Product Description
Oprah Winfrey has been called the Queen of All Media for good reason—during her more than thirty-year career, she has left an indelible mark on radio, television, film, theater, magazines, and books. One of the most influential people today, Oprah is also a committed humanitarian. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The (real) Black Cinderella Syndrome
After reading the poorly crafted abomination by Helen S. Garson (Oprah Winfry: A Biography), I sought additional resource material to further unravel the enigma of a personality that was only hinted at in Garson's book. The first source I tried, a book by her erstwhile boyfriend and "escort for life," Stedman Graham ("You Can Make it Happen"), the puzzle that is Oprah was ignored altogether. Stedman's book, it turns out was a motivational tract aimed mostly at young black men. And while interesting, except for a few disclaimers, was altogether mute on the issue of Oprah her self. While this book began honestly enough, at least in the early chapters, using Oprah's sister Patricia Lee's revelations to begin pulling back the veil slightly, most of the rest of the book, like Garson's, was again poorly organized and devoted to issuing lavish, endless and sometimes unwarranted praise of Oprah's accomplishments. This incessant and sycophantic praising gets tiring very quickly, and in the end serves more to mask and turn Oprah into a one-dimensional caricature of herself than to reveal "the real" Oprah. Without being mean-spirited in anyway, one could certainly argue that there is hardly any further need for another book devoted to praising Oprah's achievements since they are all on public display daily via her TV show, in her overt support of President Obama, her many public awards, and in her support of the South Africans Girl's school, which she never misses an opportunity to gush about.

Two of Oprah's best friends Quincy Jones and Maya Angelou, also had troubled childhoods that they both wrote about eloquently and honestly. For them, giving an honest portrayal actually seemed to have enlarged rather than subtracted from their stature. By attempting to conceal her troubled past, one fears that Oprah has done just the opposite, and in the process done herself more long-term harm than good: For it is one thing to be a troubled child with an embarrassing background, and quite another to lie about it -- although most of us do lie about unpleasant aspects of our past. However, it takes a different kind of character flaw (on an altogether higher dimension) to seek to enlist the rest of the world in a cover-up of these unpleasant facts,and expect them to keep the secret for life. And then to get passive aggressively incensed when they refuse to participate in the cover-up for life. That is what Oprah did. One now wonders what additional secrets Stedman is holding back for later strategic revelations? All Oprah has done has been to make herself vulnerable to more hidden longer stemmed time bombs, all of her own making.

Until this book, what seemed to have been missing from Oprah's biography was the "Rosetta Stone" to her personality and character: a clearing up of and a "squaring of the ledger" for the period of her life from the ages of about 10 to15. Until her sister had her say in the present book, that phase had been carefully shrouded in self-made legend and purposeful mystery. And frankly the earlier book by Ms. Garson, by clumsily trying to obfuscate and hide that period, simply raised the alarm as well as the stakes, making it all the more important to see behind Oprah's carefully constructed screen. That is what motivated me to pursue the issue further.

Much to Ms. Winfry's dismay, Patricia Lee, Oprah younger sister, no longer wanted to be a party to the lie and the sloppy cover-up. So she went public in this book, intentionally destroying the cheesily concocted legend about Oprah during this critical period of her life.

According to Ms. Lee, Oprah was a smart but promiscuous, thieving, little out-of-control, entitled bitch, who wreaked so much havoc in their Milwaukee household during the ages of about nine until 13 that her mother sought to have her committed to a girl's reformatory. Had the school not been overcrowded at the time, the Oprah Winfry story may have had a very different ending. But fortunately for Oprah, while waiting to be admitted to the Reform School, Oprah's mother decided instead to foist her off on her father in Tennessee. He carted her back to Knoxville where it was discovered that she was already several months pregnant. Vernon Winfry, as much as it could be done, put a stop to Oprah's lying, thieving and whoring ways, and almost made a respectable lady out of her. In any case, after the baby died under mysterious circumstances, Oprah's life changed for the better. She stole a couple of beauty contests, and ended up with an offer to co-anchor a TV news program, and the rest is history.

My sympathy lies with Oprah. Her's was a very heavy cross for an American celebrity to have to bear. If it were mine, I would have lied about her past too, but to expect that the truth would never come out? That is Michael Jackson (may he RIP) level fantasy. It speaks to Oprah's Cinderella complex: What was clearly driving her (and still is driving her and Gail) is wanting to be the white girl that even her billions will not allow her to become. To live simultaneously in that shattered faux Cinderella world and also be normal in everyday reality, no matter how many billions one has, requires deep personal awareness, long-term therapy and heavy medication, at the very least. And Oprah seems to have had none of these.

Oprah, your slip is still showing? Go see a fortuneteller: I see more self-destructive trouble in your future. And afterwards, then please don't walk, run to the nearest therapist. And take your girl friend Gail Bumpus along with you. Two stars

Great Book
I thought this was a really good book. I learned alot about Oprah's life, alot of things I did not expect. Up Close books are great books and I would recommended all Up Close books to anyone intrested in reading.

A GOD'S CHILD
At first we may thought about Oprah, a pure TV product...but the book is a wonderful story about a born poor, black, woman, a rebel who was suffering during her childhood but Oprah is a God's child and has been supported once she was a young woman. Why? How? read the book and you will know a compassion and authenticity.
I am a leadership expert and can tell you how I was surprise of her simple way of life: perseverance!
I was living the story of Oprah Potter! but harry is only a fiction, OPRAH is GENUINE.
Dear Oprah, with all my love for what you have done and continue to do.
You are a role model and it is just the beginning!
Prof.Franck Renand
Thank you for your attention. franckrenand@yahoo.fr
Oprah Winfrey: "I Don't Believe In Failure" (African-American Biography Library) ... Read more

Product Description
A brief biography of the successful entertainer, Oprah Winfrey, focusing on the value of assertiveness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Perfect material to entice young readers to learn and read more
"The Oprah Winfrey Story" is a Level 3 We Both Read series biography which is designed to be read together with a parent or other adult. The left hand page with a yellow dot, is geared for the adult reader and the right hand page, with a blue dot, is designed for the level 3 learning reader. The inspirational biography of world-famous Oprah Winfrey is perfect material to entice young readers to learn and read more. Embellished with colorful paintings of Oprah in many different phases of her life, "The Oprah Winfrey Story" presents a model of how a woman of very modest, humble beginnings can build a successful life for herself "through determination, perseverance, and the kindness of a helping hand." Quotations from Oprah at the end include the following: "Insight, escape, information, knowledge, inspiration, power: All that and more can come through a good book."

Share the joy of reading with your child
We all have things in common and one of the best gifts to share is the love of reading.Learn about Oprah and how books changed her world; they can change yours, too. ... Read more

Product Description
Oprah Winfrey rose out of hardship and incredible poverty to become one of the most recognized and well-respected people in the world. In The World According to Oprah, Ken Lawrence captures this amazing woman in her own words, as she expresses the ideas and beliefs that made her who she is today.

Since her start at a tiny Nashville radio station, Oprah Winfrey has become a media mogul, founding a film and television production company, an inspirational magazine, and a $20 million public charity, and cofounding a cable network for women. Abused as a child, she has even helped to pass a law that protects children from abuse. The World According to Oprah is a collection of quotes from this talented and multifaceted woman.

* "My show is really a ministry--a ministry that doesn't ask for money. I can't tell you how many lives we've changed--or inspired to change."

* "My father turned my life around by insisting I could be more than I was."

* "Although I'm grateful for the blessings of wealth, it hasn't changed who I am. My feet are still on the ground. I'm just wearing better shoes."

* "Real success comes when you learn to act as if everything depends on you, and pray as if everything depends on God. God can dream a bigger dream for you than you can ever dream for yourself." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Emotionalism

Oprah proves that she is not perfect. But she is good, she is cariing and giving and she loves what she does.
We can get so caught up into the moment of doing the things that we enjoy to the point that we become so emotional that we do not recognize that even with all of the good, why do we still become stressed. Based on my experience I recognized being determined to do any cause is much hard work. It is the closest thing to perfection. You keep at it until you get it right. If it does not work this way then it must work another way. Strategy driven is stressful.
Strategy driven is doing things your Own way.Doing things your own way and succeeding is very hard work and requires many skills. Going through an emotional cycle is not a healthy thing.Sometimes we are not willing to sacfrice things that can become heavily burden. God speaks in Matthew 11 He says Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy burden, and I will give you rest. To Take His yoke upon us , and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly in heart: and we shall find rest unto our souls. For His yoke is easy, andHis burden is light. When we follow our own ways the burden is heavy and becomes great and begins to break. We find ourselves running from stressors that causes us to be dyfunctional. We have to deal with ourselves and our pain so that losing weight becomes a lighter burden to bare.

