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I Put a Spell on You: The Autobiography of Nina Simone

by Nina Simone , Stephen Cleary

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 762 ratings · 73 reviews

A gorgeous, inimitable singer and songwriter, Nina Simone (1933-2003) changed the face of both music and race relations in America. She struck a chord with bluesy jazz ballads like "Put a Little Sugar in My Bowl" and powerful protest songs such as "Mississippi Goddam" and "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black," the anthem of the American Civil Rights movement. Coinciding with th ...more

Paperback , 192 pages

Published September 4th 2003 by Da Capo Press (first published 1991)

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Mar 14, 2013 Rowena rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: Nina Simone fans, those interested in the Civil Rights movement

Shelves: african-american , autobiography , music

"Unlike most artists I didn't care that much about a career as a popular singer. I was different- I was going to be a classical musician."

I've always been drawn to Nina Simone's soulful voice and her powerful lyrics in such songs as "Young, Gifted and Black" and "Ain't Got No..."I felt a little apprehensive about reading her biography because I guess it's human nature for people to idealize their heroes, and to think of them as flawless human beings.

The story begins with the background of her c "Unlike most artists I didn't care that much about a career as a popular singer. I was different- I was going to be a classical musician."

I've always been drawn to Nina Simone's soulful voice and her powerful lyrics in such songs as "Young, Gifted and Black" and "Ain't Got No..."I felt a little apprehensive about reading her biography because I guess it's human nature for people to idealize their heroes, and to think of them as flawless human beings.

The story begins with the background of her childhood and her dreams to be a classical musician, which unfortunately were unsuccessful, and meant that she took work in seedy clubs that she hated:

"If someone had walked up to me in the street and given me $100,000, I would have given up popular music and enrolled at Julliard and never played in a club again. And I wouldn't have missed the life because I hated it anyway; the cheap crooks, the disrespectful audiences, the way most people were easily satisfied by dumb, stupid tunes."

The book also goes into her role in Civil Rights history, and she had a big role. She was friends with great people, such as Langston Hughes, Lorraine Hansberry and James Baldwin.

"Like anyone with half a brain, I had followed the development of the civil rights movement from its early days with Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Junior and the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955...My music was dedicated to a purpose more important than classical music's pursuit of excellence; it was dedicated to the fight for freedom and the historical destiny of my people."

I found the autobiography sad at times as well. Her dependence on men for one was a bit tragic; it didn't seem as though she really had an active role in the managing of her own career. Also, her failed marriages, relationships and affairs were quite sad to read about.

Additionally, she didn't feel as though she belonged in America; despite her successes she didn't feel any respect. "I suddenly realized what it was to be black in America in 1963, but it wasn't an intellectual connection,...it came as a rush of fury, hatred and determination." This was probably one of the reasons why she enjoyed going to Africa so much:

"All around us were black faces and I felt for the first time the spiritual relaxation any Afro-American feels on reaching Africa. I didn't feel like I'd come home when I arrived in Lagos, but I knew I'd arrived somewhere important and that Africa mattered to me, and would always matter."

It's a relatively short read, at least compared to the other autobiographies I've read, but it states only pertinent information and not so much filler, as far as I can tell. I also loved the photos included.

I admired Ms. Simone's candidness and honesty. She didn't sugar-coat anything. It was also quite an inspirational story in that she rose against the odds, despite her family experiencing poverty during the Great Depression, and having her dream of being a classical pianist shattered. ...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Paul Bryant rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: popular-and-unpopular-music , lifestyles-of-the-weird-and-famous

NINA SIMONE - ANOTHER ONE I NEVER SAW LIVE

The accidental star, the reluctant creator of something new under the sun of popular music, something no one else did before or since (because not only did no one else think of it, if they'd thought of it they wouldn't have been able to do it, she wasn't jazz, wasn't soul, wasn't cabaret but all of that and everything else), at the age of 60 produced this short account of her strange life in such a way that even the crazy stuff sounds reasonable, and whi ...more

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Feb 08, 2015 Ij rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: autobiography-memoir , non-fiction , african-american , 2014

"Shimmy Shimmy Ya, Oh Baby I like it raw!!!" - ODB

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Sep 01, 2009 Jamila rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: african-descent , music , biography-memoir , women-girls

What a disappointment! I am grateful for learning about Nina Simone's childhood in North Carolina, her classical piano training, her desire to become a concert pianist, and the development of her political consciousness. However throughout most of the book, she describes her depression, failed marriages, physical abuse, many lovers, dependence on men, and family conflicts.

