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If I Knew Then

Finding wisdom in failure and power in aging

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If I Knew Then

Written by: Jann Arden
Narrated by: Jann Arden
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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." Body Positivity Entertainment & Celebrities Personal Development Self-Esteem Women Celebrity Funny Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty
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What the critics say

#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

Featured Article: Outstanding Female Authors Everyone Ought to Listen to


Throughout history, women have crafted some of the most incredible and beloved stories in the world. From rising stars to household names, female authors have contributed some of the best works of all time for our listening pleasure. At times, especially in societies where gender roles and expectations were rigidly defined, women would write under pen names to avoid the fact that a woman was behind the work. Discover the best female authors.

Featured Article Outstanding Female Authors Everyone Ought to Listen to
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Within the first 5 minutes I was in tears. She was reading how I was feeling in that exact moment. I love Jann Arden. Thank you for writing this book. Everyone needs to read it.

Amazing

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What an amazingly written book, full of wisdom and compassion. Jann teaches us many lessons that she has learned from her childhood, her relationship with her parents, sobriety and life choices. Her experiences have become mine and the greatest take away for me is not too be so hard on oneself. Not to give up but to acknowledge our past misgivings and move forward with love. Grateful for this book.

Give yourself a gift!

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I love Jan's sense of humour and ability to connect with her audience. I would highly recommend this book!

Thought provoking

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I absolutely love this book. So many aha moments for me in here. I’ve always been a huge Jann fan, and even more so now.

Loved everything about this book!

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I enjoyed the story the humour and the insights into your life. Thank you for the laughs( and a few misty moments)

Great listen

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