Janis Ian is the ultimate story teller! Her honesty and talents shine in this very moving performance. I feel as if I know her personally after reading this wonderful book, I highly recommend it!!
Lori L.

There are times I wondered if Ms. Ian, though a gifted singer, songwriter and narrator, is actually this naive, or is there something more disturbing going on? She spends years in an abusive relationship with a much older man. Later on, she gets ripped off over and over again because she trusts people she shouldn't from agents/colleagues to friends/lovers. Eventually, most people learn to get second opinions, to put things in writing, and to hide their cash in a safe place. It's a dysfunction train from beginning to end, and I found it sad.

Yes: For one credit you get these pearks:

- A liberal history lesson
- Raw gig experience deliverd without polished crap
- Backstage inside
- Gay and female rights
- Drug stories
And you get to hang with Janis Joplin! This is not a book: It is an experience. If you have not heard about Janis Ian you will enjoy it if you like the 60's and 70's music scene. Ian's sexual oriontation does not take up too much space. You get the story bout the man wo attacted her. She is not advating gay rights: To her we who are hetrosexuals are the same. She does an amazing job when it comes to seeing PEOPLE rather than labels. It is worthy every award. This book I mean experience is perfect for a weekend night when you sta home but rather wish you had the bucks for a gig and yes: You will come back to this. T is a feel-good book unlike any other. When you are done you might wan to hear the music. On her website free tracks awaits.

The fact that she is honest

Well. It is not possible to read a show.

When she was being drugged by a stranger in N.Y.

This is not my favorite book it is my favorite audio experience. Hopefylly this will be included in "How should I use my first credit?" Section.

I have recommended this book-I didn't know who Janis Ian was and now I want to listen to her music!

A study in human development - fascinating, interesting and so honest....couldn't stop listening!!

Celebrity autobiographies always seem better to me if they are narrated by the celebrity. In Society's Child, Janis Ian reads her own story. While she is not a practiced or dramatic narrator, hearing the book in her own voice increases the listener's personal experience of the events Ian has gone through. As an added bonus, each time the text refers to or discusses a particular song of hers (including at the beginning of each chapter) Ms Ian plays the guitar and sings at least a few bars of the song.

She has led an interesting, and not always very happy, life. Born in 1951 during the McCarthy Commie-hunting days, she had to move with her family from place to place in the New York/New Jersey area because her parents' left-leaning politics made them targets of the FBI and similar organizations, and her father had to keep changing teaching jobs. When she was 13, she wrote "Society's Child," and was touring with the song by the time she was 15. At many of those performances she was baited and threatened by people in the audience, accused of being a "n____-lover". Hard to take when you're 15.

Janis Ian went through a number of travails, many of which seem to have been the result of youth and a too-trusting nature. Several times in her adult life, she ended up close to penniless, and had to scramble to make a living. At the age of 27 she married a Portuguese man who turned out to be both emotionally and physically abusive. Getting out of that marriage while dealing with the IRS over taxes that were never paid by her tax accountant was slow and grueling. Eventually she found the woman who has been her partner for many years, and life has become brighter and fulfilling.

Of course not all of the book is dark. There are many interesting stories, including her meetings and friendships with Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, and the legendary acting coach Stella Adler; and the background and writing of "At Seventeen." And she discusses the happy times in her life.

A number of times in this book, Ian says that she often did not ask for help or even discuss many of her problems because those matters were too personal and she was very uncomfortable discussing personal things. After a number of years in therapy, she was able in her autobiography to reveal and discuss highly personal matters, and she was able to read them in this recording. In the end, what you get from this book is the story of a strong, brave woman who has been through a lot and has managed to reach a balance in her life. Well worth a listen.

Really enjoyed this audiobook and the story of Janis Ian. Highly recommend to anyone with an interest in singer/songwriters.

I'm sure that I will read this over many times over the years. The story has tremendous impact and is a psychological roller coaster.

She tells it like it is, the good, the bad and the ugly. She also includes insight as to how she developed her songs. She also sings verses of some of her hits. You get it all !!!

She has great control of her voice and is one of the best narrators I've listened to and I listen a lot.

Absolutely! She was inspirational and kudos to her for writing this book.

I hope she chooses to narrate additional books in the future

(Because of my age) I had never even heard of Janis Ian. I dont even remember what made me get this book, but I am glad I did.

Her story was interesting and funny and triumphant and heartbreaking. Janis narrarated it herself, and even sang some of her songs. It made the book very heartfelt- you can even heaer her smile when she reads the happy parts.

She was a true pioneer during the days when people were not encouraged to be different or be themselves. She overcame so much during a time when it seems people were discriminated against for EVERYTHING! Race, age, sexual orientation, looks, opinions, and all the rest. She never gave in or conformed in order to fit in. She is a role model for us all.

This book made me realize that we have come so far in the battle for equality, and it is a credit to the brave souls like Janis Ian.

I did not realize how dysfuntional Janis Ian was\is. It left me with less admiration for her. I thought her sexual life was too overdone, and I am no prude. It makes one wonder who someone with such intelligence and talent could make such bad choices over and over again! Just a disapointing story. I found it hard to have smypathy for her when it seemed obvious she made her choices with eyes wide open.
Too much dysfunctional garbage.

The constant minage a trios! Way way too much! Just more than I needed to know!

Sadly, I really would not recommend this book

Janet Ian is a truly amazing person. Her talent as a signer, guitarist and song writer is obvious by her music but she's also a great writer. The road to success and back again is inspirational, even to those of us who lack musical talent. I especially liked how she blended her songs into the book, something I've found lacking in other biographies about musicians. She definitely deserved the Grammy for this performance!