What this book lacks are detailed descriptions of her production, concerts, collaborations, covers and songwriting. Nina only ...more

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Sep 23, 2008 Fanababy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Fanababy by: Dad

Living is a gift, but can feel unbearable, loving is inevitable pain, and surviving to tell your story is a blessing. The right book at the right time, my dad snuck it into my suitcase when I left to go back to DC. How did he know that I needed that book in my life? Read it in one sitting.

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May 30, 2012 Latiffany rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have been a fan of Nina Simone's music for the last five years or so. I was looking at pictures of her a few weeks ago and decided that I wanted to learn more about her life. This book was an excellent resource, because the information comes straight from her. Nina Simone led a full and interesting life. Like anyone else, she made her mistakes and experienced highs and lows.

Now, I must admit that there were a few scenes where I rolled my eyes, particularly when she speaks of not knowing anyth ...more

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Dec 13, 2014 Dawn Lennon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography , music

So many iconic musicians struggle with achieving recognition first and then the pressures of fame. Nina Simone's story has that too, but it also included the Civil Rights Movement and her role as a protest singer and leader through her music and fame. It's a life that was borne from a legacy of slavery followed the prejudice of her own time that was part of her life but not the centerpiece of it growing up. But her struggles were uniquely hers, often shocking, inspiring, heartbreaking, and eleva ...more

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Jun 10, 2015 Laurie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography-memoir , pop-culture

Wow. Her early adult years, tutoring so she could keep up the private study, the isolation, the summers of nightclub work; all of that was very interesting. Then the book delves deep, but somehow artificially at the same time, flying over the years and you know you're not getting the whole story, which is completely her prerogative. It became very uncomfortable to read, to say the least. I came away a bit perplexed, disturbed and just plain sad.

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Nov 06, 2012 Michele rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: music , memoirs

I wanted so much for Nina Simone to live up to the strong woman I had in mind. I had this spectrum in my head, with weak and susceptible songbird Billie Holiday on one end and strong, iconic Nina Simone on the other. Nina Simone who gave voice to a movement, who gave new life to African-American history through her music. Sadly, Nina seems much more a victim of circumstance than her songs let on.

The entire book shows her reacting to one situation after the other, even when she is held up as a ke ...more

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Dec 01, 2009 Caroline Alicia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Nina Simone struck me as incredibly vain, arrogant, and prideful after reading this book. She discusses her many conquests, dancing naked, constantly saying how "cute" she looks, and being a mistress, rather shamelessly. She doesn't even seem like a responsible mother- there is one point she is off living the fabulous life in Africa (or was it some tropical island?) for a stretch of time, leaving her daughter with family. I don't expect everyone in the limelight to be the perfect role model, but ...more

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Aug 12, 2015 David rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Looking out into the crowd, I heard Jimmy Baldwin's voice in my head, 'This is the world you have made for yourself, Nina, now you have to live in it.'"

This is a remarkable book that Nina Simone has written of her life. Up to now, I knew little about her - and I only ever had a single (though representative) recording of her singular artistry.

The book breaks down into 4 sections. She begins, naturally, with her upbringing, which - though certainly not easy - is not one of considerable turmoil. "Looking out into the crowd, I heard Jimmy Baldwin's voice in my head, 'This is the world you have made for yourself, Nina, now you have to live in it.'"

This is a remarkable book that Nina Simone has written of her life. Up to now, I knew little about her - and I only ever had a single (though representative) recording of her singular artistry.

The book breaks down into 4 sections. She begins, naturally, with her upbringing, which - though certainly not easy - is not one of considerable turmoil. ~which allows her unique soul the root it needs for growth.

