Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You

by Dolly Parton

The legendary Dolly Parton shares her heartfelt hopes and dreams for everyone.

Expanding on the popular commencement speech Dolly Parton gave at the University of Tennessee, Dream More is a deeper and richer exploration of the personal philosophy she has forged over the course of her astonishing career as a singer, songwriter, performer, and philanthropist.

Dolly elaborates on the four great hopes she wants us all to embrace: Dream more, Learn more, Care more, and Be more. She offers examples from her own life, from her childhood in the hills of eastern Tennessee to her life as the iconic performer she is today.

From one of the legends of our time, Dream More is an honest, funny, and uplifting anthem for all who want to take charge of their lives and forge a future on their own terms.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, Biography, Self Help, Music, Inspirational

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 27, 2012

About the author

Dolly Rebecca Parton is a Grammy Award-winning country music singer/songwriter, author, actress and philanthropist. To date, she remains one of the most successful country artists, with 25 number-one singles (a record for a female performer) and 42 top-10 country albums (more than anyone else).

She is known for her distinctive mountain soprano, sometimes bawdy humor, flamboyant dress sense, and her voluptuous figure.

Reviews

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this one time I was standing in line listening to these two bros bash Dolly Parton behind me. And just as I was concocting something sassy to end their lives with, they googled her. "Oh I didn't know she wrote her own music." "Oh, she plays her own instruments, that's cool..." "Oh she sings that Jolene song, that's a good song I guess" "Oh my god she's written over 3000 songs?!" Yes gentle grasshoppers, welcome. Welcome to your new life of loving everything Dolly Parton touches. It's wonderful here. Hello. This is a common occurrence I've noticed; people being like 'wait I just realized I know absolutely nothing about Dolly Parton. Except that's she's ridiculous. Where my phone at?' I think it's what makes her so fascinating. Even though her presence is so loud, her substance can be quite quiet.

All that to say. This book was lovely. I was moved. I was inspired. And her explanation of why reading is important was so beautiful (and also kind of sad) it made me want to offer Dolly as the example of humanity when aliens are like, curious. (Ron Mclean though too haha)

I'm almost absolutely sure those two bros won't read this book (although if you're reading Goodreads reviews trying to decide whether you should or shouldn't, then hello! Maybe go watch Rhinestone Cowboy first. Really solidify your love before delving in) and I don't know if I'd even recommend it to everyone in the world... but my little heart was so happy to be engulfed by Dolly Mama's words. As usual. And if you want to be literally hugged by a book (yes accept my hyperbole thank you) then dis one. Read dis one.

That is all. I love you, Dolly Parton. Your Christmas album is Queen.

[Lisa Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most delightful listening experience I have had with a book. I smiled the entire time I listened to Dolly read her book. She also sang to me putting a spring in my step with lines from different songs of hers. Oh my goodness, do I love this charming, determined, resourceful, and talented lady. Her outlook on life and people is one to be copied and she is an inspiration. Her desire to enrich the lives of those in her community, mostly Tennessee, as well as around the world, is admirable, but her follow through is even more so.

I was a Dolly lover before I began this tiny book, but I love her even more after finishing it. I started and finished this little book during one five mile walk, it is that short and I am still smiling and want others to love her too. You must listen to this book, not read it. I couldn't think of giving Dolly less than five stars. Need a pick me up? Dolly is your answer.

[jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Dolly Parton. Her other book, Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business is a better memoir, but this is quite charming. It is basically anecdotes from her life, which are used to illustrated her pillars of success: Dream More, Learn More, Care More, Be More. If you're going to take any celebrity's life advice, it should probably be Dolly Parton. She is basically a genius, and a really good person & role model to boot.

Also, she is funny and sparkly, and she just cares so goddamn much about people.

I highly recommend getting the audio book, as it is read by the author and she breaks into song a few times in each chapter.

[La Crosse County Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally published in December 2012

“If I have a wish for you, it is that you: Dream more, learn more, care more, be more.”

Dolly Parton’s new book, Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You, is based on a 2009 commencement speech she gave at the University of Tennessee and expands on the four principles above. With charm and humor, Dolly talks of her life and career and how her dreams took her from a shack at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains to Nashville, Hollywood, and then around the world.

Dolly counsels that happiness is your commitment to appreciating all that is good in life, and believes that you’re a happy person if you love what you do, like yourself, enjoy other people, keep a good spiritual grip on things, and always pray for understanding and acceptance.

