We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration, and the Power of Song

This title was a good idea in theory. It is, after all, named for Gaynor's anthemic song, "I Will Survive," which spawned many a ladies' night karaoke party. Unfortunately, while intending to be uplifting, the book comes across as an exercise in narcissism. It is a collection of vignettes, compiled by Gaynor over the years and shaped by Vanity Fair reporter Carswell, about people who have suffered extreme tragedy and heartache, only to feel a bit better after listening to the opening lines of the classic Seventies hit (penned by Dino Fekeris and Freddie Perren). The work is not without some touching moments, and the singer, who is a born-again Christian, said she views it as an honor and mission to share the song with others who may be positively affected by it. But after the first ten chapters, it sounds like a chorus repeating over and over.