My Life So Far

By: Jane Fonda

Narrated by: Jane Fonda

Length: 21 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

She is one of the most recognizable women of our time. America knows Jane Fonda as an actress and an activist, a feminist and a wife, a workout guru and a role model. Now, in this extraordinary memoir, Fonda reveals that she is so much more. From her youth among Hollywood's elite and her early film career to the challenges and triumphs of her life today, Jane Fonda reveals intimate details and universal truths that she hopes "can provide a lens through which others can see their lives and how they can live them a little differently."

Fonda divides her "life so far" into three "acts", writing about her childhood, first films, and marriage to Roger Vadim in Act One. At once a picture emerges: a child born to the acting legend Henry Fonda and the glamorous society princess Frances Seymour. But these early years are also marked by profound sadness: her mother's mental illness and suicide when Jane is 12 years old, her father's emotional distance, and her personal struggle to find her way in the world as a young woman.

By her second act, Fonda lays the foundation for her activism, even as her career takes flight. She highlights her struggle to live consciously and authentically while remaining in the public eye as she recounts her marriages to Tom Hayden and Ted Turner, and examines her controversial and defining involvement with the Vietnam War. As her film career grows, Fonda learns to incorporate her roles into a larger vision of what matters most in her life, and in the process she wins two Academy Awards, for Klute and for Coming Home.

In Fonda's third act, she is prepared to do the work of a lifetime, to begin living consciously in a way that might inspire others who can learn from her experiences.

Surprising, candid, and wonderfully written, Jane Fonda's My Life So Far is filled with universal insights into the personal struggles of women living full and engaged lives.

Want to hear about Jane Fonda's first date with Ted Turner? She talks about that night and more in this interview with Audible's founder and CEO, Don Katz.

©2005 Jane Fonda (P)2005 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

“Belongs alongside the memoirs of Gloria Steinem, Bella Abzug, Marilyn French and Katharine Graham....To hold this book in your hands is to be astonished by how much living can be packed into 60-plus years.” (Los Angeles Times)

“[A] sisterly, enveloping memoir...an intimate, haunting book that might as well be catnip from its ever controversial author.” (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)

“Terrific...rich...unexpectedly quite moving.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

I Was Surprised

When I chose this book my expectations about the content were low. Jane Fonda surprised me with a powerful presentation of her remarkable life. She is courageous, curious, and throughout her life has exhibited a high intellect in addressing all her personal issues and public causes.

Pleasantly Suprised

I purchased this book mainly to hear if there was more on her relationship with her father and her thoughts on her "Hanoi Jane" debacle. But I found so much more in this book. Ms. Fonda is candid about her marriages, sex life, career, her struggle with bulimia, developing her spiritual side and more. Some of her inner searching I could identify with and felt I came away with fresh insight. Her kind words and feelings for my home state of Nebraska were appreciated. The lavish lifestyle while growing up and the attitude were somewhat off-putting. it was hard to imagine her giving up all that for part of her life. Not that she didn't have a safe landing spot at Daddy's or the Bel-Air Hotel. I would recommend this book.

Beautiful and Inspiring

I loved this book and it’s author so much do that I plan to write her, Something I have never done

Very engaging and informative

I love Jane Fonda’s ability to articulate each stage of her life. I found myself and some of her experiences and way she identified her struggles. It wasn’t the same struggle, but her ability to articulate how she felt really hit home!

Why did it take me this long to read this book.

Life is like stand-up comedy, it’s all about the timing, that’s why I had not read this book before . I’m 62 years old and this book was perfect timing. So many things I learned from this book, some i already knew but couldn’t put into words, an example, religion. Spiritual I am, and always concerned of those who believe in God as a mean spirit or condemn those who are not Christian. So Jane’s words are exactly how o feel about religion and religious hypocrisy.
Women are programmed to love their mate and not themselves, it’s time to wake up and smell the roses.
Thank you, Jane and your family for all you do for women, girls and this planet.
Ted is notperfect but I also learned how much he’s done for the world. And I loved his take on the 10 commandments. Actually I google it and made a print which now is framed and sits proudly in my office.
I have a new admiration for Jane now.
I love this book.
My 3rd chapter is more inspired now.

Wonderful!

It’s been said an unexamined life isn’t worth living. Jane has certainly examined hers and it was inspiring to follow her journey. I wasn’t expecting to be so drawn in and moved. Her candor and authenticity were startling. I very much hope there’ll be another book in her third act. Where will she go from here?

Beautifully written

Loved every minute of this story ! Jane has a unique and beautiful outlook on life. Thanks for sharing

her honesty

I loved the whole book. l knew oj Jane and her life In the news as I grew up . It usually was not favorable especially about Vietnam. I was younger so I rarely thought for myself. I also saw her pick up the academy award fir ber father. She is a deep, smart and unselfish person and a I am so happy I read her book.

The voice of a true storyteller.

Would you consider the audio edition of My Life So Far to be better than the print version?

I tried to read the print version, but it was too laborious. However, I have always considered Jane Fonda's speaking voice, her enunciation, to be unbelievably beautiful. Thus, when I saw the audio version here, I decided to go with her once again on this journey. Her storyteller's voice captured me right away.

Any additional comments?

Were I to meet her, one of the things I'd say is this, "Please, narrate more books. You have such a gift for narration: a storyteller's magic."

Life Changing Experience for men and women!!!!

I loved it !!! It was wonderful and soulful. I thought of how I wished everyone in the world could hear or read Jane's Fonda's book. I really thought if everyone did they would be humbled like I was for judging Jane. My whole life I believed the negative about Jane Fonda and never the good. I was soooooo wrong!!! Jane is now someone I would love to be. Forgive me Jane Fonda you are my new friend and sister in my heart.