My Mom loved it.
Well, this review is based on my mothers comments. I don't watch Oprah. But since my mom does I bought this for her. She loved it. So, if you know anyone that is a Oprah worshiper like my mom, he/she will probably love it. My goal was to make my mom happy, it did, so it gets 5 stars.

A Collection of Oprah Quotes
"Reading books is the single greatest pleasure I have." ~ Oprah

While this book is not comprehensive it does have a few good quotes from Oprah. Many of the quotes seem to have been taken from interviews. There are quotes that explain why Oprah enjoys giving people a sense of hope and quotes about her struggles with emotional eating.

"You become what you believe." ~ Oprah

How has fame changed her and how does she feel about the movies she has acted in? There are also quotes about jury duty, charity, family, properity, romance, marriage, spirituality and success. Overall this is a very quick read and you may find a few quotes you enjoy.

You may also want to look for:

Oprah Winfrey Speaks: Insights from the World's Most Influential Voice

The Oprah Winfrey Show

~The Rebecca Review
... Read more

Product Description
Follows the life of the successful entertainer Oprah Winfrey, from her difficult childhood to her present fame. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Geat Overview of an American Icon
Even though this book is primarily for children I used excerpts of it with my remedial English and ESL students. This book is very concise, but loaded with interesting bits of information about Oprah's early life. It's very reader friendly with lots of photos, captions and sidebars. This book doesn't gloss over the molestation and abuse Oprah suffered as a child. ... Read more

Product Description
Over 400 memorable quotes, uttered over the last 2,500 years by Sappho, Queen Elizabeth I, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Erma Bombeck, Oprah Winfrey, many other historical figures and personalities, cover love and romance, family, human nature, aging, work, joy and, sorrow, more. Indispensable for public speakers; a delight for general readers.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

You tell 'em!
Witty, perceptive, humorous, serious...quotes from some of the greatest women in history on every topic imaginable.A great value, both content and price-wise.Don't miss it!

Wonderful anthology
This book is a wonderful anthology of women's sayings about avariety of topics such as women/men, education, politics, marriage, love, friendship etc. There are quotations of writers, poets, actresses from several centuries. A very interesting collection that is definitely worth the money! ... Read more

Product Description

Who wouldn't love to put fantastic foods on the table--extraordinary pleasures for everyday eating; simply delicious treats that can be prepared in record time; comfort food that brings family and friends together; luxurious meals that cost barely more than fast food; divine dishes perfect for guests or just for quiet nights at home? Now you can have all that and more, any time you choose, with this first-ever collection of 175 of the best recipes from O, The Oprah Magazine.

Featuring more than 60 great chefs and food writers, alongside mouth-watering photographs, this cookbook presents an exquisite array of dishes from cocktails to appetizers, main dishes to desserts, soups to sandwiches, and everything in between.

O, The Oprah Magazine Cookbook offers something for everyone--and for all types of occasions, whether you're preparing a feast or looking for a simple dish to satisfy a craving.

• APPETIZERS range from an easy to make Crostini with Wild Mushrooms and Mozzarella to Crushed Potato with Smoked Salmon, Caviar, and Chives; from elegant Grilled Sea Scallops with Tomato-Black Olive Vinaigrette to delectable Fried Green Tomato Salad with Homemade Ranch Dressing.
  
  
• INSPIRATION comes from all across the country and around the globe, and you can now enjoy at home dishes such as a tantalizingly bright bowl of Callaloo soup, Moroccan Cinnamon-Rubbed Leg of Lamb, the best Tiramisu ever, an addictive Cuban Grilled Corn on the Cob with Queso Blanco and Lime, and a crazy-delicious New Orleans Creole Gumbo.
  
  
• DESSERTS include decadent Black Currant-Tea Chocolate Truffles, amazingly simple Chocolate Pots de Crème, Heavenly Fresh Mint Ice Cream, and silky smooth Banana Pudding. For drinks? Here is a Pomegranate Daiquiri and a Strawberry Mint Iced Tea, both perfect for a summer party, and a frothy Mexican hot chocolate, the ideal thing for a cold winter night.
  
  
• ALONG WITH THE RECIPES, professional chefs and celebrated gourmands provide informative, entertaining, and vibrant lessons and advice about food and cooking--and life. Maya Angelou talks about food as a way to soothe discord, but even more important, as a joyful part of life; Gayle King describes how a true food lover can take equal pleasure from fine dining in a fancy restaurant and a casual burger joint; Marcus Samuelsson explains how travel can expand your palate; Nina Simonds brings home vital lessons from Asia about family dining; Art Smith gives inimitable advice on how to make eating outdoors easy, delicious, and fun. Other wonderful contributions come from Govind Armstrong, Leah Chase, Colin Cowie, Rozanne Gold, Michel Nischan, Susan Spungen, and Rori Trovato.
  
  
• ALSO INCLUDED are advice on brilliant pairings of wine with food and a special index that leads you right to holiday foods, snacks, vegetarian recipes, party favorites, and kid-friendly dishes.

Sixteen million readers a month turn to the recipe pages in O, The Oprah Magazine to see the featured chefs and their fabulous food as well as the gorgeous photography. Their recipes embody the spirit of O, The Oprah Magazine and will inspire you to create irresistible meals for your family and friends, both every day and on special occasions. More than a collection of recipes, this book is a guide to enjoying food, elevating every dining experience, and appreciating the special role that cooking and eating can, together, play in our lives.

Customer Reviews (20)

An excellent bachelors date night manual
I found this book by accident and was impressed with the fancy looking and sounding recipes, many of which still looked easy enough for somebody inexperienced in the kitchen.

So far, I've really only one meals worth, using three recipes from the book:Jalapeño cornbread, Orange-garlic spinach, and Pecan Chicken.All of these worked out nicely (with some minor adjustments that I'd make in future attempts), and my meal preparation was successful.

This book was helpful to make me appear much more skilled and sophisticated than I actually am.It will be fun to work through some of the other recipes in this cookbook.

Adventures In Cooking!
I gave this Oprah Magazine Cookbook to my daughter for Christmas and so far she and the rest of our family have been very happy with all the recipes she has tried.
She has also tested some of the recipes on her two young children (5 & 3 years old) and they loved them.
I am very pleased that so many of the recipes that she has tried have turned out to be so delicious and not too difficult to make either. She is trying to get her family to eat healthier and this cookbook turned out to be a very good choice.
I also was lucky to purchase it on sale which made me very happy. M. Di Cocco

Consistently scrumptious recipes
Cooking with O, The Oprah Magazine Cookbook is an exploration of taste. The cookbook is arranged by the type of food - salads and appetizers, drinks, desserts, meats, vegetables - and the recipes come from a series of chefs who have contributed their favorites. Colorful photos and commentary from the chefs accompany the recipes.

Unlike other cookbooks, there is no clear theme here. The selection includes a wide variety of tastes and geographic influences - from a simple sliced tomato sandwich (do we really need a recipe for that or are we being reminded that a tomato can be sandwich fodder?) to Caribbean Callaloo, Pecan Coated Fried Chicken, and Vermont Maple Sugar Pie. At the back of the book are recommendations of what to serve to children, vegetarians, and dinner guests and what to make when short on time. The book also suggests wine pairings.

At first glance, the recipes don't seem to be aimed at the average cook. Ingredients such as crème fraîche, ras el hanout, pancetta, and file powder aren't readily stocked in the common kitchen. Neither is it intended for meals on the run, as some of the recipes are fairly complicated.