Most people are aware that Dolly Parton is an actor, businesswoman, and a wonderful singer and songwriter, with numerous awards and honors. But what you might not know, is that Dolly has supported many charitable organizations, primarily through her Dollywood Foundation. Dolly’s commitment to giving back to her community, and helping children and parents learn to dream bigger, led her to start the Imagination Library in 1996. To date, her literacy program has mailed forty million books to children all over the United States.

Dolly’s love of reading was fostered when she was a little girl. Her mother would read from the Bible, the only book her family had in the house, every day. Today, Dolly is an avid reader. Dolly believes that the one simple thing to help kids and adults to learn more is to inspire them to read more. Amen!

“Dream of doing more with your life, learn from everything you see and do, care for everyone and everything that crosses your path, and be more than you ever dreamed you could become.”

This is Dolly Parton’s personal philosophy.

Dolly has said a lot of things along the way that people remember. The wit and wisdom of the Dolly-mama includes hilarious one-liners such as: “Home is where I hang my hair” and “The way I look is just a county girl’s idea of glam.” This is classic Dolly Parton.

If you are looking for a fun and interesting book, try Dream More. You just might learn a few things about Dolly and find the inspiration for your dreams along the way!

Stop by our La Crosse County Library locations in Bangor, Campbell, Holmen, Onalaska, and West Salem, or check out our library website and online catalog at www.lacrossecountylibrary.org.

Find this book and other titles within our catalog.

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't exactly plan to listen to this, but it was in a review box and it was short. I was expecting to scoff at it, but can you really dislike Dolly Parton? The thing is, despite her self-proclaimed cartoonish presence, the woman has built an empire out of nothing. She works hard, she gets people, and that's pretty commendable even if you aren't a country music fan.

I think the best bits were about how to block draining people from your life, and why you shouldn't apologize for having lofty goals. Many of the tracks end with her bursting into song. She is infectious, and the audio version has to be better than the print because it comes out of her mouth!

[Sally Kilpatrick]

Dolly Parton is a national treasure, and I needed to read her words in this book.

[Charlsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this at the recommendation of a fellow book club member. This book is pure joy. It is based upon a graduation address she gave years ago, but it is really about her philosophy and beliefs in regards to relationships and serving others. Wow! When I finished it, I immediately went back to the beginning and listened to it again. I know she has built a financial empire, and I have had heard of Imagination Library, but I had no idea how many children they serve. This book is both comforting and an inspiration.

[Just a Girl Fighting Censorship · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can you not love Dolly? I found this book to be incredibly sincere and honest. You must listen to the audio book which is not only read by Dolly but has a few musical interludes. I found it to be funny and engaging and very inspiring.

It is basically an extension of the graduation speech she gave at the University of Tennessee, so it is pretty short, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do. Dolly does talk about several of her accomplishments but in a very humble manner. She never comes off as anything other than down to earth and incredibly sweet.

My appreciation and love for Dolly has increased tenfold!

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dolly Parton loves books so much that she has given away 100 million of them to children. So I would have fond feelings toward this book even if it were terrible. But it's great. She took a college commencement speech that she gave and expanded on it. She always sounds as if she is addressing just one person, which is one of the secrets of effective communication. Her advice is sensible, clear, and funny. And you've got to get the audiobook because she sings a little bit in every chapter. In short, Dolly Parton would make an excellent president of the United States.

[Melissa Hevenor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream More It’s a wonderful book by Dolly Parton filled with life lessons, an optimistic outlook, and humor that only Dolly can deliver. The book is easy to read and helps give greater insight to the positivity that Dolly exudes. If you listen to the book on audible like I did, you’ll get to hear snippets of songs that tell the stories of the life lessons she shares in the book and in her repertoire of music. This is a book that I believe should be given to any young adult getting ready to leave high school and or college and go out into the big wide world. If we can hold these little treasures of advice close to our hearts they will carry us through much of life’s hardships and help us fulfill our dreams at any age.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this motivational book!

[Kelly Hager · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a longer version of a commencement speech she gave and so obviously it's very inspiring.

I'll be honest, I don't like country music very much...but I do love Dolly Parton. I have some songs of hers on my iPod and I think she seems like literally one of the nicest, sweetest people ever.