Growth comes in a manner which is very entertaining to read: She trains to be a classical pianist (most definitely without the intention of ever becoming a singer in the bargain). But life has different plans for her career, which segues in labyrinth fashion to unexpected success as the type of performer who defies categorization. Music companies simply did not know what to do with her...or what to make of her. And the feeling was mutual...so much so that Simone would become infamous for her negative feelings about the music industry in general. ("All record companies prefer third-rate talent to true genius because they can push them around more easily...")

As Simone's career took off, so did her involvement (as an artist) with the black revolution of the '60s. ("People who lived through those times as I did, living and breathing revolution, will tell you the same stories of how their private lives faded away for years at a time.") These are not only very hard but very-hard-working years - during which Simone performs tirelessly (while often being very tired), achieving world renown.

At a price. At heart, Simone reveals herself to be a trusting, independent soul...which causes her no end of trouble, as a result of being vulnerable. As well, come post-revolution, she finds herself somewhat aimless (as well as insecure about her emotional life).

At this point in the story, Simone becomes rather cavalier in her lifestyle - and it's this part of the book which is the saddest. Directionless, Simone saddles herself with a number of unwise decisions (as she battles with financial problems she inherits from an ultimately troublesome marriage). However, in this final section, Simone also triumphs - by way of a herculean effort at re-gaining the confidence necessary to once again grab hold of her life.

This is a slim book - about 170 pages - but it is quite full and there is a large amount to savor. Simone puts forth the details of her life in an extremely economic manner...and she is a very engaging hostess as a storyteller.

My favorite part of the book, I suppose, involves her visit to a 'witch doctor' who shows her how she can re-unite and make peace with her father (who died while they were not on speaking terms). How Simone describes her on-going relationship with her father, thereafter, is both mystical and endearing. ...more

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Mar 24, 2015 L.A. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Don't call her a jazz superstar. She hated that, being categorized as a jazz singer. What Nina Simone really wanted to be when she grew up was a classical concert pianist, and that's what she spent most of her childhood training for. In fact, her town raised enough money for her to study for one year at Julliard. But she was rejected from the Curtis School of Philadelphia, the premier classical school of the time, not because she wasn't good, but because she was black.

And so, determined to someh ...more

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Apr 18, 2015 Maya B rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: jazz

Great read! after reading this I could tell Nina Simone was a no nonsense woman. she bares her soul to readers and does not hold back.

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May 13, 2014 Melinda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Ms. Simone shares her memoir with the reader in a candid manner. She is open and honest with her rise and fall in both her professional and personal life.

Nina takes us from her childhood growing up during the Depression in North Carolina where she trained as a classical pianist with lessons funded by her community. After attending Juilliard on scholarship having been rejected by the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, she's employed as a nightclub entertainer, singing and accompanying herself whi ...more

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Aug 19, 2013 Taylor rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013 , fabclub-challenge-2013 , biographical-or-memoir , non-fiction , female-author , female-author-woc

Nina Nina Nina. This was a really good book. I appreciate how candid she is in telling the story of her rise to international fame from her small town USA beginnings. Nina takes us from her childhood in the Depression era through her classical piano training, first appearances on the night club circuit, her period as a political activist and protest singer for the Civil Rights Movement of the 60's/70's and on to her disillusionment with the USA and self-imposed exile to Africa, Barbados and Swit Nina Nina Nina. This was a really good book. I appreciate how candid she is in telling the story of her rise to international fame from her small town USA beginnings. Nina takes us from her childhood in the Depression era through her classical piano training, first appearances on the night club circuit, her period as a political activist and protest singer for the Civil Rights Movement of the 60's/70's and on to her disillusionment with the USA and self-imposed exile to Africa, Barbados and Switzerland. I particularly enjoyed Nina's account of the Civil Rights movement, outlining the fight for equality and discussing Martin Luther King, Malcom X, and Black Power.