What the book does with flair is bring together tastes combinations that sparkle. African Chicken in Peanut Sauce is worth the effort involved, the creamy sauce a perfect compliment to the spiced, succulent poultry. The successful pairing of cherry tomatoes with shallots in Sauteed Chicken with Cherry Tomatoes results in a colorful, easy, and flavorful dish that is appropriate to serve to company for an evening meal. You'll never make standard potato salad again after trying Sweet Potato Salad by chef Art Smith. Easy to make, colorful, and with a taste that will keep people talking (imagine sweet potatoes, pineapple, green onions, pecans, dijon, mayo, and more - yum!). It's the perfect side dish to bring to summer barbeques.

I would have preferred to have nutrition information provided instead of the sidebars written by chefs, but perhaps the absence of nutrition information was intentional - allowing readers to indulge in a smorgasbord of flavors without worrying about the long-term effects. When looking for something elegant and unique, to add some pizzazz to your table, O, The Oprah Magazine Cookbook offers excellent ideas.

Great Gift Item
I purchased this as a gift for my mother and she really likes it.It has some great recipes including awesome salads.I like how different chefs all contributed to the book.

weird recipes
Most of the recipes are weird and very time consuming, not something that most of the people will cook as an everyday meal. Maybe if you own a restaurant and want to add exotic meals to your menu, this is a good purchase. However I would not bet that some soccer mom will have the time to roast garlic for 40min, then squeeze the garlic just to obtain the juice and then to start cooking a tomato-roasted garlic soup. Don't get me wrong, there are a few really interesting recipes in there, but overall I wish I didn't buy this book. ... Read more

Product Description
In Make the Connection, Oprah Winfrey and Bob Greene tell you exactly what to do every day, physically and mentally, to start looking and feeling fantastic. Oprah shares personal stories of her own weight loss battles and together she and Bob provide loads of encouragement and advice as they walk you through their ten simple steps towards a healthier and happier existence. You don't have to wonder how often to exercise, which exercises will work best for you, or what to eat and drink as you're losing the pounds. Oprah and Bob tell you in direct, easy-to-follow steps.

Eighty-five pounds lighter than she was, and having kept the weight off for more than two years, Oprah is in control of her life, and she wants to help you get in control of yours. You'll be amazed at how the pounds will disappear with this new method of eating, exercise, and daily renewal, and how you'll be inspired, like Oprah, to achieve a better body - and a better life. It's all within your reach.

Check out Oprah's official home page on American On-Line. Keyword: OprahAmazon.com Review
After trying every diet program imaginable--from Atkins toOptifast--media giant and self-confessed junk-food junkie OprahWinfrey met personal trainer and exercise physiologist Bob Greene. Therest is talk-show history. (Who can forget seeing Oprah wheeling thatwagon of fat onstage?) Instead of fad diets, fasts, and quick fixes,Greene taught Oprah how to eat right and exercise regularly. He helpedher lose more than 70 pounds and changed her life forever.

InMake the Connection, Greene tells you how to lose weight theOprah way: with hard work that includes a sensible diet and dailyworkouts. He gives 10 steps that he believes are the fastest and mosteffective ways to increase your metabolism and decrease yourweight. You'll also learn why we eat, how to become self-aware, thepurpose of body fat, and the physics of body weight. To keep youmotivated, Oprah shares her personal shape-up story and offerssuggestions for sticking with the program. Make the Connectionis about more than shedding pounds. It is also about making a dailycommitment to take care of your body and feel better aboutyourself. --Ellen Albertson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (69)

Inspiring
It's funny how many people say Oprah's never written a memoir. This book is definitely her story.I admire her all the more after reading about her struggle with food and her weight.She is an amazing and inspiring woman, and even though I won't be getting up at 5am to exercise as she does, I took away a lot from reading this book.Bob Greene was just icing on the cake.

A Fat-Reduction Program
"Muscle burns fat, so you certainly don't want to lose muscle. This is one reason diets don't work in the long run." ~ Bob Greene

Over ten years ago, Oprah and Bob Greene wrote a book to tell the world how to lose weight in a healthy way. While Oprah still has issues with her weight (most recently because of thyroid problems - how I can relate) she continues to be a beacon of hope for the rest of the world. While many of us can relate to the roller coaster of weight loss and weight gain, this book shows that with a proper diet and serious exercise you can stand on firmer ground.

Oprah's entries from her diary reveal the source of her eating problems before she had to deal with a thyroid problem. She lost weight by following Bob Greene's ten-step formula which is based on increasing metabolism and shedding excess weight through exercise.

I liked all the extra information along with the diet which is based on the food pyramid. You are instructed to eat more fruit and veggies and to eliminate most fats from your diet. I was surprised to read that you should avoid frozen vegetables. They are so convenient. Bob Greene answers some of the following questions:

Why do you initially gain weight when you start a new program?
Why do you reach a plateau?
Why can eating more boost your metabolism?
Why should you avoid alcohol if you are serious about exercising?

If you are ready to make exercise a part of your day then you are ready for this book. Walking alone can help you lose weight. I lost 25 lbs just by walking and eating less. I can highly recommend the Subway veggie sandwich if you are trying to increase veggies, especially fresh and delicious ones.

You may also want to read:The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets

~The Rebecca Review

excellent book
I have been dieting for 14 months now.Having read and using some of the ideas in the book "The Best Life" by Bob Green, I thought I would check out more of his books.The "Make the Connection" book is very good.It has continued to help me in my endeavor to lose weight.I am currently down 108 pounds with only 66 pounds to goal.If you are needing to lose some weight then I suggest you check out Bob's book.It will help you along the way.

Succinct, well-written book of Bob Greene 10 step philosophy + Oprah's story.
What I like so much about this book is it goes straight to the substance of Bob Greene's philosophy. Try to pick up any health/diet/fitness book and you'll have to wade through an excessive introduction and pages of effusive testimonials just to get to the point.

While you do learn how Bob and Oprah met and how implementing his 10 changed her life, each chapter is devoted to one principle, from Oprah's and Bob's perspective.
This is not a fad. He is very honest about what it takes.

Most impressive was the conclusion: the fundamental reason of why we want fitness; what really is health and happiness. However, it will sound simplistic if you skip to the end. Read the book, I liked it so much I completed it two days.

A Must Have Book!!!
The book was in great condition for very low price paid. Thanks ... Read more

Product Description
The name and the face of Oprah Winfrey are instantly recognizable to probably every person in America. To millions of people around the world, Oprah is the embodiment of American spirit and entrepreneurial success; a rags to riches story come to life. While there is a near continual barrage of information in the media about this larger than life woman, this biography takes readers past all the hype and hyperbole and presents a candid, balanced portrait of the flesh and blood woman herself. This well researched personal profile manages to present a realistic yet intimate portrait of Oprah that neither canonizes nor demonizes her. The dramatic events in her life, both the struggles and the successes are detailed with factual accounts that guide readers through the complex, and sometimes controversial, course of Oprah's life from her childhood in Mississippi, to her current position of extraordinary success. This penetrating book chronicles for readers the significant people and events that have had the greatest impact on Oprah personally and professionally. The careful organization of this book, with eight well developed chapters, also examine the myriad areas of Oprah's immeasurable impact on the people close to her and the public at large , from her literary and political influences, to her candor about her own ups and downs with mental and physical health issues. Each of these areas is well researched and narrated with an equanimity and lucidity that distinguishes this book from a tell-all" approach. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Inaccuracy
I haven't read the whole book, but I do want to comment on an inaccuracy.

On page 25, the author reports that Oprah received a scholarship to attend Nicolet High School, which she describes as a "private, newly integrated" high school.That's incorrect.I attended Nicolet myself, and my brother was in her class.Nicolet is and always has been a public school, and it is and always has been integrated (it didn't even open until 1955).I'm not sure what a "scholarship" would have meant, unless students outside the district had to pay tuition and the school forgave it or someone else paid it for her.It's certainly true that in those years there were very few African-American students, Oprah was not the only one, as some other sources report.

I know she didn't stay at Nicolet long enough to graduate, but I am very proud to have Oprah Winfrey as a fellow alumna of our school.

I know it's a small point, but this carelessness to easily verifiable detail makes me wonder how careful the author was about other "facts."

Oprah's influence on Middle Eastern women
An interesting look at middle eastern life through the eyes of a taxi driver and his relationship with his wife is described in a new book- Bahrabian Bacchanal- The Untold Story about Arabia, by Abu Mohammed.

