There's Nothing Like This

The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift

By: Kevin Evers

Narrated by: Candace Joice

Singer-songwriter. Trailblazer. Mastermind. The Beatles of her generation. From her genre-busting rise in country music as a teenager to the economic juggernaut that is the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift has blazed a path that is uniquely hers. But how exactly has she managed to scale her success—multiple times—while dominating an industry that cycles through artists and stars like fashion trends? How has she managed to make and remake herself time and again while remaining true to her artistic vision? And how has she managed to master the constant disruption in the music business that has made it so hard for others to adapt and endure?

In There's Nothing Like This, Kevin Evers, a senior editor at Harvard Business Review, answers these questions in riveting detail. With the same thoughtful analysis usually devoted to iconic founders, game-changing innovators, and pioneering brands, Evers chronicles the business and creative decisions that have defined each phase of Swift's career.

Mixing business and art, analysis and narrative, and pulling from research in innovation, creativity, psychology, and strategy, There's Nothing Like This presents Swift as the modern and multidimensional superstar that she is—a songwriting savant and a strategic genius.

©2025 Kevin Evers (P)2025 Ascent Audio

Business Context

As a regular HBR reader, I loved how I cold share this story with music lovers to understand key concepts and decision making.

Repetitive and minimally insightful

The author gives too much airtime to Taylor’s detractors and critics and doesn’t deliver on the promised insights into her business savvy maneuvering. For example, he belabors past negatives like Kanye shenanigans, and only gives a quick nod to the decisions underlying the Eras tour. He falls victim to all the double-standards that could possibly arise when analyzing the success of a female vs male artist. And having a woman narrate this work, with all its male bias/blindness, is disingenuous and irritating.

As a devout Swiftie with an MBA, I was surprised by how much I didn’t know!

The robust analysis and interconnection of Taylor Swift, the person/the genius/the emotional support pop star/the brand with facts and perspectives from multiple angles resulted in my learning a great amount about someone that I already greatly appreciate.

Incredible

Simply incredible, a must read for anyone even remotely interested in Swift. Get on this.

Super insightful

Fascinating book as both a business guide and an analysis of Swift as a businesswoman. Definitely recommend.

The book that SAVED me and INSPIRED me once again

I don’t think I’ve ever been so moved by a book in the way *There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift* has impacted me. As someone who’s struggled with a reading slump for a while, this book has reignited my love for reading in a way I didn’t expect. Kevin Evers perfectly encapsulates everything I’ve always admired about Taylor Swift but could never quite articulate myself.

This audiobook is more than just a look at Taylor’s career; it’s a deep dive into the brilliant strategy behind her empire. The narration brought the emotion and insight of the book to life in a way that made me feel like I was right there with the author, uncovering every detail of her journey. The story of Taylor reclaiming her music, rebranding herself, and continuously evolving as an artist resonated deeply with me, and honestly, I teared up a few times—not from sadness, but from sheer admiration for her brilliance.

What truly stood out for me, though, was how the book rekindled my connection to storytelling. It reminded me why I love books and how powerful they can be. If you’re a Swiftie, this audiobook is a must-listen. If you’ve ever doubted her, prepare to have your perspective completely changed.

This book felt like it was exactly what I needed. If you’re someone who’s in a reading slump or just looking for something inspiring, give this a listen. It’s not just a biography; it’s an emotional journey that will leave you feeling inspired and maybe even ready to pick up your next book. I’m certainly back on the reading train—and this book is why.

So boring

The story line was a market analysis of Taylor Swift’s music. It was trite and lacked the fun of Shoe Dog. Very personal and written like an essay for marketing 101.