Oprah Winfrey: The Real Story [Hardcover]

George Mair (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1994

A portrait of the popular talk-show host chronicles Oprah Winfrey's dramatic rise to success, detailing her difficult childhood, battle with weight, career path, charitable enterprises, personal life, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mair got lucky: his unauthorized cut-and-paste biography is being published in time to satisfy the massive curiosity aroused by cancellation of the megastar's autobiography. Veteran show-biz chronicler Mair (Inside HBO) does his best to fill the gap, and Oprah's story practically tells itself. Bounced between parents and cities, abused by relatives, Oprah was a rebellious teenager who, as a young woman, found her niche in the new-format TV talk show. Mair follows her conscientiously from Nashville to Baltimore to Chicago, from WJZ-TV to WLS-TV to her own Harpo Productions. She appears with Joan Rivers and agrees on-screen to a dieting contest; filming The Color Purple is a thrilling experience; The Women of Brewster Place is her first independent TV production; and the tall, elegant Stedman Graham comes into her life, unawed, according to Mair, by Oprah's riches and success. The problem with the book is apparent: one can repeat how dynamic and charming Oprah is ad infinitum, but Mair doesn't capture what makes her different. Ardent collectors of Oprah trivia will want to scan this account then compile the questions they hope will be answered in the star's own book-once she comes to terms with being as uninhibited on paper as she is on-screen. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

After Winfrey's 11th-hour withdrawal of her autobiography last year, her fans may hope that this "unauthorized" version will be full of personal revelations. Unfortunately, this effort presents just the basic-and already known-facts of Winfrey's life: her childhood in rural Mississippi, the molestations she endured at the hands of relatives and friends, her driving need to make something of herself, her career as a youthful newscaster, and her talk show successes. Most of the material has been taken from already published sources and interviews, resulting in a shallow and lightweight treatment. Information on the history of television talk shows and a discussion of the King World distribution empire pad the book. The only item that might be new to Winfrey's devotees is the extreme conservatism of her boyfriend, Steadman Graham. The style is tabloid and the information repetitive; Winfrey and her fans deserve better. For the real story, wait for Winfrey to write her own book. Not recommended.
Rosellen Brewer, MOBAC Lib. System, Monterey, Cal.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 376 pages
• Publisher: Citadel; 1St Edition edition (October 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559722509
• ISBN-13: 978-1559722506
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,134,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #65 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( W ) > Winfrey, Oprah

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An American Success Story...and a cure for depression!!, August 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Oprah Winfrey: The Real Story (Paperback)

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 accomplish anything!! Should be a stirring wake up for those who suffer depression and feel they can't pull themselves out. In "The Care and Feeding of Your Brain" I talk about the various treatments for depression. Once the cycle is started, medical treatment is required. However among my own patients, it is usually something like an example showing "how it is possible" to get them to believe that the feelings of worthlessness are destructive lies from the inside. Once a person has this "proof of example" they acquire the inner strength to the corner with new found belief in themselves and their capabilities. Oprah has battled many adverse circumstances, and even after acheiving what society would term "phenomenal success". She comes through each disaster like a phoenix-bird up from the ashes. Say what you want about her various reputations for being tough and mean...people its a tough world, and it takes a confident and driving woman to concretize her personal dreams! This book has a simple plot: this one amazing woman faces enough bad luck from her truly humble beginnings for any "self-pitier" to write volumes on "my excuse for failure: how the world screwed me". She then consistently and gracefully flies through each challenge carrying seemingly inexhaustible inner strength and the focus of a laser-beam. She ignores all obvious outward indicators of hopelessness,impending doom, and instead of quitting each time when most of us would, she follows her own instincts. Like her or not, her life is an amazing story of what any American is capable of by shedding the shroud of excuses and tales of woe.....All the best to Ms. Winfrey and to Mr. Mair...though she may not be totally pleased with his candid depiction, and even if the stories are not completely accurate, this tome paints a very admirable picture of our greatest contemporary American success story...Kenneth Giuffre MD, author "The Care and Feeding of Your Brain"

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I'm not a fan of unauthorized biographies., October 23, 2002

By 

Omni - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oprah Winfrey: The Real Story (Hardcover)

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....

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Oprah is GREAT!....but I'm not so sure this book is, March 21, 2000

By 

Jennifer (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oprah Winfrey: The Real Story (Paperback)

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 in reading this biography, I was confused often as to the exact particulars of many 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 will just have to wait for the day Oprah comes out with her own autobiography!