The Life (and Make Believe) of Oprah Winfrey-land
There are many reasons why this is not a very good biography. The least of these is that it is poorly organized, poorly fact-checked, and poorly written. But also, and much more importantly, it makes mincemeat of Oprah's life and humanity. Oprah's life is taken up as if it were a "feminist political project" rather than as a biography proper. It proceeds to smother both her humanity and her life under a welter of meaningless awards and sycophantic accolades. So much so, that when the dust finally settles beneath this whirlwind of obsequious and sycophantic panting, there is nothing left of Oprah: There frankly is no Oprah there? There is a shaky feminist cardboard cutout left in the place where a life was supposed to have been.

This all puts the reader in an uneasy, unenviable and disadvantaged position. He is forced to fashion a "real biography" from the debris left behind in the wake of this disaster and by reading between (and beneath) the lines. And here I must say that the author has made my task a great deal easier that at first it might seem. Since there is an ironclad logic to her methodology -- "hide everything real that is negative about Oprah's life, and reveal everything that is positive, trivial and unreal about it" - the subtext of her manuscript thus gives us an unerring roadmap to discovery through our own devices, the truth about Oprah's life and humanity.

After reading both between and beneath the lines of this "biography," all I can say is that I would hate to be Oprah's therapist, for as "head cases" go, it is difficult to imagine how a single case could ever be a worse one: illegitimate birth, hated by all sides of the family, considered to be too black and too ugly; raised in racist environment in both North and South, shuttled back and forth between family members, raped at 14, raised in abject poverty in both the North and South, etc.

However, the Rosetta Stone to Oprah's mental health is none of these things, but is clearly the trauma of her pregnancy at 14, and the events surrounding the birth and death of her baby. While the author tried to shield Oprah (and her not so well-hidden feminist agenda), by obscuring and "disingenuously sliding around these critical facts," all she actually did was to make everything in the subtext, even more crystal clear. To wit:

(1) Sexually promiscuous ghetto mothers tend to produce sexually promiscuous ghetto daughters, (check the statistics on this) especially those who feel unloved enough to "act out" against these very same mothers, and Oprah was one such ghetto daughter.

(2) Regarding all of the "supposed sexual abuse" committed against Oprah while in Milwaukee (reading beneath the lines), although it may have begun that way, at some point it appears that it ceased to be sexual abuse and became more like "sexual enjoyment." Taken in context, this sounds more of a "like mother-like-daughter" promiscuity situation than abuse to me?

(3) That Vernita (her mom), found it "impossible to control her daughter," more or less confirms this point.As a result, she sent Oprah back to Tennessee, pregnant.

(4) Even wayward mothers (which Vernita surely was) do not normally abandon their sexual abused daughters and declare them "uncontrollable." And anyway, what did she mean that Oprah was "uncontrollable" if not that she was just too sexually promiscuous?

(5) How did the baby die? We are given no clues. Its death seemed a bit too convenient for a real life scenario. Surely there is a deeper story here that the reader may never really know of.

(6) In any case, Oprah's "real life" began at 15. It was marked by her being shipped off to Tennessee, pregnant, with the trauma of the birth and death of her baby. And yet one of the first entries in her diary after all this, which she began at 15, was that she was "having problems with boys?"

Hmm, how does a traumatized sexually abused teen come up with "having problems with boys" as one of her first problems after being shipped away pregnant by a sexual abuser, followed by the trauma of an ensuing birth and death of her baby?

Even giving Oprah the benefit of the doubt (as I do since I like her, although I don't believe a thing she says), this story makes no sense. The old excuse that "the man-made-me-do-it" is just too thin to cover her this time. A lot more is going on here, and this book is derelict in its duty not to give us at least a plausible explanation. After all, Maya Angelou, Oprah's good friend (who incidentally is from Stamps, Arkansas and not one of the five states the author claims she is from), wrote a whole book about her abuse as a child. Maya's book (I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings) was a classic and every word of it is believable. Oprah's own revelations, had the air of a political tract, rather than a personal confession, and as a result, was completely unbelievable. This book confirms this lack of believability in her "claimed sexual abuse."

I could go on and on but this example is symptomatic of the sloppiness of the book. It is an Oprah Winfrey fairytale that does not do the great woman justice. I really bought it to discover what the true story was behind the strangeness of her relationship with her declared "significant other "Stedman." But I no longer trust anything this author would have to say on the matter, so I will seek answers to that question from other sources. For this purpose I purchased Stedman's own book. God hope there is more truth there than is here.

One star

Oprah, Queen of Rot
If you have millions of dollars in America, a country not known for its generosity, it's normally accepted that you are a very "kind" person, thus explains the aura which surrounds the scream queen Oprah. Her empire not only includes millions of dollars, but questionable investments throughout the world which include sweat factories and exploited workers. I for one found this book rather tedious as it attempts to make Oprah a saint who does no wrong. I'm waiting for her fall from grace like Martha Stewarts.

Very Helpful
Purchased this book for a college report and found it to be very informative. ... Read more

Product Description
"People have told me that their lives have changed because of me. I take away from this the sense that I'm on the right track."
"I believe you're here to live your life with passion. Otherwise, you're just traveling through the world blindly-and there's no point to that."
"Oprah's on." It's the catchphrase that inspires millions around the world to tune in to one of the most trusted women in the history of television. Almost everyone follows Oprah's every move. One word about a book club selection sends an obscure first novel rocketing to the top of the bestseller list. Oprah Winfrey possesses what is arguably one of the world's most influential voices.
Alive with her unique warmth and insight, Oprah Winfrey Speaks reveals the mystique of Oprah in her own words. Drawing on hundreds of sources, Janet Lowe provides an evocative, personal portrait. Here are Oprah's opinions on everything from childhood and overcoming adversity to dealing with fame and staying real. Oprah Winfrey Speaks highlights Oprah's abiding faith, no-nonsense business rules, generosity, and love as well as her 10 commandments for lifelong success.
Oprah's lifetime theme has been personal transformation-she's constantly seeking, questioning, changing, and growing. This uplifting theme echoes throughout Oprah Winfrey Speaks.
Here is just a hint of the wisdom you'll discover:
* "Just tell the truth. It'll save you every time."
* "Don't complain about what you don't have. Use what you've got. To do less than your best is a sin. Every single one of us has the power for greatness, because greatness is determined by service-to yourself and to others."
* "I am a woman in progress. I'm just trying like everyone else. I try to take every conflict, every experience and learn from it. All I know is that I can't be anybody else. And it's taken me a long time to realize that."
* "If you're angry, be angry and deal with it. Don't go eat a bag of Ruffles."
* "God blesses you better when you pray on your knees."
The world listens when Oprah Winfrey Speaks
Here's just a hint of the wisdom you'll find inside...
"I am what I am because of my grandmother.
My strength. My sense of reasoning. Everything.
All that was set by the time I was six."
"Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity."
"I always feel if you do right, right will follow."
"You know the old clich-, 'a good man is hard to find'? Well, it's true. And the smarter you get, the harder they are to find."
This book has not been prepared, approved, licensed, or endorsed by Oprah Winfrey, Harpo Productions, or by any entity that creates, produces, or broadcasts THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW.Amazon.com Review
Get Oprah's two cents on everything from rocky romance andovercoming fear to spiritual growth and setting goals. Compiling fromnumerous sources, author Janet Lowe (Warren BuffettSpeaks, BillGates Speaks) pulls together an impressive collage of quotesand anecdotes from one of the most influential women of the 20thcentury. Whether you're looking for a nugget of wisdom onrelationships ("You know the old cliché, 'a good man is hard tofind'? Well, it's true. And the smarter you get, the harder they areto find") or a spiritual insight ("God blesses you better when youpray on your knees"), Oprah Winfrey Speaks is chock-full ofsnappy snippets and sage advice. Although the book spans everythingfrom Oprah's upbringing to her future predictions, most of thesubjects are covered in a few pages or less, making it a better digestthan diary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Oprah's story straight from the horse's mouth
Don't be surprised if you look up "American Dream" and find Oprah Winfrey's picture smiling back at you. Of course I know that word (or is it phrase since it's 2 words?) isn't in the dictionary, but you know what I mean. Born a poor black girl in the Deep South and raised by a grandmother who gave her the key to her success: education, she overcame poverty, sexual abuse, the death of a child, a broken relationship with her mom, racism, and sexism to become one of (if not the) the richest women in the world. This book, mixed with a flowing narrative and quotes from Oprah herself, details her journey from a victim to a survivor. Topics include fame, the value of an education, books, love, self esteem, prejudice, and spirituality. A few quotes from her friend Gayle, her father, and a few others also pepper the text for a more round view of Oprah. Some quotes make you sad and some make you smile, but you'll feel inspired and know that you can do anything you want. If Oprah can, why not you?