Throughout the book I couldn't help but notice how naive Nina was during her fame, and how heavily she relied on men to make her happy. She repeatedly wrote about how not having a man in her life made her feel lonely, and she seemed to drift from man to man to find 'security'. The story she told of her partner Andy's brutal hours-long assault on her prior to their wedding made me pretty angry, how could she find trust and love for him again after something like that? I fully understand how women can be convinced to stay with someone who has hurt them -I have been there too- and perhaps it's because hindsight is often 20/20, but I almost chucked the book across the room when she wrote how she forgave him and got married, even though no one in her family approved or attended the wedding.

As the book went on it became a lot more about her personal life outside of the music, particularly during her break from performing following her divorce from Andy when she spent time in Barbados, Africa and eventually Switzerland. There was a lot of talk about needing a man in her life, and her time in Africa almost seemed to be more focused on "finding a husband" than finding peace with herself. The way she allowed C.C. to treat her I found shocking. Her later regret that she didn't stay with him for the 'security' rubbed me the wrong way as well. She was a powerful, incredibly talented and beautiful woman who could rely on herself to provide for her and her daughter, and I wish she could have seen that more clearly and made more of a push to be independent and manage her career and finances on her own.

Overall a fantastic book, I greatly appreciate it when someone has the strength to share their story with the world, no matter how unhappy/unflattering it may be in places. It takes a lot of courage to do that. This book made me love Nina even more than I already did. ...more

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Erika Ditto everything! I had a really hard time reading about all her sad men stories, especially the assault and weird C.C. thing. I appreciated her cando ...more
Aug 28, 2013 11:41PM

Taylor Erika (YA or GTFO) wrote: "Ditto everything! I had a really hard time reading about all her sad men stories, especially the assault and weird C.C. thi ...more
Aug 29, 2013 11:08AM

Jul 05, 2012 Mike rated it 3 of 5 stars

The thing about reading autobiographies of your musical heroes is that you've put them on a pedestal, so you're unprepared for reality. For the unsavory bits. That they're human. They screw up. They can be bitter, and self-absorbed. They fall out with members of their family. They have dodgy relationships with 70 year-old Liberian men. Etc.

Maybe this is a lesson in itself. Because Nina Simone sounds like an angel (albeit a feisty one) doesn't mean that she was one. If her autobiography doesn't m ...more

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Jan 31, 2015 Fenesha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography

Nina Simone was true to herself, honest with her life and desires, and a damn good storyteller. Living up to her numerology blueprint, she was a free spirited and daring woman who lived in extremes. Nina Simone was human, uninhibited and held on to her child-like nature. She fit Robert Greene's definition of the charismatic seductress (for fans, lovers and friends). Let go of your preconceived notions of her if you only know Nina Simone's music. We live in a world that holds entertainers on a pe ...more

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Dec 21, 2007 fletch rated it 3 of 5 stars

Who knew Nina Simone led such a crazy life?! The best anecdote in this book is this time that Nina invited Louis Farrakhan over to talk politics, but the more gin she drank, the more she got distracted by his apparently tiny feet. "Minister Farrakhan talked on into the small hours and I sat staring at his shoes, sipping my gin and wondering what he'd say if I invited him upstairs." So she does, and he turns her down and keeps talking politics. But after that night, he would send messages saying ...more

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Feb 12, 2014 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

If your looking for a book on the music of Nina Simone then this is not the one to choose. This is all about her personal life from her upbringing in the Depression in North Carolina, the rise and fall of her career and her politics. It is an extraordinary story, with elements that I found surprising. Nina was, understandably, an angry woman and before I read this I perceived her to be fiercely independent. She actually seemed to have a reliance on men and her relationships with them are intrigu ...more

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Nov 28, 2007 jeremy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: music , memoir-bio

the finest female vocalist & pianist ever. her story, while not terribly well-written, is a remarkable one, and obviously a must-read for any fan. from north carolina to the city of brothery love to her final years in europe, nina's trials and tribulations (as if you couldn't already tell it from her inimitable singing style) were many, and never far from the forefront of her success. if you don't like nina simone, you don't like freedom.

