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Book Reviews of Oprah: A Biography

Oprah: A Biography
Oprah A Biography
Author: Kitty Kelley
ISBN-13: 9780307394866
ISBN-10: 0307394867
Publication Date: 4/13/2010
Pages: 544
Rating:
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 28

3.4 stars, based on 28 ratings
Publisher: Random House
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

5 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed Oprah: A Biography on + 177 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I've never been what you'd call an Oprah "fan." I mean, I watched her show a few dozen times back in the 80's, but I didn't have much of a preconceived notion about her. I picked up this book because I deperately needed something to read and my options were limited. While I won't say I found the book compelling, I did find myself developing a profound respect for Oprah through the writing of Ms. Kelley. (I found the "unauthorized" nature of the biography to lend it a sense of validity.) Oprah understands that she herself is a brand--one that she's spent a lot of money and energy developing--and must be protected as such. I pity her for all the idiots she's had to contend with throughout her career. Someone who identifies themself as a fan might see it differently, but I came away from the book wishing I could shake Oprah's hand.
partysachs avatar reviewed Oprah: A Biography on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I like Kitty Kelley's books...she is so thorough to put together information that is not published elsewhere. A great in-depth bio.
23dollars avatar reviewed Oprah: A Biography on + 432 more book reviews
I read the original hardcover release and enjoyed it for the most part. Despite feeling it was a weakly veiled attempt to throw eggs of bias at Oprah, it did have some good objective information woven in.

This mass market revised edition really doesn't offer much more. Oprah's cousin Jo Baldwin, former head of Harpo, apparently decided to grant an interview subsequent to the original publication, so the author has woven in her comments throughout the book in bold face (along with a scant few other subsequent facts, and comments from Oprah herself). So you basically have to go through the entire 500 pages again for the new info.

Is the new information worth the price of this edition? I'd have to say no.
StrawberryOES avatar reviewed Oprah: A Biography on + 88 more book reviews
Very "telling" book about Oprah. I look at her in a different light now. I'm sure most people with as much money as her are the same when it comes to expecting people to jump when you call, but I thought Oprah would be different, coming from a poor background. It seems money does the same thing to most any type of person. A good read anyway.
23dollars avatar reviewed Oprah: A Biography on + 432 more book reviews
This was an interesting look behind the Oprah "veil" with some things I'd never heard before. But I felt the overall tone was biased and intended to show Oprah in a negative light. The efforts at being objective seemed weak. Overall, I wouldn't consider this an objective bio at all.