An excellent insight
I believe that books of thsi nature are to show and elucidate hwo certain kinds of peopel think and act.I think that the consumer shoudl remember that most of these books are gleaned and compiled from interviews, articles and TV quotes not the person directly.Which means that things can be taken out of context or contrary events can be exampled to a person's time static comment.
All the same, this book is pretty good for insight in Oprah and her thoughts on some issues as well as maturely seeing how her opinion has grown/matured over the years.
A good subject makes a good book but this isn't the indepth exploration of Oprah that one may hope.Perhaps in some ways she can't truly be seen in any other context as she has a show where she talks about herself and her experiences.Only a book absolutely written by her could ever truly reveal her.Someone truly interested in her thoughts will have to wait for that day.

Change your life! If Oprah did it, you can too!
When I think of Oprah, I think of "awareness." Her presence on earth is to bring us all to the awareness of our potential. If you want to know more about her life, Janet Lowe will take you on a journey through Oprah's life. Within a few hours you will see Oprah in a whole new light.

What I find most fascinating about Oprah is her love of reading and quotes. Those are things I can relate to well. Now it seems, I have been collecting "Oprah quotes!" Throughout this book you will find Oprah's wisdom presented in an organized fashion in sections so they relate well to the topic.

Oprah speaks from a background of adversity. The events of her life have changed her, yet she has decided to take charge of her destiny and become a positive influence. Her background is almost shocking when you think of who she has become. The contrast is sharp and it is very apparent that she drew on an inner strength.

The book begins with details of Oprah's roots in Mississippi and her educational background. There is a discussion of "Harpo" and how she deals with her fame and fortune. Her generosity is impressive and her efforts for children's rights are commendable.

There are some things in life money can never replace. I was saddened by some aspects of her life and see how her own sorrow, abuse and lack of a loving relationship with her own parents early in life influenced her. Some of the best things in life are free. Money helps, but I don't think it heals the longing we all have for love.

Oprah's love of reading has encouraged others to delve into knowledge and better themselves. She also enjoys writing in a "gratitude" journal. Janet Lowe brings out the positive and negative aspects of Oprah's life. With more than 22 million American viewers hanging on her every word, she continues to have the instinctive knack of feeding their desire to find meaning in life.

Oprah started me reviewing because after seeing Gary Zukav on her show, I wanted to know more about the books she was talking about and knew others would also want to know more. I thought maybe I could help others see what was in his books.

Oprah sent me on a journey to delve into the minds of our time. A journey of discovery I have just started on! For that I thank her.

~The Rebecca Review

Oprah Winfrey is the Strong Voice of the American Woman
Hello, My name is Sabuyen and I am from Hokkaido, Japan. ...Itruly enjoy this book becase Oprah Winfrey represent all strongintelligent woman in America. In this book you shall read all herinsight and charm. Perhaps I am more awareness becase of a childhoodin Japan, where it is vey different to be a woman.

This is the firstlong book I have read in English. It took me a vey long time to read,but please belive, it was worth every minute. I am delight to alsodiscover that there is a "cassete" version of this bookavalable on www.amazon.com. I shall listen as I ride the bus orexercise.

When you read this book you shall feel power and energyfrom Oprah. She think positive, despite a difficult background, andshe has work hard for what she have. Here Oprah does share her wisdomand intelligence. It is very plain to see.

Oprah, if you are readthis, please know that you are my hero and roll model, and for everyother woman in America. You have give so much to all.

If anyone wishto read more about me, please read my profile. Love, Sabuyen.

INSIDIOUS!
The boorish broad from Baltimore strikes again! What makes this book so insidious is the way that the heroine peppers her pseudo-intellectual do-goodisms with an underlying capitalist mentality. Given her background,she should know better. Shame on you girl! ... Read more

Product Description
Presents a brief look at the life of Oprah Winfrey ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

OPRAH!...OPRAH!...OPRAH!
WOW! Is just about all you can say when you read about great success story on an extraordinary person such as Oprah Winfrey. She’s talented, rich, and beautiful. Oprah Winfrey was born on January 23, 1954 to Vernon Winfrey and Vernita Lee.Oprah lived with her grandmother Hattie Mae Lee on a farm for several years while he mother worked in Milwaukee. Soon after her mother had a second child she moved with them. While living with her mom Oprah went through so much. When she was nine years old she was raped by her mom’s older cousin and molested by several of her moms guy friends. Soon Oprah moved with her dad and his wife. She was so smart that she skipped to the first grade while in kindergarten by her request but was then sent to the second. After a couple more years she moved back with her mother which wasn’t a good move. Oprah got into a private school by scholarship but was intimidated by her white friends. She wanted clothes that her mother couldn’t afford and had low self esteem. Soon she moved back with her dad. She soon got a job at a local radio station while in high school and from there took her route to fame. After graduating she still had the job but from there went to a news station and from there went to a talk show named A.M. Chicago but from their soon turned to be hers elf titled show “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”I highly recommend this book to any age. This book is so wonderful, it gives you inspiration, Oprah is a one of a kind, and it’s a great success story.

One of the reasons this book is so wonderful is because it gives you inspiration. It gives you inspiration because it lets you know that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. Oprah really didn’t grow up rich or anything; she had to do it on her own.She started off by requested that she should be in a higher class and be more challenged. Also she had low self esteem, one reason because she was raped and molested multiple times and blamed herself. Another reason is because she is black. Back then it was hard for a black person but she made it around that and did what she had to do to fulfill her dream as a talk show host because she loved talking to people and helping them out.


I also recommend this book because Oprah Winfrey is one of a kind. There’s no one like her. She went from having no self esteem what so ever, but still opened up to national television.Instead of letting those many obstacles that she faced push her down, she used them to help her try harder. She didn’t say oh well and settle for anything, she did what she liked to do, but did it until she could really call a dream come true. Which is know why she owns her own self titled show, a production company called “Harpo,” which is her name spelled backwards, and have did many successful movies.

This book is great success story because of all the previous reasons. Oprah Winfrey is a one of the successful people you’d meet. Oprah would give you all the inspiration you’d want. Also she has faced so many things in her lifetime and has managed to overcome them all,

Since Oprah is an amazing person who has done so much good things with her life you can sit there in aww. Oprah did what so many people wish they could. Now she can look back and WOW, this is me me….Oprah. Once again I highly recommend this book to all ages because it’s a great success story, it gives you inspiration, and it’s a great success!
... Read more

Product Description

Her image is iconic: Oprah Winfrey has built an empire on her ability to connect with and inspire her audience. No longer just a name, "Oprah" has become a brand representing the talk show host's unique style of self-actualizing individualism. The cultural and economic power wielded by Winfrey merits critical evaluation. The contributors to The Oprah Phenomenon examine the origins of her public image and its substantial influence on politics, entertainment, and popular opinion. Contributors address praise from her many supporters and weigh criticisms from her detractors. Winfrey's ability to create a feeling of intimacy with her audience has long been cited as one of the foundations of her popularity. She has repeatedly made national headlines by engaging and informing her audience with respect to her personal relationships to race, gender, feminism, and New Age culture. The Oprah Phenomenon explores these relationships in detail. At the root of Winfrey's message to her vast audience is her assertion that anyone can be a success regardless of background or upbringing. The contributors scrutinize this message: What does this success entail? Is the motivation behind self-actualization, in fact, merely the hope of replicating Winfrey's purchasing power? Is it just a prescription to buy the products she recommends and heed the advice of people she admires, or is it a lifestyle change of meaningful spiritual benefit? The Oprah Phenomenon asks these and many other difficult questions to promote a greater understanding of Winfrey's influence on the American consciousness. Elwood Watson, associate professor of history at East Tennessee State University, is the editor of several books, including "There She Is, Miss America": The Politics of Sex, Beauty, and Race in America's Most Famous Pageant and Searching The Soul of Ally McBeal: Critical Essays.

