My Life So Far

By: Jane Fonda

Narrated by: Jane Fonda

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

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 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

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 sixty-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)

An Honest Look at One's Life

Some of the extremely negative reviews of "My Life So Far" were very obvious written by people who have NOT read the book. Instead, these "reviewers" are judging the author "Hanoi Jane"

Now for the book: what a read!!! Whoever would have guessed that underneath the immensely talented, strong, sensitive, beautiful, entrepeneurial Jane Fonda existed a depressed and tortured soul. And what fortitude it took to reveal the details of "the other Jane's" real life: gut-wrenching, eye-opening, tragic and hopeful. Most surprisingly, we realizing that the gutsy, joyful, healthy Jane we thought we knew is as legitimate and real as the emotional wreck we never saw.

I'm sure that money was not out of consideration as a motivating factor in writing this autobiography, but there is also an honest, palpable need to reach out to others that leaps off of every page.

The adage "never judge a book by its cover" has never applied more accurately than to Jane Fonda, in more ways than one.

Inspiring

Jane's life in Jane's voice is inspiring! It is especially timely right now, with the war in Iraq. I gained new admiration for Ms. Fonda. Loved it.

What a wonderful voice to listen to!

"My life so far" was my first audiobook. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to follow through and listen for so long and not loose track. But Jane Fonda's wonderful voice, reading her own words about her fantastic life, sharing her innermost thoughts was fantastic! I was hooked and listened and enjoyed and followed her different "acts" in life, being amazed of all the things she's done and her reflections on life and her own behaviour's cause and effect. I sure would like to know more about what will happen in her "third act"!

A MUST FOR EVERY WOMAN

Jane Fonda was a slow learner due to a childhood of pain. She has finally "gotten it right". Her book is entertaining. Her narration is beautiful. The most important thing about this book is the lesson she is teaching. Women of all ages will learn about themselves. They can grow into a period of peace through her work.

Jane Fonda: Truth Teller

I became entranced with this book. I laughed and cried and witnessed a person giving a straight story of her highly varied life. I am so grateful to Jane for being so frank about her life experiences. Her openness while being involved in becoming a person that she likes and feels comfortable with is a fine example for many of us..
Many parts of this book tease me to believe I would like to see the participants respond. Her three husbands would have views of her that would supplement in some way an understanding of Jane. Several others have inspiring presence. One other topic that has eluded me in life is why people don?t match up for the long hall-that is part of her story..

Life Isn't Easy

Jane's life hasn't been all fun and glamour. I have enjoyed her films and I found her story to be one of growth and challenge. I much prefer real life stories to fiction.

Citizen Jane - not Hanoi Jane

As a Vietnam-Era Veteran, I have always had a vague dislike for J.F., but after seeing Monster-In-Law a couple of weeks ago, and seeing/listening to some of her recent TV interviews, I became curious about her. I decided to read her autobiography - went to the public library but all five copies were checked out, so I decided to listen to it with an open mind and heart. I'm glad that I wasn't able to get a book, because I think listening to her was more entertaining -- J.F. tells her story with emotion, humor, insight and intelligence. Because she is a natural mimic, when she relays conversations with Kate Hepburn on the set of "On Golden Pond," she actually sounds like K.H. It's far more enlightening to read an autobiography than a biography because it's more accurate -- and more revealing. J.F. is not a narcissistic, self-involved celebrity; she is an activist who has lived a full-life with courage and passion. Instead of being called Hanoi Jane, she should be called Citizen Jane. The movies she has starred in, like "Nine to Five" reflected her own convictions. She translates her beliefs into action. She went to N. Vietnam to protest the war, and admits that sitting on an anti-aircraft gun was not a political statement - it was a lapse of awareness/consciousness. She became a lightning rod for Vets anger after the war. I still question why she felt it was necessary to make radio broadcasts from N. Vietnam that demoralized American troops, but I no longer believe the false story that she betrayed any POWs (by giving little notes with their Social Security Numbers to their captors). Anti-war activism is one chapter in the productive life of this involved American Citizen. What do the other chapters reveal? Her relationships with her mother, step-mothers, father, brother, children, grandson, husbands, colleagues (on films, on her work-out video, charitable works)and self; her work to become healthy, happy; and make a positive difference in the world.

What A Wpman

One doesn't expect a movie star to be able to be both wise and a fine writer and then put the two together into a fine short memoir. Jane Fonda does both brilliantly. She takes a good look at the times in which she spent her youth and a good look at herself in those times.


It took her some time to digest the realities of her world, but when she did she didn't shove the knowledge away, as so many of us did, but set out to do something about it.

Read Don Katz's (he's the founder of Audible) interview with her. He says it better than I can.

Excellent

Really enjoyed her honesty. She is an inspiration! Written with intelligence, pathos and humor. Relatable despite her stardom and celebrity.

My Life So Far

Having been a teenager during the Vietnam era and vaguely recalling Jane Fonda's involvement in the controversy surrounding her visit to Hanoi, I was thrilled to be able to listen to her own voice as she narrated her story. I also listened to a radio interview on NPR and noticed how eloquent she was. It's nice to hear her side of the story and I was able to identify with a great deal of her experiences. Her voice is soothing and articulate....a great way to 'read a book' while you're working as I do.

I've often said that young women today take for granted the freedoms that they enjoy today. My daughters can't relate to my stories of "Male Help Wanted" and "Female Help Wanted" ads. Jane's contribution to females is greater than one would think. I also believe that a lot of men could learn from her also!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. I only wish I could contact her to let her know how much I admire her.