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A Woman Speaks: Lectures, Seminars, Interviews of Anaïs Nin
In this book Anaïs Nin speaks with warmth and urgency on those themes which have always been closest to her: relationships, creativity, the struggle for wholeness, the unveiling of woman, the artist as magician, women reconstructing the world, moving from the dream outward, and experiencing our lives to the fullest possible extent.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 3, 2018
A very thoughtful book indeed! What I liked most about the book is the voice that is so much hers. The thoughts expressed on a broad range of issues are heartfelt and lived. It is not like one theory is talking to another; it is more a zen-like person speaking to us a friend, and sharing what seems worth sharing. The book has this air about it.
There is a lot in it that is relevant event today. There are lectures, essays, and conversations on literature, gender, sexuality and culture. Speaking about feminism, Anais insists that women, instead of fighting and blaming men, should work on themselves, there is no point in dwelling a negative space. Women should write, paint, sing, dance, they should live more fully, and doing this will change lives of women in a deep way; such a change will contribute to all life. As one reads these thoughts, one sees how this can be used and applied in all those situations where one group feels oppressed by the other, to any kind of politics that creates minorities of varied sorts in society. We gain more by sharing, by giving, by becoming more positive. However, one can take a lifetime to understand these thoughts and implement in real life.
She speaks a lot about culture and how it works through us, how we can 'undone' its aspects which chain and, at times, damage us. She mentions how certain notions, even certain words are used to discredit and dismiss more natural and organic ways of being, or at least, she suggests that we are molded in ways that take us away from things that are central to us as human beings. She goes on to talk about these issues, for instance, when she reflects on rational /irrational, man/woman and particularly about the objective and subjective human experience– the ways in which the objective is consuming everything that is subjective– that goes in the realm of dreams, of unknown territories. This according to Anais, indulgence in such delusions, is an immense folly of modern times. She then goes on to list more explanations of how it narrows down innate human possibilities and potentials. The creative will is hampered by this cloying insistence on the objective experience in all spheres of life, for instance, in regard to language one is taught to be objective and use language clearly and simply. In order to express a certain color, a certain quality Anais used the word 'rutilant'. She is harshly criticized for this transgression. She rejects these pragmaticisms– this not only confined to writing but such as approach seeps into all spheres of human life. We cannot and should not fix and numb ourselves by these manipulative impositions forwarded as biblical truths.
The most impressive aspect of these talks and thoughts is that one recognizes the deeply felt truth of her words. Clearly, one can reject them as mystical or too wise of the real world. But just a little reflection makes one see what she is getting at. She does not want to sanitize ambivalences, contradictions, irrationalities in human-beings; she just seeks to harmonize them; annihilating them is not only damaging, it will make us 'less' and, possibly, further neurosis of our age.
There is a lot in it that is relevant event today. There are lectures, essays, and conversations on literature, gender, sexuality and culture. Speaking about feminism, Anais insists that women, instead of fighting and blaming men, should work on themselves, there is no point in dwelling a negative space. Women should write, paint, sing, dance, they should live more fully, and doing this will change lives of women in a deep way; such a change will contribute to all life. As one reads these thoughts, one sees how this can be used and applied in all those situations where one group feels oppressed by the other, to any kind of politics that creates minorities of varied sorts in society. We gain more by sharing, by giving, by becoming more positive. However, one can take a lifetime to understand these thoughts and implement in real life.
She speaks a lot about culture and how it works through us, how we can 'undone' its aspects which chain and, at times, damage us. She mentions how certain notions, even certain words are used to discredit and dismiss more natural and organic ways of being, or at least, she suggests that we are molded in ways that take us away from things that are central to us as human beings. She goes on to talk about these issues, for instance, when she reflects on rational /irrational, man/woman and particularly about the objective and subjective human experience– the ways in which the objective is consuming everything that is subjective– that goes in the realm of dreams, of unknown territories. This according to Anais, indulgence in such delusions, is an immense folly of modern times. She then goes on to list more explanations of how it narrows down innate human possibilities and potentials. The creative will is hampered by this cloying insistence on the objective experience in all spheres of life, for instance, in regard to language one is taught to be objective and use language clearly and simply. In order to express a certain color, a certain quality Anais used the word 'rutilant'. She is harshly criticized for this transgression. She rejects these pragmaticisms– this not only confined to writing but such as approach seeps into all spheres of human life. We cannot and should not fix and numb ourselves by these manipulative impositions forwarded as biblical truths.