Customer Reviews (2)

Great purchase
This book was only a few bucks cheaper than the bookstore price, but still a good price. It arrived in a very timely manner.

Terrific Collection
There are several books about Oprah on the market but for an intellecutally engaged reader this volume is among the very best. The Oprah Phenomenon is a terrific collection of well crafted essays covering a range of topics. The book includes essays on Oprah and race (including the appeal of Oprah to white women), Oprah and femininity (including Black femininity) and Oprah and literacy (including what her television work has done for America), to name a few. I teach courses sociology courses on topics including gender and pop culture and can easily see this book being used in such courses, as a vehicle to address a range of social issues. The book also would serve the general reader, interested in the Oprah Phenomenon. ... Read more

Product Description
What happens when a thirty-five-year-oldaverage American woman spends one year following every piece of Oprah Winfrey's advice on how to "live your best life"? Robyn Okrant devoted 2008 to adhering to all of Oprah's suggestions and guidance delivered via her television show, her Web site, and her magazine. LIVING OPRAH is a month-by-month account of that year.
Some of the challenges included enrollment in Oprah's Best Life Challenge for physical fitness and weight control, living vegan, and participating in Oprah's Book Club. After 365 days of LIVING OPRAH, Okrant reflects on the rewards won and lessons learnedas well as the tolls exacted by the experiment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

An easy, breezy read that makes you think.
I have to admit, I'm not Oprah's biggest fan. I used to schedule my days to watch her show but over the years have drifted away slowly as she seemed to drift way beyond anything that I could possibly relate to. I think I've just gotten tired of the overall view that anything Oprah says or does is absolute truth. No one seems to question her and that kind of power is a bit scary to me... nevertheless, I am still facsinated by her and this power she has over people, so this was a great read for me. It's not literary gold, but it's easy to read and thought provoking. The lists of "to-dos" and the cost of everything gets a bit tedious and I found myself skipping them after the first few chapters, just looking at the bottom line time committment and cost of the experiment for the month rather than line by line. If you're interested in anything Oprah (positive or negative), I'd recommend reading this unique social experiment memoir.

hard to get through
I've put this book down so many times and read something else in between.It sounded like an interesting idea to do what Oprah says for a year but it just doesn't hold my interest month after month of doing Oprah stuff.

Great social commentary
This is a well written, objective and humorous book detailing what happened when one woman painstakingly attempted to follow Oprah's many suggestions for one year. I admire Oprah for her success and philanthropy and believe she does many great things in the world. However, I have concerns which Robyn does a great job of addressing. She thoroughly analyzes the contradictions that come from the Oprah empire, especially concerning objectification of women and materialism. I think this is a courageous and important project that looks more deeply at the effect of the societal messages and ramifications of Oprah media.

THIS IS A SCARY ZOMBIE WOMAN
SHE IS BRAINWASHED AND CONTROLLED BY GAYLE AND OPRAH. THERE ARE HYPNOTIC SUGGESTIONS ENCRYPTED WITHIN THE SENTENCES. DO NOT BY THIS BOOK! EVIL LURKS WITHIN!

Great Concept in the Hands of the Wrong Writer
This high-concept book of doing everything Oprah says for a year is a great idea--but suffers due to the chirpy personality of the author.Instead of this being an objective, critical view of the hundreds of things the talk show host asks her viewers to do, it ends up being a god-like worship experience where the author continually praises Winfrey without reason.

From the start Okrant goes overboard to tell how great Oprah Winfrey is.The author adores the successful TV star.The writer claims to try to retain neutrality yet says that "because of her philanthropic work and generosity to her audience, she is above reproach." At one point Okrant says of the talk host, "She sustains us with her presence"--are we talking about God's Holy Spirit or simply a woman whose goal was to be famous and has done it without the burden of marriage, children or even extended family?

The author makes the assumption that Oprah's every command should be followed, ignoring the fact that many of Oprah's suggestions are from her sponsors or staff.Winfrey herself doesn't select most of the items for her show or magazine--yes, she gets final approval but these are suggestions created by other people to fit within the Oprah branding image.They are often well-placed promotions by companies, where both Oprah and the guest know that they are there to market.Why does the author just buy into this scheme instead of uncovering it for what it is?

She not only makes Winfrey out to be god by listening to her every command, but she overestimates the amount of work Oprah does.She claims that the talk host is incredibly overworked and it "doesn't appear...she is able to take her own advice when it comes to achieving balance."Ummmm, Oprah has hundreds of workers at her beck and call who do most of her work for her.She can hop into a limo or private jet at any moment, have food prepared by those on her personal staff, and doesn't have to worry about the day-to-day concerns that we normal humans have. A lowly viewer can't do any of that. If Oprah's life is unbalanced, it's that she has too much money, too many homes, and too many staff members that results in a woman ruling a kingdom.Namely, she's not exactly struggling to get dinner on the table while holding down a full time job and handling three kids.Why the seven million viewers like Okrant deify Winfrey is the most disturbing part of this story.

The author makes the book mostly about herself and she's not a very interesting person.She constantly complains about not having enough money, trying to finish a graduate degree and attempting to stay healthy even though she has a terrible self-image.The whining gets old after about the first 25 pages and it continues throughout the book.

Some of the charts are interesting, where at the end of each month the author shows what specific thing Oprah asked the audience to do on a day and how Okrant fulfilled it.However, in almost every case she happily fulfills what are often minor suggestions that Winfrey certainly didn't mean to be grouped together and taken literally. A better method would have been to point out which suggestions were rather impractical, which were just throw-away lines and which were really meant to be taken seriously.The lack of perspective results in the author sounding either crazy or unintelligent.

For example, the charts clearly show that most of Oprah's programs deal with pushing a product (movie, book, clothing, etc.), yet about once a month the hypocritical host gives a sermonette on the dangers of consumerism or accumulating too much.(Oh, I get it--we need to declutter so we can acquire more things endorsed by Oprah!).She also has her monthly message on being "kind" or have "compassion," yet this is the woman whose former employees say she is a tyrant and behind the scenes footage of the show proves that there is little kindness when it comes to Oprah dealing with her underlings.(Oh, I get it--she is really preaching these messages to herself, trying to convince herself to be a better person.)All of this seems lost on the author, who just hands her brain over to Winfrey, admitting that she is even voting for Obama because Oprah told her to.

She also writes as if she personally was asked by Oprah to do something."I've been urged by Oprah to make a pumpkin chiffon pie."To take Winfrey's pitchwoman pleas personally shows a lack of understanding of what the talk host is trying to do with her show.Oprah isn't always asking viewers to do these things because Winfrey likes them--she is promoting something to help the guest on the show.We now know that there are things Oprah markets on her program that she admittedly has never used before (and probably never will again).

It would have been better if someone like Vicki Abt would have tried the experiment.She is the woman who wrote an article (and later a book) in the 1990s that exposed Winfrey's program as a bit of a fraud. Oprah brought Abt on to try to refute the professor but couldn't.Instead Oprah ended up sharing with the audience that,"it's just a show."Oprah clearly made the point over and over that she isn't trying to befriend audience members and is just trying to make money while positively influencing people. Objective Abt should have written this.

When grouping all the suggestions together in a book like this one can see how absurd the talk show host is. The problem here is that the book's author doesn't really see what is so clear to the rest of us. The conclusion should have been that viewers are crazy to take Oprah seriously about just about anything.But while the author does some soul searching near the end and fears she has done Oprah a "disservice," Okrant ends by condemning the average people who contact her through her Web site.Most are Oprah lovers that want to get close to the queen, but others want to push their products or accuse the author of just writing a book to get on Winfrey's show.To see the author's venom toward average people, while always giving the talk show queen the benefit of the doubt in terms of pure motives, reveals Okrant's greatest flaw.Maybe she should have focused on the negative aspects of Oprah and her followers instead.
... Read more

Product Description
Over the last two decades Oprah Winfrey's journey has taken her from talk show queen to, as Time Magazine has asserted, one of the most important figures in popular culture. Through her talk show, magazine, website, seminars, charity work, and public appearances, her influence in the social, economic, and political arenas of American life is considerable and until now, largely unexamined.In The Age of Oprah, media scholar and journalist Janice Peck traces Winfrey's growing cultural impact and illustrates the fascinating parallels between her road to fame and fortune and the political-economic rise of neoliberalism in this country.While seeking to understand Oprah'sascent to near iconic status that she enjoys today, Peck's book provides a fascinating window into the intersection of American politics and culture over the past quarter century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The embodiment of modern American culture
This fascinating & cogent cultural study is as far from a chatty, glossy puff piece as you can imagine -- but it's no mean-spirited character assassination, either. It examines Oprah as cultural phenomenon, and the ways in which she both influences contemporary culture & embodies it. Well-researched & thoroughly attributed, it's an exemplar of research & analysis, with some unsettling but irrefutable conclusions.

