Oprah: A Biography

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Overview

For the past twenty-five years, no one has been better at revealing secrets than Oprah Winfrey. On what is arguably the most influential 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 ...

See more details below

More About This Book

Overview

For the past twenty-five years, no one has been better at revealing secrets than Oprah Winfrey. On what is arguably the most influential 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.

  • Kitty Kelley
    Kitty Kelley

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
The tables are turned on Oprah Winfrey, as celebrity biographer Kelley digs deep to uncover the secrets of the talk show host and humanitarian. Kelley weaves her revelations from interviews with those who knew Oprah best--relatives, former lovers, and coworkers. Kelley's reading is inspired and professional, and her voice brims with remarkable selfassurance, making for a convincing presentation, despite the fact that this is an unauthorized biography. Although Kelly gets a bit breathy at times, she brings things back to the ground with a steady rhythm and energy. A compulsive (if slightly guilty) listen. A Random hardcover. (Apr.)

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780307394866
  • Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
  • Publication date: 4/13/2010
  • Pages: 544
  • Product dimensions: 9.58 (w) x 6.36 (h) x 1.72 (d)

Meet the Author

Kitty Kelley
Kitty Kelley
Kitty Kelley is a journalist who has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times, Newsweek, Good Housekeeping and more. She is the bestselling author of Jackie Oh!; Elizabeth Taylor: The Last Star; Nancy Reagan: The Unauthorized Biography; The Royals; and The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty and has an upcoming biography of Oprah Winfrey (Crown, 2010).


From the Trade Paperback edition.
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  • Posted April 16, 2010

    She's not what she seems to be.

    She seems so nice. But mercy --- she's nasty. That's the message in Kitty Kelley's new book. You may think Oprah is warm. She seems that way. But she's aloof. She gives everything to the camera. "I can cry on cue," says Oprah. She knows what the audience wants and she gives it --- regardless of what the truth is.

    Rather than being a warm, fuzzy person as she appears to be on her show, she's icy cold and aloof. She never forgets a perceived wrong and she moves on to the next big thing without a thought for where she's been. Everything is all business and money is the end game. That's the real Oprah, according to the interviews done by Kitty Kelley.

    Oprah has lots of secrets, according to Kelley. The book shows how Oprah is demanding and somewhat lazy. The woman who shows such compassion and love, so much humility and friendship, is really a diva with a big ego, big appetite and a case of just plain nasty. That is if you believe Kelley's book. And since Kelley has never been successfully sued over any of her books, I'm inclined to believe her. True, she's lawyered up. But, so are her subjects.

    There is a lot here about the "real" Oprah as seen by her father and others. We get a glimpse of Oprah that makes her less than appealing. Would we expect this of a Kitty Kelley book? Yes, probably. On the other hand, Kelley has done her homework and held 850 interviews. The book is full of footnotes. It's well documented. Oprah comes off as self-centered and arrogant -- not at all likable.

    The queen often talks about herself in the third person. For example, "Oprah does not walk." "Oprah does not do stairs." I gotta wonder, maybe O needs to walk and take the stairs. Might help with the well-known weight problem. Know what I mean?

    We get a sense of the real Oprah in the following quote from the book:

    "She may be admired by the world, but I know the truth," Vernon Winfrey, Oprah's father, told Ms. Kelley. "So does God and so does Oprah. Two of us remain ashamed."

    No one in Oprah's family believes her stories of child abuse, according to the interviews. But because she's rich and powerful, they won't contradict her colorful stories.

    - Susanna K. Hutcheson

    23 out of 31 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 10, 2010

    Why did I get a nook for godssake?

    I, too, would like to know why Kitty Kelley's new book on Oprah costs 6 bucks more on the nook than in hardcover.

    21 out of 38 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 13, 2010

    Extremely well researched and written

    I throughly enjoyed this. It is always good to get all sides to anything. This helps to understand a unique American who is extraordinarily successful.

    15 out of 25 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 13, 2010

    Outstanding!!!

    This is a must read for anybody!! Well written, enlightening, great research based on facts. This book is enlightening and is worth the money and time investment!!

    12 out of 24 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 6, 2010

    Opinions

    For me it was fun to read. It was pretty straighforward and well documented. Kelley is a straight shooting writer and has many biographies under her belt. I think readers and fans will find it interesting and revealing. I have watched the Oprah show from the beginning. She's an icon, a fascinating actress and television personality.