The most impressive aspect of these talks and thoughts is that one recognizes the deeply felt truth of her words. Clearly, one can reject them as mystical or too wise of the real world. But just a little reflection makes one see what she is getting at. She does not want to sanitize ambivalences, contradictions, irrationalities in human-beings; she just seeks to harmonize them; annihilating them is not only damaging, it will make us 'less' and, possibly, further neurosis of our age.
June 28, 2016
A book I've had on the shelves since 2007 when my grandmother passed, I inherited much of her library and this was among it. She used to talk about Nin and Henry Miller's relationship and collected both of their works. I have not yet read Miller and this was my first foray into Nin; I started with this instead of the collection of diaries to determine whether or not it was worth the exploration.
The book itself was just as it is described, within are collections of Nin's communications segmented by themes which tend to run together. There were genuine moments of beauty here though, things that reminded me of my own grandmother's idealistic, rebellious feminism and authentic, powerful sense of self.
Nin was an advocate for creativity, self-actualization and sexual expression outside the confines of the rigid societal norms. Something about the writing still seems guarded however and the themes and questions overlap at points resulting in drab run on sections.
What I'm most curious about still is how Nin was received by the public, how she really lived her life, and what motivated her? Her name is not heard much in modern times, her works of fiction and non-fiction are not popular with modern audiences - why? To know I would need to read more of her writing, which after finishing this I am less enthused to do. Maybe in a few years when I'm scanning my shelves for another new read I'll pick up more of her work and get a glimpse into a past generation of a self-described international woman.
Worth exploring, but I'm in no rush.
The book itself was just as it is described, within are collections of Nin's communications segmented by themes which tend to run together. There were genuine moments of beauty here though, things that reminded me of my own grandmother's idealistic, rebellious feminism and authentic, powerful sense of self.
Nin was an advocate for creativity, self-actualization and sexual expression outside the confines of the rigid societal norms. Something about the writing still seems guarded however and the themes and questions overlap at points resulting in drab run on sections.
What I'm most curious about still is how Nin was received by the public, how she really lived her life, and what motivated her? Her name is not heard much in modern times, her works of fiction and non-fiction are not popular with modern audiences - why? To know I would need to read more of her writing, which after finishing this I am less enthused to do. Maybe in a few years when I'm scanning my shelves for another new read I'll pick up more of her work and get a glimpse into a past generation of a self-described international woman.
Worth exploring, but I'm in no rush.
August 17, 2012
ااا أُحبُ كتب الحورات لإنها تفتحث لي نوافذ محفزة وتجعلني أفكر بشكلٍ مُختلف إنّ الحوار مع أُناسٍ عظماء يمنحني الإلهام والعديد من الأفكار والتصورات.. هذا الكتاب سيجعلني أركز في مرحلةٍ قادمة على الكاتبة سوزان سونتاغ من أمريكا، والقاصة أنجيلا كارتر ..وكارول شيلدز ككاتبة كندية أما تجربة توني موريسون كإمراة سوداء في مجتمع أبيض يجبُ الإطلاع عليها .. ولن أنسى أناييس نن طبعاً لإنها السبب في شراء الكتاب ..
أثقُ أنّي سأعاود قراءته .
والنجمات الأربع لإن طباعة النسخة لدي رديئة ومشوشة جعلت الصفحات تختلط ببعض ..
أثقُ أنّي سأعاود قراءته .
والنجمات الأربع لإن طباعة النسخة لدي رديئة ومشوشة جعلت الصفحات تختلط ببعض ..
March 9, 2014
This is a really, really amazing and well-rounded compilation of AN's themes and ideas. Each chapter is dedicated to one theme and is made up of the lecture(s) and follow-up Q & A's. Having read three of the journals so far, I found the Q & A's to be especially helpful because they addressed 99% of the same questions I had about her life ie her lifestyle and economic conditions, advantages of being creative in Paris as opposed to a random small town. Everyone should read this, especially aspiring artists/writers etc for her insight and inspiring words.