I have reviews and blog posts scheduled in advance and honestly, I wasn't going to read this book until early next year. But I'm writing this on Friday, December 14 and I couldn't focus on the book I was reading (it wasn't BAD, not at all, but it was pretty grim. And I can't take any more grim) and so I thought, "What is the exact opposite of grim?" And then I remembered that I bought this book.

So yes, I love Dolly Parton. I'm pretty sure she's the exact opposite of grim. Don't you think?

She has a four point plan for people: dream more, learn more, care more and be more. Those are all pretty self-explanatory, I think.

But the general gist of the book really is that it's our responsibility collectively to do our best both because it's the way to a good, fulfilling life and because we owe it to each other. Also (and this is tied in with "care more"), if you make something of yourself, help out those who will come after you. For example, Dolly Parton doesn't have kids (which is too bad, because I bet they'd be awesome) but she's done all this work in her hometown to help the local kids. (She told one class that if they graduated from high school, she'd give them each $500. Which is a lot when you're 18. Or if you're me.)

The truth is, we're all in this together and there's no reason not to help out if you can.

So while this book is very short (a shade over 120 pages), it's still fun and inspiring.

Also, on an unrelated note, can I just say that in my mind, Dolly Parton is my BFF? I think she's just lovely and great.

Highly recommended.

[Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written by a truly beautiful person! I love Dolly!! She is SO awesome!!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

We don’t deserve Dolly.

[Kats · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short but good fun audio book, read (and sung!) by Dolly Parton herself. I don't know much about her as a person, even though I had guessed the evident 'rags to riches' American dream life story. It was refreshing to hear that she has such solid values, possibly based on her strong faith, that are reflected in her work ethic, an intact 46 year old marriage and a brilliant sense of humour.

I knew I liked her when she quoted Luke's "To whom much is given, much will be required" which is the baptism verse we chose for our younger son.... as if we'd known it when he was born.... he has indeed been blessed in life but still needs to learn to apply himself and be more giving to others around him. But I digress.... Dolly does not take her good fortunes for granted, she is a serious grafter and always looks to give back to the world.

A few other (Dolly not Bible) quotes that resonated with me:
Being on time is giving a small commitment
Since living in Switzerland, where people are always on time, I have learned how disrespectful is is to be late, and these days I, too, get fed up when others cannot be bothered to be on time. Vague arrangements and tardiness are exactly that: a lack of commitment (and respect).

When respect is gone, the biggest part of love dies.
Absolutely. The question I have is.... can you ever bring back mutual respect to a relationship or friendship, and thereby resurrect it?

Having lots of energy is mostly about having happiness in your life, and to me, happiness is your commitment to appreciating all that's good in your life.
I think this was in answer to people who ask her where she takes her energy from.
Such a good answer - all of us need to appreciate and cherish all that's good in our lives. Sadly, I'm one of these people who can actually cry over spilt milk and then focus on things that aren't perfect in my little life. I need to lighten up and count my blessings.

Thank you, Dolly!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love Dolly?? I love listening to her home spun truths and common sense. Her spunk, determination, kindness and generosity all shine through in this slim volume. I don't know why anyone would read a book if they could listen to Dolly tell you her story herself - audio is definitely the way to go.

[Wayland Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of my life, I never really considered myself a Dolly Parton fan. I knew a few of her songs, I'm a guy so I knew what she looked like, but that was about it. Well, that changed one night. One of my part time jobs is doing technical stage work for shows, and one night I got to work Dolly Parton's concert. She sings amazingly well, plays a lot of different instruments, tells jokes about herself, but that's not what got me.

If you work in that business, it gets drilled into you over and over, "Don't talk to the talent." Some of them even make you clear the hallway when they come through. Those tend to be dicks who think they're a LOT more important than they are. Not only did Dolly not do that, she shook hands with every one of us she could get to, and thanked us for working for her. Wow. That never happens. Then I talked to one of her road guys, and he said Dolly's standing rule is, if the crew gets to bickering, which I've seen happen way too many times, she'll end the tour, because it's supposed to be fun. The way he said it, that wasn't a myth or a "scare the local" story. He meant it, and he said it with a fond smile.

So that's the night I became a Dolly fan. I've listened to a lot more of her music since then, and I've been impressed. But I've been more impressed with a lot of what she's done off stage. Ever heard of the Imagination Library? She gets a book a month to poor kids in her home county, and the program has grown, and reaches all over the place now. People that never heard her sing call her the Book Lady, which she has said delights her. Anyone who promotes reading is someone I like.

