When once asked “What do you know for sure?” Oprah realized she really had no answer to that question. She then set out to know that answer. In short snippets of her life and lessons she has learned, Oprah now shares what she knows for sure. Themes under such topics as: joy, resilience, connection, gratitude, possibility, awe, clarity, and power, Oprah shares her years from growing up as a poor young girl in Mississippi and the challenges of that time, to where she is now, in a completely different place and the challenges of this time.
I am not a big “Oprah” person. I do not believe I have ever watched her show, although I obviously know of it. I have seen a few movies she has been in, and of course have heard of her good doings for others. That is probably where my interest lies. I knew of Oprah’s history of generosity, and I was curious what sort of things she would say in a book titles as this one is. So I dug in.
As mentioned in the synopsis, the book is in little snippets of wisdom. Wisdom she picked up as a child and dealing with sexual abuse, wisdom she learned as a teen and allowing men to treat her poorly – not physically, but learning about mental abuse as well. And so on through her life to now, and how to know your own self-worth is not found in the eyes of others – but in yourself.
The book is short and in audio, just a little over 3 hours and Oprah narrates the audio herself. While it was a sweet listen on one women’s wisdom through the years, I have to say that listening to this I found some of Oprah’s narration to be a bit over enthusiastic – and yes, I hate that I just wrote that. It is hard to explain, and someone else may listen to the audio and find it delightful how she changed her voice for different situations, or takes on a thick southern drawl when she talks about the foods she loves but to me it broke the flow of the listen.
Again… just me.
Over all, I did find the book enjoyable. She offered up facts that I know in my heart, but sometimes it is just nice to be reminded. I think Oprah fans will really enjoy this insight into her life.
- Audible Audio Edition
- Listening Length: 3 hours and 53 minutes
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Unabridged
- Publisher: Macmillan Audio
- Audible.com Release Date: September 2, 2014
Book Journey 
I’m not a fan of Oprah, but I would be interested in reading this to find out what she has to say. Thanks for the review, I didn’t even know she’d written this book.
I have never listened to her audio or read her books before but believe there are others. I probably would have preferred an older title of hers, one that gave more mystery to who she is. 🙂
Sheila, I was an Oprah fan MANY years ago, back when she was newer on TV. Then there were things that turned me off about the way she gave certain things and to whom. And calling her change of action/intonation a “southern drawl” is a nice way to say that, I think. That annoys me, too, honestly.
I stopped watching her regularly way back when (can’t pinpoint) and only see her occasionally. It’s not to say that she doesn’t do good things or doesn’t have her own wisdom, ’cause she does!
It was a bit over animated to my liking – almost like she was trying too hard. It is hard for me to say that as this is the opportunity I find with memoirs; it is hard to separate the book from the person. In a regular fiction/ non fiction read I can easily pull things out of the book about the book and separate from the author as it is a story – or an pinion, but a memoir is a whole different matter. Eck. Again…. hate saying it. 🙂
Ah, Sheila, you may hate saying it, but the truth is best. Besides—it’s natural to feel that way, at least I think it is.
I used to be a big Oprah fan, but they stopped transmitting the show 15 years or so on British TV which was a shame. Was a bit of an insight into the American world. Read the book and some of “what she knows” resonates, apart from showing what a remarkable women she is and what a hard road she has traveled. But, it is a bit the book of a very successful person and am not so sure if all of what she knows, can be transferred to us “normal” people. Also felt, it resonated with women of a certain age, which I am one now I guess.
Great thoughts here!
Meh….
Oprah always over analysed everything to death… There had to be a “message” in everything that ever happened to her… Stopped watching the show way before it ended…. Just got to be same old same old after awhile
I think the show was on way too long
Dr Phil and Dr Oz… Are getting to be the same
I’m sure she is a wonderful person, but I can’t help think there isn’t something not quite right about all the sponsorship generated for her freebies to guests under the guise of giving and doing on a personal level. Make sense? Listening or reading O’s wisdom could well give me indigestion
Ruth, this is how I feel, too. And I also question things like why she built a school in Africa just for the girls, excluding the boys (how is that fair?), and how the girls have to qualify to get chosen, etc. I don’t know. Things rub me the wrong way…
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one Sheila. I would think this type of book would not be good for self audio narration. I don’t normally listen to books anyway though. This sounds like a good one to read.
I was curious about this one. Sounds interesting, especially on audio. Thanks for the review!
Sue
Book By Book
I’m not sure the book itself would appeal, but having the author (any author) narrate would be a plus for me.