"...the reality was that the first book I wrote then connected me with the vivacious literary life of Paris. It was the writing which was the way out [of Parisian suburbs]." pg 225
"...the reality was that the first book I wrote then connected me with the vivacious literary life of Paris. It was the writing which was the way out [of Parisian suburbs]." pg 225
April 19, 2016
A very philosophical text with a big emphasis on how society should be. It was published in the 70s so a lot of the content is more relevant to that decade than the present one - but there is still a lot to take away from this today. Nin's personal philosophy comes through but a lot of universal issues are discussed, and not just in relation to women. The emphasis on feminism comes from the significance of the Women's Movement at the time of publication. I think it would have a different title today.
February 5, 2013
This book changed my life. Nin was an extraordinary thinker and she continues to liberate us from limiting/limited thinking. Every time I find myself worrying about my "career" or "what others think," I return to Nin's writings. Such an empowering philosopher, such a bold, warm voice.
September 8, 2011
If I could give this more than five stars, I would!
May 7, 2013
^ click "see review" to see image
July 26, 2014
“Your critics accuse you of being romantic, of living in an ivory tower, of being removed from life, and yet you are saying that you are attracted to those novels which resemble biography because they really do get close to life.” The interviewer puts forth to Nin.
I’ve never favoured Nin’s writing personally, and here, in multiple interviews, she shows brilliance but with such resounding flash that it often fades (in my taste) into blandness, and banality under the guise of feminism. Old feminism, old school style, the kind that still walked about while I was a toddler. I ask myself reading this book, how much farther have we gotten? Perhaps we’d better round up a few mathematical equations to assess the situation. Or better yet, an Excel sheet, auto summation. Perhaps not the most romantic view of women or man or better yet humanity.
The fascinating thing to read in this collection of ideas was the one about the idolization of the more “savage cultures” as being the pure ones. Now, to be dead honest, I would not like to give up my privileges as a modern woman to go off (say in the 1940’s, 1960’s 1980’s 2000’s or 2010’s) into the remote African countryside and live in the “better community” with better (so called) language appreciation i.e. the type of in tune-ness to spirituality, dreaming of being whisked back to basic innocent psychology of life etc, and the reason why is that the drudgery of inaccessibility to information and education would be lethal. Combined with the plight of being female and thus potentially reduced to a servant to my biology and the prejudices of world culture (yes world cultures), I think this would be a bad move indeed. What were these people, liberal thinkers, thinking? Faced with the choice to go forwards, they went backwards calling it progress. A race from hypocrisy that led right back to hypocrisy. Was it ignorance? Or the dream of king of the heap?
I’ve never favoured Nin’s writing personally, and here, in multiple interviews, she shows brilliance but with such resounding flash that it often fades (in my taste) into blandness, and banality under the guise of feminism. Old feminism, old school style, the kind that still walked about while I was a toddler. I ask myself reading this book, how much farther have we gotten? Perhaps we’d better round up a few mathematical equations to assess the situation. Or better yet, an Excel sheet, auto summation. Perhaps not the most romantic view of women or man or better yet humanity.
The fascinating thing to read in this collection of ideas was the one about the idolization of the more “savage cultures” as being the pure ones. Now, to be dead honest, I would not like to give up my privileges as a modern woman to go off (say in the 1940’s, 1960’s 1980’s 2000’s or 2010’s) into the remote African countryside and live in the “better community” with better (so called) language appreciation i.e. the type of in tune-ness to spirituality, dreaming of being whisked back to basic innocent psychology of life etc, and the reason why is that the drudgery of inaccessibility to information and education would be lethal. Combined with the plight of being female and thus potentially reduced to a servant to my biology and the prejudices of world culture (yes world cultures), I think this would be a bad move indeed. What were these people, liberal thinkers, thinking? Faced with the choice to go forwards, they went backwards calling it progress. A race from hypocrisy that led right back to hypocrisy. Was it ignorance? Or the dream of king of the heap?
April 21, 2013
Anais Nin was not an unfamiliar name to me as I often come across her quotes on websites I frequently visit. I haven't read any of her works, so it was a pleasant surprise for me to have found this book at a second-hand book stall at my university campus.