This book is based on a commencement speech she gave at the University of Tennessee. It's inspiring, uplifting, but not in the makes you want to roll your eyes kind of way. I was genuinely impressed. And her sunny personality comes through.

It's a quick read, so it's not a major investment of time or effort. But I think it's well worth it, even if you're not a Dolly fan. And, as so many other people who reviewed this one have said, "Who hates Dolly?"

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute little book that I recommend doing audio as Dolly reads it and sings a few songs as well. I'm glad to see that Dolly is finally get the respect that she deserves. She is truly has a heart of gold and does what she can to improve the lives of those where she came from. This stared as a graduation speech, but she knew they didn't want her talking all day. Dreams made Dolly the woman she is today.

[Bethany Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you can, I highly recommend that you listen to the audiobook version of this book. You get to hear Dolly singing her songs and telling her jokes exactly like they should be. Everyone should strive to be a little bit more like her. :)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me an hour to read this book and it was WONDERFUL and i <3 Dolly.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

10 word summary: I don't believe in fairy godmothers. I believe in Dolly.
#giveeverykidabook

🦔🦔🦔🦔 I've decided this one is well worth my time and yours too.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet quick read. :)

[Keely · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dream More" is an expanded version of a commencement address Dolly gave at the University of Tennessee in 2009. Using anecdotes from her own humble beginnings and eventual success story--and her trademark self-deprecating humor--she encourages her audience/readers to always strive to dream, learn, care, and become more.

I picked up this quick read on a recommendation from book blogger Anne Bogel. Bogel recommended the audiobook, and it's true, this would have been fun to hear in the voice of the author herself, and yet the print version still manages to be a pretty entertaining and engaging read. Should Dolly Parton quit her day job to become a full-time writer? No. Does she know that? Yes. Does she manage to come across as wise, witty, and pretty wonderful anyway? Yes, yes, and yes! I've been a Dolly fan since watching "9 to 5" repeatedly on HBO as a 7- or 8-year-old, so I was predisposed to like this. Back then, I didn't really understand that movie, or Dolly, on all levels, but I knew she had a kind of energy that I was drawn to. That energy comes through loud and clear in "Dream More." This book is Dolly being Dolly, in all her gaudy, God-loving glory. As she writes about working toward dreams, at times, she comes across as borderline cocky. There is humility in her, but no false modesty. She readily owns the fact that she worked really hard for her success. Actually, I think that deep self-confidence is a big part of what draws people to Dolly. And you know, it's hard to mind her confidence or her success, when she has used them to do so much good in the world, through her Imagination Library and related initiatives. Another appealing Dolly quality that comes through in "Dream More": She is real about being fake in certain ways. In a curated, Instagram-perfect world, she says, what you see when I'm in public is a persona. It's nipped. It's tucked. It's drag. The reality is something different. The same quality comes up in the section called "The Truth, Dolly Style," in which she answers questions she gets asked repeatedly. Her answers all deflect, deflect, deflect, away from who she really is and what she really thinks, albeit in a charming way. In the body of the book, though, Dolly does offer a generous glimpse of who she is at her core...and it's inspiring.

[Samantha Matherne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do NOT read this book; LISTEN to it. No one can deliver Dolly Parton's words of wisdom quite like America's national treasure herself. The random singing and her little jokes only add to the book as a whole.

Fun fact: I inadvertently listened to this book on Dolly Parton's favorite day of the year, April 25th!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Dolly Parton and her sense of humor!! This book was amazing!

[Mama Cass aka Bookhugger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't say that I listen to much country music these days but my mom loved it so I was exposed to it often. I have always loved Dolly and always will. This book is filled with her beautiful, positive outlook and is a good reminder of her talent, intelligence and beauty.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dolly Parton-National treasure.
Listened to this quick book, an extension of a commencement speech, in the car with my 7 year old Dolly fan. Her wisdom speaks to every age.

[Anne - ReadingfortheWeekend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it on audio- Dolly narrates it and even sings a little!

It was really short but it was jam packed with Dolly telling you to believe in your dreams and just so beautiful!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet! Dolly gives wise advice with humor and personality.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dolly expands on her commencement advice to Univ if Tennessee graduates in this book. Dolly is a fountain of sensible, thoughtful, make the world a better place advice. Just ask yourself WWDD and do it.