The Oprah Winfrey Show: Reflections on an American Legacy arrives just in time for the holidays…not that I will be able to wait that long. Harpo and Abrams have slated the release of The Oprah Show’s the tribute book on November 15th. Sure to be a masterful chronicle of the last 25 years at The Oprah Winfrey Show, the book is “full of iconic photographs, personal memories, highlights from beloved shows and a foreword by Maya Angelou.” However the love doesn’t stop with Maya. Other well-known and respected individuals have also contributed a little something.
The contributors include:
- Maya Angelou,who writes the foreword
- Bono and Nicholas Kristofwriting on giving and social action
- Ellen DeGeneres, Stanley Crouch, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., writing on equality
- Julia Roberts and Diane von Furstenbergwriting on culture and style
- Toni Morrison and Elie Wieselwriting on books
- Maria Shriver and Gloria Steinemwriting on women’s issues
- Dr. Phil McGraw, Mark Nepo, and Marianne Williamsonwriting on spirit and personal growth
- Bob Greene and Dr. Mehmet Ozwriting on health and wellness
- John Travolta and Phil Donahue contributing tributes to Ms. Winfrey
Like so many people, I literally grew up with Oprah. So this almost feels like our personal, high-end scrapbook of the times we spent together. As I moved through my awkward youth and at times troubling young adulthood, The Oprah Show seemed to be there to help me understand where I was going wrong – pointing me in the direction of hope. Defining moments of my life can be almost be bookended with Oprah shows and mantras. Honestly, I can’t wait to make a warm cup of tea and sink into the couch with this walk down memory lane. As Oprah would say, “All sweet, no bitter.”