This book summarizes several of Anais Nin's lectures at colleges around U.S in the 1970s, as well as a concise interview on her work, inspirations and philosophy on art and life itself.
Nin talks about her childhood and how she coped with poverty, her migration from Spain to America and her subsequent shyness to speak and communicate with the people around her until her late twenties. A psychoanalyst as well as a writer, Nin was able to (what she likes to call) 'transcend' over the course of time by learning and having support from her artist friends i.e. Freud, Henry Miller, Otto Rank, D.H. Lawrence, George Sand, etc.
It describes how women at that period of time have struggled to be appreciated as an individual and/or artist, and most importantly, the process of struggle itself; how important it is for women to be articulate and to express herself well in a society that gave no room for women to grow.
The only thing I had trouble with reading this book was getting confused amongst the translations of questions and answers, just as you would if you were sitting in on a conversation with two specialist on something you are not well-read about. Nin would also sometimes misunderstood the question asked, and I would get confused with Nin's non-coherent answer until afterwards, when the interviewer offers to rephrase her question at Nin.
Just as Nin is, this book itself is an extension of her honesty and it will delve into your mind and soul. Definitely worth re-reading to remind my future self that life is a game, an adventure! And we should, well...transcend ;)
This book summarizes several of Anais Nin's lectures at colleges around U.S in the 1970s, as well as a concise interview on her work, inspirations and philosophy on art and life itself.
Nin talks about her childhood and how she coped with poverty, her migration from Spain to America and her subsequent shyness to speak and communicate with the people around her until her late twenties. A psychoanalyst as well as a writer, Nin was able to (what she likes to call) 'transcend' over the course of time by learning and having support from her artist friends i.e. Freud, Henry Miller, Otto Rank, D.H. Lawrence, George Sand, etc.
It describes how women at that period of time have struggled to be appreciated as an individual and/or artist, and most importantly, the process of struggle itself; how important it is for women to be articulate and to express herself well in a society that gave no room for women to grow.
The only thing I had trouble with reading this book was getting confused amongst the translations of questions and answers, just as you would if you were sitting in on a conversation with two specialist on something you are not well-read about. Nin would also sometimes misunderstood the question asked, and I would get confused with Nin's non-coherent answer until afterwards, when the interviewer offers to rephrase her question at Nin.
Just as Nin is, this book itself is an extension of her honesty and it will delve into your mind and soul. Definitely worth re-reading to remind my future self that life is a game, an adventure! And we should, well...transcend ;)
May 13, 2008
I think Evelyn Hinz has done an amazing job editing and putting together so many lectures by my beloved author, Anais Nin. I really appreciate her effort to organize them into separate topics, and arrange them in a way resembling an actual lecture, rather than just selecting a few and printing them out. The same has been done to the Q&A section, as I can imagine the same questions were asked frequently.
Anais speaks as a woman indeed, but also, more importantly, as a female artist - she describes the pains and doubts of a struggling young writer, her relationships with male artists and thinkers, both as a muse and as an independent creator. She also answers all the questions that might've arisen in the minds of her readers - most significantly about her Diaries and .
I'm aware that I have worshipped and read Anais Nin's work before reaching for this book, but I'd recommend it to any female writer or artist in general, even those who haven't got an opinion about her writing so far.
Anais speaks as a woman indeed, but also, more importantly, as a female artist - she describes the pains and doubts of a struggling young writer, her relationships with male artists and thinkers, both as a muse and as an independent creator. She also answers all the questions that might've arisen in the minds of her readers - most significantly about her Diaries and .
I'm aware that I have worshipped and read Anais Nin's work before reaching for this book, but I'd recommend it to any female writer or artist in general, even those who haven't got an opinion about her writing so far.
July 21, 2014
Anais Nin scheint eine interessante Persönlichkeit gewesen zu sein, ihre Ansichten und Theorien waren jedenfalls sehr interessant zu lesen und scheinen immernoch aktuell zu sein, allerdings hat mich der stark repetitive Charakter dieser Zusammenstellung von Vorträgen und Interviews am Ende so genervt, dass ich das Buch nicht zu Ende gelesen habe.
Für den Inhalt und die Themen würde ich 5 Sterne vergeben, die Zusammenstellung des Buches verdient nur 2 Sterne.
