and not publishing until the end of 2023. One essay is framed by wondering if Britney will ever write a tell-all. Read today, we know that said book is being published the next month.

Ultimately, it's a quick, low-commitment read for fans of pop culture and the criticism of it.

kornhaber's essays are insightful and intriguing, entirely readable for those who might not be familiar with the music industry, and the kind of writing that leaves you examining how you interact with pop culture on a daily basis. however, i have the same problem with this book that i did with ‘on thinking for yourself,’ namely that it is just a collection of essays that have been somewhat decontextualised and dropped into a book without much thought given to expanding the content itself.

3.25 stars
Spencer Kornhaber’s collection on society’s divas kept me on my toes. Bright moments of the collection offered sendups that feel like he’s in on the joke: his reads of drag icon Rupaul feel like polished comebacks, and his analysis of the role of sex and love in Beyoncé’s discography reach into the defining characteristics of the book’s titular archetype. That being said, to name a collection after the diva and spend so little time investigating the topic itself feels disingenuous. Though I enjoyed specific articles in the collection, others barely kept me engaged, or left me wondering their place in a collection meant to chronicle the enticing and dramatic.

What is a Diva? Author Spencer Kornhaber pulls this thread out from his expansive Atlantic interviews to curate best of divas: Britney, Mariah, Bjork….Jack White? (Yes that guy from the White Stripes with probably my favorite essay.) Also MIA, Lana Del Ray and Tr*mp are included as well. The first part of the book The Singers is artist focused. The second The Stage is more music industry niche focused which in educational appeal i found more interesting and elevated by the details. More meat. And more heart.

I used to think the phrase "being a diva" was not really a positive. I always felt it was a backhanded compliment more than anything else actually. Maybe more defined as someone who has reached a pinnacle of success, perfecting their respective craft thus being empowered to treat people unkind w over the top unrealistic demands of perfection.

When the author interviews via conversation-directly with his subject I found his writing relevant, fun, insightful, thoughtful.. More expansive. The Jack White essay was a fascinating read while it included valuable insight into JW's passion, his creativity, the music industry + even the topic of vinyls had my head buzzing with its nuance. I walked away understanding the subject better and his business at hand. Loved it. Yet another essay such as the Britney one didn’t have much to do with her in the sense she wasn’t "present" in it. How is she a Diva? What is her command of her talent, artistry, personhood, passion, future vision that would define her inclusion into Divahood? It was not particularly strong in answering that thesis question obviously bc Britney doesn’t currently or ever has had command of her domain.

But brava for quilting a collection together that got me thinking….it is informative while filling is some history and context of what the music means, how it is informed in the collective consciousness, its path while evolving and what it has meant to the singers and society coming up. (Not sure why Tr*mp was included…until the camp element in genre music was introduced. I found it a fun inclusion though still on the fence of his diva status...in the music category.) Cudos also to On Diva for not exclusively referencing only female singers as divas…but women, men and all the beauty in between. This is a promising read that is open for interpretation yet filled with the author's and his chosen subject's….all encompassing love for music and connection.

Overall a recommend….to pick up and choose or read straight through. You'll find some insights as well as inspiration.

Thanks to Zando Projects, The Atlantic Monthly Group, NetGalley for advanced copy.