Oprah

A Biography

De: Kitty Kelley

Narrado por: Kitty Kelley

For the past twenty-five years, no one has been better at revealing secrets than Oprah Winfrey. On what is arguably the most influ¬ential show in television history, she has gotten her guests—often the biggest celebrities in the world—to bare their love lives, explore their painful pasts, admit their transgressions, reveal their pleasures, and explore their demons. In turn, Oprah has repeatedly allowed her audience to share in her own life story, opening up about the sexual abuse in her past and discussing her romantic relationships, her weight problems, her spiritual beliefs, her charitable donations, and her strongly held views on the state of the world.

After a quarter of a century of the Oprah-ization of America, can there be any more secrets left to reveal?

Yes. Because Oprah has met her match.

Kitty Kelley has, over the same period of time, fear¬lessly and relentlessly investigated and written about the world’s most revered icons: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Reagan, England’s Royal Family, and the Bush dynasty. In her #1 bestselling biographies, she has exposed truths and exploded myths to uncover the real human beings that exist behind their manufac¬tured facades.

Turning her reportorial sights on Oprah, Kelley has now given us an unvarnished look at the stories Oprah’s told and the life she’s led. Kelley has talked to Oprah’s closest family members and business associates. She has obtained court records, birth certificates, financial and tax records, and even copies of Oprah’s legendary (and punishing) confidentiality agreements. She has probed every aspect of Oprah Winfrey’s life, and it is as if she’s written the most extraordinary segment of The Oprah Winfrey Show ever filmed—one in which Oprah herself is finally and fully revealed.

There is a case to be made, and it is certainly made in this book, that Oprah Winfrey is an important, and even great, figure of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. But there is also a case to be made that even greatness needs to be examined and put under a microscope. Fact must be separated from myth, truth from hype. Kitty Kelley has made that separation, showing both sides of Oprah as they have never been shown before. In doing so she has written a psychologically perceptive and meticulously researched book that will surprise and thrill everyone who reads it.

Excellent

This is concise, backed up with facts and quotes in an interesting way. I couldn't stop listening. I like Oprah even more and understand her journey even better.

Horrilbe delivery of product....

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Sounds goes up and down.. as if in a tube.. and THIS TIME it is now my computer...why does Audible sell products that they know are lower than acceptable quality/ THIS happens lots and they know about this already... and they block the easy return of books too- no guarantee

Another "tell-all????"

Only most of this book has already been told...and too much of it is unsubstantiated. Do you think it's possible for Oprah Winfrey to have built her Harpo empire without stepping on some toes, and making some enemies?? She's a shark and a smart and savy business woman!
Kitty Kelley is no dumbbell herself; she wrote another long, boring book, and although I should have known better, I paid for it! Be smart...keep your money!

Kitty Kelley is sickening!

I am not sure what turned me off more, Kitty Kelly’s need to turn everything in a racial issue or her need to sensationalize the mundane.

Oprah, and all of us, deserved better. What a piece of trash.

This book clearly says more about Kitty Kelley then it does about Oprah Winfrey!

Tries to Slant but Delivers Lots of Info

Useful and interesting because it gives lots of insight into a complex and very intriguing life.

It's a shame Kelley clearly has such an ax to grind and doesn't miss many opportunities to slant her presentation towards the negative. Fortunately the book has so much detail, that a careful reader can repair Kelley's journalistic corruption of her own work, and use the plentiful source material to get a good understanding of the personality's life.

But truths don't often come easy or directly, as Kelley frequently skips context to deliver somewhat misleading patches of information. Watch out for partial context historical comments by Opera, old statements associated with current events and points made that are later refuted in her telling of the story.

One example is a story she relays in which Opera's younger describes memories of Oprah selling sex for money. Then, many pages later, she mentions that the half sister, who told the tale, was at the time selling stories about Oprah to support a problem with drug addiction.

Another example is where she quotes comment after out of context comment, that seem to show Opera's lack of appreciation of her father ... then in one sentence, when it suits her story, mentions Oprah's life long attempts to shower gifts on the same father.

Oh

It's complicated. The book engendered empathy for Oprah as well as sadness that she feels compelled to utterly control those who work for her via life long nondisclosure forms they are forced to sign.

I've never enjoyed the books on her book club list and came to realize if Oprah loved it I wouldn't. Obviously O is trying to heal those childhood wounds. I hope someday she does.

It would appear that to be a friend has beautiful perks. If this book is indeed accurate I feel badly for those who work for her but I feel sad for Oprah as well. Surely she has a full abundant life. I wish her well.

Oprah, Oprah, Oprah

Reached my limit around the 15 hour mark. Couldn't take much more. It simply gets repetitive and boring after a while. Some interesting facts at the beginning but if you've read any highlights from reviews, that's about it, unless something huge happens after the 15 hour mark!

Ophrah: A Biography

This book was generally interesting, but it was quite annoying that the author made so many snide comments. The reader's whiny tone of voice dictated a negative interpretation of her words. I kept wondering if she spoke the same words in a more positive manner, would their message be different? It seems to me that she took many, many things people said out of context and put a nasty spin on them. I got through the first two sections, but am not going to bother with the third. It seemed like hearsay from people who held grudges. I wouldn't bother with it.

Entertaining and surprisingly balanced

This is high pop pulp, well executed. If you accept the book at this level, as a guilty pleasure, this is an lengthy and mostly entertaining read about late-20th Century society in America and one of its top media stars. Given Oprah's tight circle and heavy use of nondisclosure terms in contracts with everyone who works for her, Kelley's thoroughness is impressive. (Kelley's forward offers a persuasive defense for the unauthorized biography as an important genre, which is worth a read by itself.) The book is a long unvarnished portrait of the gutsy poor girl whose immense drive and talent propelled her to worldwide fame and a billion-dollar fortune. Kelley narrates the book herself, delivering an extra level of catty admiration in the audio edition that makes this an entertaining listen.

Everything you never wanted to know about Oprah

I surprised myself by buying this book as I have never been an Oprah fan. I always felt her to be pretentious and fake. Well I am amazed at all that she has accomplished I wonder to what end. It’s hard to say whether or not the things in this book are true but I would think that most is accurate. It certainly is a tell-all.