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Society's Child: My Autobiography | 
 enlarge | Author: Janis Ian
Publisher: Tarcher
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
Buy New: $16.49
You Save: $10.46 (39%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 4033
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.1
ISBN: 158542675X
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.42164092
EAN: 9781585426751
ASIN: 158542675X
Publication Date: July 24, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
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Product Description
Grammy Awardwinning singer and songwriter Janis Ians memoir of her more than forty years in the music business.
Janis Ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of fifteen when her soul-wrenching song Societys Child became a national hit. An intimate portrait of an interracial relationship, Societys Child climbed the charts despite the fact that many radio stations across the country refused to play it because of its controversial subject matter. But this was only the beginning of a long and illustrious career. In this fascinating memoir of her life in the music business, Ian chronicles how she did drugs with Jimi Hendrix, went shopping for Grammy clothes with Janis Joplin, and sang with Mel Torme all the while never ceasing to create unforgettable music.
In Societys Child, Ian shares with readers what it felt like to move in and out of the public eye. In 1975 her legendary song At Seventeen earned two Grammy awards and five nominations. But during the 1980s she made a conscious decision to walk away from the often grueling music business to study ballet and acting. She also struggled through a difficult marriage that ended with her then husbands threat to kill her. The hiatus from music lasted for nearly a decade until, in 1993, Ian returned with the release of Breaking Silence. Rather than risk losing artistic control, she took out a second mortgage on her home to fund the record. It paid off as Breaking Silence gained Ian her ninth Grammy nomination. Now in her fifth decade, Ian continues to draw large audiences around the globe.
Janis Ian has inspired generations of fans and in this moving book she shares the fascinating story of her life in music.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...
One of the best autobiographies I've ever read September 4, 2008
I bought this book after I saw Janis in concert in Chicago. I had always loved her ever since I was I was a 17 year old boy who could identify with "At Seventeen" which was released that year. Her book was beautifully written and both humorous and sad. However, at all times, you feel the hope that is the signature of her songs. So many people think of her music as depressing, but there's always hope in each of her songs.
Lessons in survival from Janis Ian August 30, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Janis has learned many hard lessons in her life so far (she has only just turned 50) and this autobiography is unsparing in her many days and nights of joy and anguish. Emerging from long chapters describing many aspects of her life seemingly beyond her control, Janis Ian finally has happiness, security and wisdom to help her on for the decades to come. Throughout all the dark times, she has continued to express herself in fine songwriting. Reading her extraordinary testiment, one can only applaud and thank heavens that Janis has come through.
This is an often disturbingly sad but ultimately amazing story of a talented, sensitive and remarkably strong woman. Well done, Janis!
Society's Child: Soundtrack for my Life August 28, 2008
I remember a dark night in the early sixties, the day after Thanksgiving. I was 8 or ten years old, lying in be with a high fever,the tinny sounds of a transistor radio my only companion as I alternated between sweating and freezing. The top-40 station I was listening to went silent for a moment, then began to play a young girl singing a song that would stay with me my entire life.
I didn't hear much of Janis on the radio for the next several years, but every time I heard Society's Child, I shut out everything else, and listened to that song. I would understand the lyrics years later.
In 1974-75, I was a senior in high school. I'd been on one date. I was a victim of hormones, and terrified of asking a girl out. I had no self-confidence, but acted totally self-assured whenever I was around others. I was in agony - how could I explain what was going on to anyone? No one else felt this way!
Then I heard "At Seventeen".
Janis had reestablished herself in my life, and actually made it possible to finish high school. She gave me my life back, by explaining that I wasn't alone.
Years later, I was introduced to Janis by Mike Resnick. Initially a blithering idiot, I couldn't talk as tears ran down my face. My wife translated; idiot-to-English is a valuable tool. When I was finally able to talk, Janis and I had a conversation, and I was able to thank her for everything she'd done. She simply smiled, and said that she hadn't done anything, just told the truth.
It was a Universal Truth.
A conversation with Janis Ian is never one-sided. While she may talk about herself, she is more interested in you. The stage persona is great, but the person is incredible. Conversations are about anything and everything, and altogether too short (regardless of how long they last), and you always want more.
Janis' autobiography, "Society's Child" is just like a conversation with Janis Ian. when I read it, I heard her voice, saw her gestures and mannerisms, felt how genuine she really is. And I couldn't put it down.
I felt I was sitting in a room with Janis, and she was speaking directly to me. Mutual acquaintances were captured truly, as were events I had direct knowledge of. I finished the book in a single day. I know that there is more to come, and I can't wait for what the future brings.
Janis Ian is funny, serious, witty, smart, charming, beautiful, self-deprecating, and has one of the biggest hearts there is. Read her autobiography, listen to her music, see her concerts. You will be glad you did.
if you read you will LOVE this book August 27, 2008
maybe you're looking becaus you're a Janis Ian fan. maybe you are looking because you like lifee stories. maybe you have no idea who Janis Ian is, you just want to read something you'll enjoy...this is the book for you. Interesting, exciting, insightful, truthful, funny, heart breaking, it's truth as good as fiction... it's truth as good as an other autobiography. it's what you are looking for, whatever that may be, and add to that that Janis Ian is a person of great intelligence, talent, integrity and respect ( how often do you hear that about a legend?) Janis Ian is the real thing and she writes in such a way it begs you to read more. You will love this book!
There's Poetry in the Prose August 26, 2008
Janis Ian is a personal hero to so many women and men whose lives were unfolding at the same time as hers, and now she has produced this wonderful book, not only for us but for new and future generations to experience and enjoy. Even as this autobiography is on one hand a very personal story told with honesty, courage, introspection and insight, it is also a literary retrospective of a time in history that needed to be lived to be believed. As if her body of amazing musical work weren't enough to do so, this beautiful book stands as a lasting testament to a life that has been, and continues to be lived with grace, beauty and integrity.
P.S. "Jesse" is the most beautiful song I've ever heard.
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