If I Knew Then

Finding wisdom in failure and power in aging

By: Jann Arden

Narrated by: Jann Arden

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

Jann Arden—bestselling author, recording artist and late-blooming TV star—is back with this funny, heartfelt and fierce memoir on becoming a woman of a certain age. The power, gravity and freedom she's found at fifty-seven are superpowers she believes all of us can unleash.

Digging deep into her strengths, her failures and her losses, Jann Arden brings us an inspiring account of how she has surprised herself, in her fifties, by at last becoming completely her own person. Like many women, it took Jann a long time to realize that trying to be pleasing and likeable and beautiful in the eyes of others was a loser's game. Letting it rip, and damning the consequences, is not only liberating, it's a hell of a lot of fun: "Being the age I am—that so many women are—is just the best time of my life."

Jann weaves her own story together with tales of her mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, and the father she came close to hating, to show her younger self—and all of us—that fear and avoidance is no way to live. "What I'm thinking about now aren't all the ways I can try to hang on to my youth or all the seconds ticking by in some kind of morbid countdown to death," she writes, "but rather how I keep becoming someone I always hoped I could be. If I'm lucky one day a very old face will look back at me from the mirror, a face I once shied away from. I will love that old woman ferociously, because she has finally figured out how to live a life of purpose—not in spite of but because of all her mistakes and failures."

Critic reviews

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER

“Storyteller. Counsellor. Life coach. Canadian singer Jann Arden wears all those hats—and more—in her latest memoir . . . If I Knew Then will strike vibrato chords with readers. Like her song lyrics, Arden’s phrasing is simple, authentic and rich. It resonates. She wears her wounds on her sleeve, and isn’t afraid to show her scars." —Winnipeg Free Press

Praise for Jann Arden:

“The type of free-spirited, brutally truthful woman who can stand toe to toe with any man or woman. Funny and not afraid to sprinkle an interview with helpings of words your mother would never allow in the house, Arden is two parts poet and one part your crazy aunt.” —The Toronto Sun

“[Jann Arden is] abundantly and humorously generous with herself in public. . . . No doubt Arden holds some secrets, some passions, some pain close to the vest, but, like the best gossip in the neighbourhood, she diverts our attention with titillating yarns.” —Toronto Star

Fabulous!

I’m going to listen to it again and recommend it to my most precious friends!

Exactly what I needed

This encompasses exactly some things that I have needed to hear at this point in life in my early 30s. After having quite a few stories and pitfalls and sorrows and taking the time to work on myself and grow from it all, this is a loving reminder to be kind to yourself in reflecting and to keep moving forward. Good things come from bad is brought up several times and in the moment when going through the worst it is impossible to see sometimes but in many cases there is a silver lining even if it takes ages to realize it all later on. Take whatever you will and learn and grow.

A New Perspective

I really enjoyed Jann’s book. I could definitely relate to a lot of aspects but it also gave me a different perspective and made me reflect. Grateful for the lessons in life and the journey. I also love that she narrated it herself. Easy voice to listen to. I enjoyed this book.

A welcome to Croneism

Fabulous perfect timing just what I needed to hear and realize, confirming.
THANKS...I knew I knew this it's actualizing it I need to work on, very helpful & timely....

Perfect for this phase in my life

Eat listen that is so relatable and freeing! Highly recommend and will be sharing with my “crones”!

I know

Just when I needed to hear it. I enjoy getting older too, and knowing who I am.

if you're over 50 you'll absolutely love it

I haven't laughed this much, I listened in the car and laugh all the way to work. she makes my day!!!

Speaks to my heart

I’m pretty sure that I, too, am a crone. Thank you for putting so much of my 60 year old thoughts into words. ❤️❤️

Jann Arden - Reflections

Jann, I love love love this book!!
ThankYou for sharing your message with us. Very uplifting and real.

Totally enjoyed

Excellent book to listen to. The insight and common sense she writes was a joy to listen too. I’m on track with being a crone. Loving my life. Thank you Jann Arden for your inspiring words of wisdom.