Warum dieses Buch auch den Untertitel "Was es heisst Frau zu sein" trägt ist mir ein komplettes Rätsel, da Anais Nin zwar eine Frau ist, aber die meiste Zeit über allgemeingültige philosophische und psychologische Fragestellungen spricht.
Für den Inhalt und die Themen würde ich 5 Sterne vergeben, die Zusammenstellung des Buches verdient nur 2 Sterne.
Warum dieses Buch auch den Untertitel "Was es heisst Frau zu sein" trägt ist mir ein komplettes Rätsel, da Anais Nin zwar eine Frau ist, aber die meiste Zeit über allgemeingültige philosophische und psychologische Fragestellungen spricht.
June 19, 2021
I had to keep reminding myself that these lectures/interviews were delivered in the 1970s. I have enjoyed Nin's writing but there is something about her thoughts that is...contradictory. I mean most of us do the same. But.
In this collection, Nin comes across as someone who wants to show herself as a balanced person. Her thoughts/messages keep oscillating between 'a woman is enough is woman' and 'a woman should try harder to please men'. Or 'it isn't fair being a woman' and 'we, women are our biggest enemy'. Or 'we don't need to be like men' but 'it is our responsibility to show men how cool we are'. Umm..
It was a frustrating read so I kept reminding myself this isn't true for today. Yeah, right.
In this collection, Nin comes across as someone who wants to show herself as a balanced person. Her thoughts/messages keep oscillating between 'a woman is enough is woman' and 'a woman should try harder to please men'. Or 'it isn't fair being a woman' and 'we, women are our biggest enemy'. Or 'we don't need to be like men' but 'it is our responsibility to show men how cool we are'. Umm..
It was a frustrating read so I kept reminding myself this isn't true for today. Yeah, right.
March 16, 2010
Nin was wonderful at making her listeners and readers think outside the box. No wonder she lived such an extraordinary life! What touches me most is her continual plea that we start seeing our lives as creative works -- she really believed all humans were artists, and I agree.
January 31, 2012
This is a book I would read and reread. She resonates within me.
August 8, 2012
Read this book of essays if her diary is too personal for you, or if you loved the diary.
October 21, 2015
I just enjoyed this book so much! Reading Anaïs I always feel like I'm having a deep conversation with a good old friend.
July 21, 2023
Oh, Anaïs.
February 6, 2019
ماذا تفعلين عندما ينتقدك المجتمع لتحررك؟
ماذا تفعلين عندما يقيدك المجتمع في صورة ليست صورتك؟
ماذا تفعلين عندما يتحدث الجميع نيابة عنك؟
ستة كاتبات خضن تجارب مختلفة ومتقاربة في رحلتهن مع الكتابة.
قراءة سريعة وماتعة.
ماذا تفعلين عندما يقيدك المجتمع في صورة ليست صورتك؟
ماذا تفعلين عندما يتحدث الجميع نيابة عنك؟
ستة كاتبات خضن تجارب مختلفة ومتقاربة في رحلتهن مع الكتابة.
قراءة سريعة وماتعة.
January 1, 2022
لم تعجبني ترجمة الكتاب، خطأ تحويل قتلة إلى قتلى يجعل الجملة في معنىً مناقض تمامًا. وكذلك أخطاء املائية أخرى لا أتغاضى عنها.
في الكتاب حوارات مختلفة مع ست نساء امتهنّ الكتابة، لم أستمتع بالقراءة لسوى آخر ثلاث منهن.
في الكتاب حوارات مختلفة مع ست نساء امتهنّ الكتابة، لم أستمتع بالقراءة لسوى آخر ثلاث منهن.
July 17, 2025
3 stars because I got a lot out of it but Anaïs nin almost feels too far away too wise for me to ever give her 5 because I couldn’t connect to her in a way that makes me feel touched
December 28, 2025
الكتاب عبارة عن مجموعة من حوارات مع ابرز الكتاب من النساء، اعتقد ان ٣ نجوم هو تقييم الكتاب.
November 2, 2018
Ευαίσθητη γυναίκα,μαχητική και πιστή στις απόψεις της, σταθερά εναλλακτική σαν όαση μέσα στην κόλαση της παραδοσιαρχίας.
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