Society's Child: My Autobiography

How can you possibly beat a well-read autobiography about a musician when that artist performs the songs as she tells the story. Well-read, naturally beautifully performed.

Just lovely.

When she described how she came up with her hit "At Seventeen."

This is one of the most engaging nonfiction books I've read. Janis tells the story of her life, her music and the music industry. Nicely written, beautifully read. One aspect that really set this one apart for me was the natural way that Janis sings and plays the guitar at the beginning of every chapter and throughout the book. It has the feel of sitting in your living room and having Janis tell you her life story. Amazing!

I've been a fan of Janis Ian's music since 1967. However, I knew precious little about her personal life. Janis lays out key events in her life, good and bad, without whining about the bad or over indulging in her success. Hers is a life lived out loud without regrets. In the end, it is a story about her music (which clearly is in her DNA) the power of the human spirit and the power of music.

Book opens with Janis telling the story of performing Society's Child in front of an audience with the small number of racial bigots heckling the 15-year-old star.

The minute I saw that Janis Ian had an autobiography out I bought it! Then I saw that she was also performing it, and that made me even more excited to start it. I've been a fan of hers for decades, even meeting her briefly after a concert at the Univ. of Arizona in 1977 or so. I've been learning a lot about her life before becoming famous with "Society's Child" and "At Seventeen", and she even sings snippets of her songs in this great audiobook.
With the world of digital downloads, I've been able to buy some of her older releases and found out that she is coming to town in March!
THIS is the way a great autobiography should be done--read and performed by the author.
Thanks, Janis, and Audible!

I really didn't know much about Janis Ian or her music. I was familiar with a couple of her hits. I listened to this mainly because it got rave reviews from other listeners. This isn't the typical book I listen to on a regular basis. I am more the business book and self-help type but decided I wanted a break. Her story was extremely fascinating and provided a wonderful glimpse into what it is like to make it and not make it in the music world.

She tells her story, and its a life with wild ups and downs, in such an open and honest way. She is a fantastic story teller/narrator, which makes sense as she is a singer songwriter. This has been one of my favorite audiobooks. Love the fact that in the audiobook you get to hear her music all along the way.

Like a lot of people, I was a bit surprised to learn this had beaten out some really famous and important works - - but after an hour, I know why. This story is like having the world's best coffee and donuts with your absolute best friend who is finally letting you in on all the secrets of her life. She's an amazing writer - - no kidding, just listen to her music. But just like that music, this is deeply personal, stunningly honest, painful and uplifting. Hearing this one, with Janis singing pieces of the story, allows you to be not a just a witness to her life, but a participant. Love this one.

Listening to Janis Ian narrate her autobiography punctuated with her singing her songsfelt like sitting in her living room while she told the story. As she sang, I was transported back to my own youth. If you are a fan, this is a absolute must book to listen to. If you are not yet a fan, listen to this book and you'll become one.

I loved her music as a teenager and love her music now. I was tickled to find this book here, and not even a bit disappointed. Loved every minute of it, and no one else could read it and do it justice. Brava!

I liked the personal touches in this autobiography, especially the guitar playing and the singing. It was very entertaining.

I absolutely loved everything about this book, including Janis's awesome and honest narration. She uses her stunning voice to sing the listener in to each new life chapter. Her words paint pictures, her voice sounds heavenly. GREAT story of a hard-working optimist.

Janis Ian’s narration is really a performance. She has a wonderful voice for narrating, and whenever she is talking about a particular song, she gives us samples of the song by singing it and accompanying herself with her guitar. It is really a performance. I loved this book and wondered what had happened to Janis Ian. She has had a fascinating life and she's very positive about her life. Awe-inspiring.