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Mar 04, 2010 Tierney rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am a big fan of biographies. Especially autobiographies. It gives such insight to a person that you might know otherwise. I love Nina Simone's music and have always been intrigued by what little I knew about her. I downloaded the book to my kindle and was immediately sucked into her life. She is very straight-dorward and honest about how she saw her life. I recommend it to lovers of musicians and the crazy lives they lead.

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Apr 12, 2013 beth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: african-american , bio , women

i read this awhile ago, but just remembered having read it. i don't recall if the writing was great, but i remember loving the autobiography...mostly 'cause i love all things nina. an amazing musician, woman, and life.

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Jul 13, 2013 Cooper rated it 4 of 5 stars

Incredibly complex and interesting woman who was full of contradictions. Her early years she seems so self assured, not allowing any discrimination to define her or get in her way. As she matures, she seems to make poor decisions, especially in her business life, and when these poor choices result in poor outcomes, she blames everything and everyone but herself.

She becomes entitled and indignant if people didn't treat her as a diva, even though she states she didn't want any recognition. '...the ...more

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Dec 18, 2013 Blair rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's insightful into Nina's own state of mind about who she was a musician, a black woman in the 60s, and a "liberated" woman at that. With autobiography, it's always important to understand that these are the pictures painted in the mind of the subject after the fact. We all attempt to contextualize our actions inside of some running narrative. Despite the probable "inaccuracy" of many events, it helps us to understand the subject better. Nina conveniently glosses over some places where she's u ...more

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Aug 01, 2015 Brooke rated it 4 of 5 stars

An amazingly talented artist with a complex life. I watched, "What happened, Miss Simone?" too. I'm glad that her contribution to music and the Civil Rights Movement is being remembered and honored.

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Nov 14, 2008 Tricia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008

This is a fascinating autobiography of Nina Simone's life. Her story begins so differently than where she ends up, and she unapologetically lays it all out before us. I am amazed and awed in her honesty and true insight into her own life. She writes as if also interpreting it together with the reader, and does not pull punches or skitter around her philosophies. She has truly lived an extraordinary life - perhaps not the life she ever envisioned for herself, but one that she has no choice but to ...more

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Aug 01, 2015 Marva rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2015-reading-challenge

I've always had a huge crush on Nina Simone. I read this book as companion to watching the Netflix documentary, "What Happened, Miss Simone?" I remain in fascination of her life. Reading about her depression, her failed and tumultuous marriage, and the choices she made in her career left me with the thought that living is a gift that should never be taken for granted. Despite her challenges, Miss Nina remained free. In fact, she demanded her freedom. That is why I love her so.

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Jul 29, 2012 Ileana rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm probably never going to finish this book, which is a shame because it's interesting-ish. A lot of the anecdotes are fascinating, or involve topics I'm curious about, namely Nina Simone's life and career, but for some reason, every time something comes up that sparks my curiosity, I think, "Now this is interesting! So why am I still bored?" To be fair, I don't read much autobiography, so it may be that I'm not familiar with the style, and that's why I'm not finding this engaging. Still, I was ...more

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Jul 16, 2015 Clarissa Accioly rated it 3 of 5 stars

The book is great. It reads as if she's talking to you. The story, on the other hand, is a bit different from what really happened to her.

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Apr 05, 2013 Michael rated it 2 of 5 stars

Just finished, and to console myself I'm listening to the "Single Woman" album. This book has filled me with sadness. Nina Simone's story is one of struggle and personal suffering to be sure, but I was unprepared for an autobiography so devoid of honest introspection and self appraisal. The relentless scapegoating begins about half way through. The the recriminations are the book's constant - sordid and sad.

I read this hoping it would illuminate and enhance her astonishing, perfect songs. If yo ...more

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See top shelves...

About Nina Simone

Eunice Kathleen Waymon, better known by her stage name Nina Simone, was a fifteen-time Grammy Award-nominated American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and civil rights activist.

Although she disliked being categorized, Simone is generally classified as a jazz musician. Simone originally aspired to become a classical pianist, but her work covers an eclectic variety of musical styles besides he ...more

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