Author Janice Peck begins with a detailed history of American magical thinking -- from 19th century mind cures to modern New Age philosophies. She shows how this strain of thought downplays or outright dismisses political, economic, and social factors in creating poverty & despair, in favor of "personal responsibility" -- which more often turns out to be a more rarified way of blaming the victim. She also shows the disparity (some might say hypocrisy) of such magical thinking, which touts itself as spiritual & highly evolved, yet also offers the less fortunate contempt rather than pity & compassion.

The most blatant example of this, of course, is Oprah's fervent embrace of "The Secret," which essentially proclaims that our own thoughts, whether negative or positive, create the reality in which we live. Think good thoughts, and you'll attract good things; thing bad thoughts, and you'll attract bad things. The clueless callousness of this belief system is obvious -- do abused infants attract their abuse through negative thinking, for example? Do you attract cancer, or violence, or having your pension stolen by a corrupt CEO? Do you attract toxic landfills, or horrific battlefield maiming?

Throughout this study, there's never any personal attack on Oprah as a human being. This isn't a juicy screed or rant by any means! But it is a penetrating study of a way of thought that pervades American culture today, from the most intimate relationships to finance & foreign policy. Boiled down, this way of thought pretty much says that those who have wealth, fame, power, etc., deserve it; those who don't, simply don't deserve it, because it's all their fault. So of course helping them is useless. In much cruder (but sadly accurate) terms, "F**k you, I got mine!" And you get to feel morally superior while saying it, too!

Is this really how we want to live?

Let me forestall certain objections. In no way is this book discounting genuine personal responsibility, or glorifying victimization. It merely points out that even with the fiercest will & ambition, too many people are unable to escape to something better. And in looking down at them, in blaming them for immense political & economic forces beyond their control, we not only diminish their humanity, we diminish our own. Putting a shiny facade of faux spirituality & narcissistic philosophy over that only makes it worse.

For those who want to look a little more deeply at our culture, highly recommended & vital reading!

Not just about Oprah
This book is about how Oprah promotes the Neo-Liberal agenda and, as a result, the book provides an enlightening overview of the transformation of the Democratic party from the 1970s through Clinton. It's a fast-paced, fascinating read.

Amaznig woman, Janice Peck
Yeah, she's brilliant.
Read this book if you're interested in current cultural issues.
It's not just a book glorifying Oprah, but it is actually far more sinister than it seems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A great book for research.
I wrote a college paper on Oprah and this book really helped me get an A.

An Essential Oprah Biography
I've read quite a few Oprah Biographies and this is one of my favorites. It focuses on all the main events that made Oprah who she is today and gives interesting details about her childhood. I especially enjoyed reading about how she spoke in churches at a very young age and how she managed to convince her mother to buy her new glasses. He antics were quite humorous and definitely got her mom's attention.

As you read this book you can truly get a sense of what it was like for Oprah to make it through a difficult childhood. In a way she was given ever-increasing challenges to develop her character as an adult. At one point she had to take three buses just to get to school.

This book also explains how she met her lifelong friend Gayle King and it addresses her struggle with her weight. What is amazing is how Oprah dreamed her life into existence. When she decided she wanted to be an actress doors opened for her in unique ways. She took all the right jobs and lived her life with passion. This book shows a side of Oprah that we can all truly admire.

~The Rebecca Review

strong woman can do anything
good book for young people who has a problem reading. and the book made the students feel good about themselves.

Great!!!
You will never believe everything this woman has went through. After reading this you will have so much respect for Oprah. This is a wonderful book, that is interesting. After reading this I sat there and thought what a courageous woman she is. She went through alot as a child but this book tells the message that no matter what had happenes today there is still tomorrow and that yesterday was the past. ... Read more

Product Description
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Customer Reviews (5)

The Oprah Effect
Oprah does have ways with words. She has proven that Her Own Way has made her life joyous and profitable. She hasproven to herself Yes We Can! I would like to share a God Quote by Nelson Mandela who used this quote in his 1994 Inaugural Speech.
"Our deepest fears not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, taltened, and famous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people wan't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence autmatically liberates other's."

Her own words as expressed verbally and through writing!
I purchased this book expecting to bathe in the luxury of Oprah's soothing whirlpool bath of motivational language, and I was not disappointed! I come to Operah through my long and growing interest in Dr. Phil, her advisor and close personal muse, and I was right in thinking that the acorn doesn't fall far from the original acorn. While Phil (Dr.) concentrates on homespun advice about how to be more like him (not tall, but living a good life, I mean), Oprah talks about motivational talking and finding your "spirit place", and although her "spirit place" often involves a separate home in the woods with waterfalls and a brook passing through the living room, you can get the same effect in a tent with a small fan or other noisy machine (one time I just left my car running and that seemed to do the trick - make sure your garage door isn't closed though!). I only give this book 3 stars because apparantly Oprah did not make this book herself but rather people followed her around and wrote everything down that she said without her noticing or hearing them. Still, though, it gives off her magic and essence, and is therefore worthy of your attention. Huzzah!

Words more important than packager
You can get lost in the fact that this is a collection of quotes by Oprah and not thoughts written by Oprah exclusively for this book.
Or you could be smart and glean wisdom from what she has to say.
How she grew up, what she learned from her errors, what she thinks of money and herself in relationship to it, the mental preparation to receive the abundance that she has and how she stays centered.

What I think thsi book is valuable for is insight, and perhaps personal inspiration for how to manage one's self in certain situations.The goal is not to become Oprah, it is to become the best YOU possible.

You take or you leave it, but you integrate it into the lessons and challenges of your own life.The same with John D. Rockefeller, Bill Gates, Jenny Jones (hahhahahaha----kidding).

A chronology of quotations
While this is a very interesting and well researched book on Oprah, keepin mind that it is an unauthorized biography. This book is basically achronology of Oprah's life, and Adler does a decent job of stringing herquotes into a coherent history. A nice bonus is the section of short quoteson a wide variety of subjects. If you love Oprah, you'll probably love thisbook!

An unauthorized book of Oprah Winfrey quotes.
Bill Adler has taken past interviews, articles, and speeches of OprahWinfrey and complied _his list_ of her best quotations. It's anunauthorized book - meaning Oprah didn't write it nor was she involved inthe production. Some quotations show the source of information with a dateand some don't -- which makes it a bit disappointing not to have thehistory or context pertaining to the quote. If you have an extensive Oprahcollection, you'll want this book just to say you have everything,otherwise there are many other good Oprah biographies available. ... Read more

Product Description
Adored by its fans, deplored by its critics, Oprah's Book Club has been at the center of arguments about cultural authority and literary taste since it began in 1996. Reading with Oprah explores the club's revolutionary fusion of books, television, and commerce and tells the engaging and in-depth story of the OBC phenomenon.

Kathleen Rooney combines extensive research with a dynamic voice to reveal the club's far-reaching cultural impact and its role as crucible for the clash between "high" and "low" literary taste. Comprehensive and up-to-date, the book covers the club from its inception in 1996, through the Jonathan Franzen contretemps, the surprising suspension in 2002, and, after the club's return in 2003, the progression from "great books" to memoir. New material includes an extensive look at the James Frey scandal and Oprah's turn to contemporary fiction.

Through close examination of Winfrey's picks and personal interviews with book club authors and readers, Rooney demonstrates how the club that Barbara Kingsolver calls "one of the best possible uses of a television set" has, according to Wally Lamb, "gotten people of all ages to read, to read more, and to read widely." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Very interesting look at the wide impact of Oprah's Book Club
The author Kathleen Rooney worked at Anderson's Bookstore in Naperville. The author's experience of customers flocking into the store for each Oprah Book Club (OBC) selection led to the book's title. Whether you have read some or none of the Oprah's Book Club titles, the author's discussion of this book-selling phenomenon is very interesting. From Rooney's personal experience and her extensive research of the OBC, she explores Oprah's Book Club cultural impact of getting people to buy & read books or even for the first time! Regardless of your opinion of the OBC, you'll like the book for revealing the 21st century impact of the OBC.

