15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Such a beautiful book with beautfiful writing and beautiful photos!, Nov 29 2011
By Sarah860 - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Oprah Winfrey Show: Reflections on an American Legacy (Hardcover)
This is such a beautiful book!! This book would certainly be an excellent gift for anyone who loves (and misses!) the Oprah Winfrey Show! This is one of the books that you would display on your living room table.
Since I am currently unemployed, I decided to take this book out from my local library. I "pre-reserved" this book and boy, do I wish I could keep this book!! The photography in this book is absolutely top-notch! When looking at all of the images, I feel like I'm there!
The book flows so well. Deborah Davis, the author, writes so eloquently and concisely. Davis is clearly a very talented writer. Throughout the book, I just wanted to keep on reading!
Basically, the book is a 238 page essay about the Oprah Winfrey Show. Scattered among the narrative about the show are GORGEOUS photos and touching essays about Oprah's legacy. Essays are written by Gloria Steinem, Maria Shriver, John Travolta, Diane Von Furstenberg, Julia Roberts, Stanley Crouch, Ellen DeGeneres, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Nicholas Kristof, "Bono, Nelson Mandela, Mark Nepo, Marianne Williamson, Phil McGraw, Bob Greene, Dr. Oz, Toni Morrison, Elie Wiesel, Phil Donahue, Roger Ebert, and Sidney Poitier.
The "essay" is divided into these sections:
-The Making of a Legacy
-Introduction
-A Forum for Women
-Star Power
-Embracing Equality
-Giving Back
-Soul Searching
-In Good Health
-Here's to Books
-Moving the Needle
-The Farewell Season
-The End of an Era
I really grasped Oprah's legacy and influence. She transformed America in so many ways. From encouraging reading through her book club to promoting equality and tolerance for all, Oprah's influence is HUGE.
I did not learn a lot from the book as I have watched the show every day for years (I'm 25 now had have not missed an episode since high school!). However, I did learn some new things about Oprah. I learned how Oprah first met Maria Shriver and Bob Greene (Oprah was in the office next to Maria Shriver at WJZ-TV and she first met Bob Greene at a health spa, where he was working at the time).
This is definitely a feel good book that just empowers you. So many "life lessons" from Oprah are referenced throughout the book. The lesson that is referenced the most in the book is, "You are responsible for the energy that you create for yourself and you're responsible for the energy that you bring to others." Other life lessons referenced in the book include:
-Always listen to your intuition. If something seems wrong, it probably is. Sanford Strong, who served twenty years with the San Diego Police Department, says to never allow an attacker to take you to a second location.
-There is an emotional component of weight loss, which is just as important as healthy eating and exercise.
Overall, this is a wonderful book! The book allowed me to relive some of my favorite Oprah moments and reminded me of life's most important lessons.
Five stars. Hands down.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Davis' THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW: Reflections on an American Legacy Is A Must, Dec 1 2011
By C. A. Webb "Conversations Book Club" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Oprah Winfrey Show: Reflections on an American Legacy (Hardcover)
As someone who has always been a fan of the achievements of Oprah Winfrey and the way her show has literally changed the way people live, this book was a great gift and account of the legacy that the show and the creator have left for all of us. What Deborah Davis has done is not just remind us of the highlights that have come from the groundbreaking television show but the behind-the-scenes stories that we might not have known by just watching television.
Thought the Oprah Winfrey Show is off the air there is no way that Oprah Winfrey and the impact she made five days a week will be forgotten. By going through this book and seeing not just her evolution but remembering the changes we have all had in our lives, I think will be instrumental as we move ahead and keep learning to live with purpose.
THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW: Reflections on an American Legacy is not just for lovers of all things Oprah. It is for anyone who wants proof that change is possible and our best life is still yet ahead of us.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must Have for any Oprah Fan!!!, Dec 5 2011
By Peaches - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Oprah Winfrey Show: Reflections on an American Legacy (Hardcover)
This book is about the height and length of two books. It takes two hands to read, but it is worth the effort for any Oprah fan or even a fan of beautiful photography. I can't comment enough about the grandeur and awe-inspiring splendor of the book - it's huge and comforting photos of people we've all come to know and love, the memories garnered up when seeing Oprah at her finest on the stage of the Oprah Show. I have never read a book this stunning.
The book is, of course, about Oprah Winfrey, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and about some of the things that she's tried to teach and have definitely learned throughout her tenure as a talk show host. There are also testimonials as to what Oprah has meant to people and cultures over the past 25 years. For example, there is a statement made by the great Henry Louis Gates Jr. which tells of how he first heard of Oprah and why she is so important in his life personally. He gave the experience of when Oprah visited the PBS stage to have her ancestry researched in "African American Lives." It was a remarkable page of information, and Mr. Gates Jr. stood tall as a beautifully artistic portrait on the next page almost watching you as you read with the proverbial `family' tree behind him.
This book is an experience! A must have for any Oprah fan!!!