Don't Stop Believin'

Book 57 of my 2019 Reading Challenge

read from August 24 - September 2

Don't Stop Believin'

by Olivia Newton-John

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2018

For more than five decades, Olivia Newton-John has been one of our most successful and adored entertainers. A four-time Grammy Award winner, she is one of the world's bestselling recording artists of all time, with more than 100 million albums sold. Her starring roles in the iconic movies Grease and Xanadu catapulted her into superstardom. Her appeal as a performer is timeless.

In addition to her music and screen successes, Olivia is perhaps best known for her strength, courage, and grace. After her own personal journeys with cancer, she has thrived and become and inspiration for millions around the world. A tireless advocate for countless charities, her true passion is as the founding champion of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Olivia has always radiated joy, hope, and compassion - determined to be a force for good in the world.

Now she is sharing her journey, from Melbourne schoolgirl to international superstar, in this deeply personal book. Warm, candid, and moving, Don't Stop Believin' is Olivia Newton-John's story in her own words for the very first time.

My Opinion

3 stars

This was fine for a certain type of memoir where lows are going to be glossed over and everything is exclamation points.  That sounds more snarky than I mean it to be...I'm not against those kinds of books, I just wasn't clear going in that she was so Pollyanna so it caught me by surprise.  Probably my fault because this felt like what she authentically presents to the world and I'm not that familiar with her.

I almost downgraded it to a 2 when she started talking about how she was able to avoid surgery for a growth on her throat by singing; she realized she wasn't using her gifts and as soon as she started singing again the growth went away.  Plus some of the advice is great for her but not an option for everyone due to resources (fine for her to gain the benefits of her hard work but unrealistic to think everyone can have the same access).  But then I realized this is a memoir and she's sharing her experiences, she's not presenting herself as an expert or giving medical advice so I kept it neutral.  It appears that she's done a lot of good with her cancer center and the holistic things she adds to the center (such as natural lighting and art therapy) are helpful as long as they're not a complete replacement for the times medication is needed.

 Quote from the Book

"Think of it this way: the earth is constantly changing. We are part of her - Gaia - so we should also change. It's just not realistic to think that anything will stay the same, because we don't control anything. I believe it's such a gift to embrace change.

 You step in the river and you go with the flow."