Rooney interviewed authors of the OBC selections who gave interesting opinions about the Club. Readers will like Rooney's perspective on the OBC selected books she liked and didn't like.

A must for anyone interested in how the club has affected the reading habits of America as a whole.
Oprah's Book Club has inspired many people to read in the past several years. "Reading with Oprah: The Book Club That Changed America" is an examination of the book club and those who participate within it. Topics covered include the criticisms lobbied at Oprah's book club, the club's effects on the books it features, and Oprah's turn to contemporary fiction in recent years. The new second edition includes an expanded analysis of the James Frey scandal. "Reading with Oprah" is a must for anyone interested in how the club has affected the reading habits of America as a whole.

Entertaining, yet analytical, read
not that those things are contradictory, but I really had no idea what to expect when picking up this book.In fact, the cover and the title don't do justice to the content or the writing inside.

Instead of being simple description of the book club, how it works, or a description of Oprah, the book is an analysis of media culture in the late twentieth, early twenty-first century, told through the clear-eyed view of Rooney.And it's not that her account is unbiased but that, as with much of the best non-fiction and critical analysis, she is aware of her biases and let's the audience know and evaluate them as well.

In short, the book is very thoughtful, well-written, researchful, and interessante.

If you read Oprah, read this
I definitely recommend Kathleen Rooney's book.What is especially compelling about her approach is how she mirrors the strengths and weaknesses of OBC in her own critique.Like Oprah, she dares to walk the dubious lines between the academy, mass media, and personal commentary, risking scrutiny on all fronts.And also like Oprah, she pulls it off with confidence and humor.I appreciate Rooney's struggle to be an authority and critique authority, which is why it's perfect that she includes a healthy dose of self disclosure and makes room for her own assessments of Oprah's picks.Most importantly, perhaps, Rooney makes the point that OBC is a woman-fronted effort and it's women readers who are changing the what, who, and how America reads.

Flawed but essential study ofthe Oprah Book Club
Without a doubt this book fills a hole, exploring the Oprah Book Club (OBC) in its near totality. Although Rooney makes insightful points about the Club, including critical and popular reactions to it, unfortunately, she incorporates things that weaken her credibility and detract from the overall quality of her study. For example, many of her statements, though perceptive, are repeated too often, such as how Oprah fails to acknowledge her status as an intellectual, or how the TV host does not engage in the essential discussion over the high-low brow cultural divide.

Another drawback in the text is when Rooney creates a personal stratification of high to low literary quality. The exercise would have been very useful, if not for the lowest rung. In trying to save herself through the use of "it's-my-own-personal-opinion-and-many-will-likely-disagree-with-me", the author's credibility is compromised when she places comics and pornography there. The added statements that there are some good quality comics and `pornography' (I think she meant erotica?), don't remedy the inappropriateness of the choices. Comics (or graphic novels as they are more commonly called), today are not so much the cheap and pulpy mass-produced rags of yore and they've become a well-respected medium, especially in the library world.

In the section of `awful' and `unreadable' Oprah books, Rooney serves up the list of her most hated OBC selections, together with her most loved. While certainly entitled to her opinion, the point of the exercise is lost. Why bother throwing personal and subjective assessments in if they don't add anything to the study? It is unclear whether Rooney set out to write her personal adventures with the OBC, or an objective semi-academic treatise on the OBC phenomenon.

As a librarian, I wanted very badly to read this book and gain a better perspective on the book club that led to mile-long waiting lists and much buzz with my public. On many counts, despite the aforementioned criticisms, I got what I wanted. Rooney explores how television flattens discussion of books; how we can learn what the OBC taught us about taste; how the second configuration of the OBC that relies on classics addresses the criticism hurled at it from the first incarnation; how twitchy Oprah essentially made professional critics; Oprah's impact on authors, publishers and America's reading public; the whole `Franzen affair', and of course, who her readers are. The author clearly did her homework to answer all the questions any students of the Book Club would have. ... Read more

Product Description
A black woman in a business dominated by white males, Oprah has made it to the top with determination and talent. Her story is here revised and updated to meet continuing high interest and to cover the recent beef against Oprah by Texas cattlemen. of photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Oprah Winfrey, the real story
An informative, tell-all book about superstar Oprah Winfrey. It was hard to put it down because it was so interesting. It gives a good deal of trivia about her life, especially her humble beginnings. Did you know that she was raised in Mississippi on a pig farm by her grandmother? And her name was meant to be Orpah, a biblical name, but was misspelled on her birth records?
This book gives these types of facts and more!

Inspiration for the Downtrodden
What I love about this book is how it shares the painful years of Oprah's life, and how she used her spirit of courage, optimism, faith, and passion to create the life she now has. This book is a tremendous inspiration for anyone who feels that life's so-called obstacles CAN be overcome, once you realize that you are bigger than any obstacle you may face. Oprah is an example of this life lesson. It is about turning your tragedy into triumphs, speaking out, having the guts to face and deal with the circumstances facing you, rather than crumble in the face of adversity. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a real-life example of a human being that CAN triumph, no matter wht they have been through.
Barbara Rose, author of, `Individual Power' and `If God Was Like Man'

I'm not a fan of unauthorized biographies.
This is a good book from two points:
One, it explains indepth teh business strategy behind Harpo Studios and those who helped Oprah not only attain her vision but expand it.
Two, the earliest chapters have good information that she has publicly revealed herself about her beginnings in both life and business.
Other than that, I think it's sleazy to write these kinds of books without someone's at the least tacit cooperation.Though this doesn't approach some of the sniping of say a Tamborelli book, there are still visble comments that one could attribute to a jealous/envious/salacious writer....

Oprah is GREAT!....but I'm not so sure this book is
I just finished reading this Oprah book, and I have to be honest.I love Oprah to death and I admire her greatly, but I think this book was poorly written and organized.There were many events in Oprah's life, but inreading this biography, I was confused often as to the exact particulars ofmany incidents.An incredible book could be written about Oprah's life,but I don't think this book does a very good job at it.I guess I willjust have to wait for the day Oprah comes out with her own autobiography!

An American Success Story...and a cure for depression!!
I listened to the audiotape with great interest, right about the time I was writing the chapter on Depression in my own book. This clearly shows how even under the most adverse and seemingly hopeless circumstances,personal belief and confidence count for everything and can accomplishanything!!Should be a stirring wake up for those who suffer depressionand feel they can't pull themselves out.In "The Care and Feeding ofYour Brain" I talk about the various treatments for depression.Oncethe cycle is started, medical treatment is required. However among my ownpatients, it is usually something like an example showing "how it ispossible" to get them to believe that the feelings of worthlessnessare destructive lies from the inside. Once a person has this "proof ofexample"they acquire the inner strength to the corner with new foundbelief in themselves and their capabilities.Oprah has battled manyadverse circumstances, and even after acheiving what society would term"phenomenal success". She comes through each disaster like aphoenix-bird up from the ashes.Say what you want about her variousreputations for being tough and mean...people its a tough world, and ittakes a confident and driving woman to concretize her personal dreams! This book has a simple plot: this one amazing woman faces enough bad luckfrom her truly humble beginnings for any "self-pitier" to writevolumes on "my excuse for failure: how the world screwed me". Shethen consistently and gracefully flies through each challenge carryingseemingly inexhaustible inner strength and the focus of a laser-beam. Sheignores all obvious outward indicators of hopelessness,impending doom, andinstead of quitting each time when most of us would, she follows her owninstincts. Like her or not, her life is an amazing story of what anyAmerican is capable of by shedding the shroud of excuses and tales ofwoe.....All the best to Ms. Winfrey and to Mr. Mair...though she may not betotally pleased with his candid depiction, and even if the stories are notcompletely accurate, this tome paints a very admirable picture of ourgreatest contemporary American success story...Kenneth Giuffre MD, author"The Care and Feeding of Your Brain" ... Read more