    11 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 18, 2010

    Fluff 'n Stuff

    Kitty Kelley is not a writer but a compiler of information and she did a good job of that. I was bored after the first few pages and skimmed the book. Oprah Winfrey is certainly an interesting, complex person. Whether or not she is a happy person, only she knows that for sure. Lots of fluff 'n stuff just like People Magazine, he said, she said, placing blame, finger pointing, accusations, in other words lots and lots of gossip. Since People Magazine is such a great success, I am sure this book will be too. I left it on the table in the post office with a post-it note that said: "Free for the taking."

    9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 13, 2010

    Trash

    This book is seriously a waste of your time and money. Enough said.

    9 out of 22 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 11, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    The Real Oprah!

    I am thrilled that this fascinating book shows the many faces of Ms. Winfrey. It is troubling to see people placed on pedestals when we are all human-beings living complex lives in a highly challenging world. For an individual who values reading, I think Oprah should be pleased to be reminded by Ms. Kitty Kelley that we are so blessed in this wonderful country of ours (the United States of America), that freedom of expression and freedom of speech are not just valued, they are rights. Kelley shows the reader that there are no double standards and that even interviewers (i.e. talk show hosts) have a story, a past deserving to be told by people close to the subject. There is no tiptoeing around, no tap-dancing... yet, I find this highly anticipated and enjoyable biography to be well balanced. Kudos to Kitty Kelly for standing by her prised profession and honorable career as a writer and journalist by giving the public, Ms. Winfrey's public, what it wants and is deserving to hear through voice or printed page. Oprah is NOT perfect. Kitty is not perfect. I am not perfect. Thank God for these "blessings" and books and Nooks and internet! I even like Winfrey more for reminding me through Ms. Kelly that I can make it, too, despite my less than perfect life. In fact, it is the hardships that help one prevail! A great read, regardless of format. Hopefully, Oprah will make this a "must read" for fans of the powerhouse's book club. I doubt it, though...

    9 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 14, 2010

    Even at 40% off as a B & N Member, this book was essentially not worth the time to read it.

    Kitty Kelley's attempt at the unauthorized biography of Oprah's life was underwhelming. While the research appears to have been extensive, and in very limited instances, appeared to be new information not previously devoured and re-hashed in the various media outlets, it was not enough to make this a "must read".

    Although I would self describe myself as a "fairweather fan" of Oprah's, nevertheless, my curiosity, based upon Ms. Kelley's previous efforts, was piqued enough to buy and read the book. However, I was disappointed mainly in its non-groundbreaking and uninsightful content. There was nothing that had not already been reported many times over possibly with the exception of Ms. Kelley's revelation that the father who raised Oprah was not her birth father.

    Otherwise, the book did not give depth and insight to how this woman, who has truly achieved great things and inspires millions on a daily basis, came to be who she is today. While Ms. Kelley certainly pointed out the contradictions of Oprah's life story, the telling of these did not enlighten me.

    While it is understood that it had to be extremely difficult for Ms. Kelley to research and write what she did, due to the "confidentiality" agreements Ms. Winfrey apparently has with everyone and anyone in her or her company's employ, the book was disappointing. Ms. Kelley has primed the pump for Oprah's autobiography.

    I am looking forward to Ms. Winfrey's autobiography if and when she finally decides to finish and publish it.

    8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 14, 2010

    ebook prices

    Agree that ebook prices for new books are getting too expensive. Can buy a new hardcover for less money when I use my membership card. At least B&N should apply discounts for members who purchase ebooks, even if only allowed on new publications.

    8 out of 16 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 6, 2010

    Oprah review - Bio by Kitty Kelly

    I have read other biographies that Kitty Kelly has written, especially
    the one on Frank Sinatra,very interesting and informative.
    Ms. Kelly does her research with many interviews with those who knew Oprah when she was a unknown, how she ruthless she was even in her high school years. The reader knows that whatever Ms. Kelly writes is true. It's very interesting to read how Oprah reinvented herself many times and how Ms. Kelly found it difficult to promote her book on TV because celebs like..David Letterman, Barbara Walters, etc. were afraid of Oprah because she is so popular and powerful. I say baloney, not one.. no matter how rich and famous they become should be feared. I recommend that everyone should buy the book, you can't put it down.

    7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 5, 2010

    Seriously, it's just a book.

    All the people saying this book is trash seem to just want to protect Oprah. It is what it is...a biography; the writer is not making stuff up; she has just compiled information from family, friends, and public interviews.

    I grew up watching Oprah and as a 40 year old, I have appreciated much of her subject matter in more recent years. But, the book reminds me that Oprah is human just like the rest of us and has made mistakes. Her mistakes are just more publicized. She is not a god, just a woman wielding alot of power. I appreciate the book for helping me to remember that you should always treat folks with respect and understanding. I enjoyed reading the story behind the story and seeing pictures of how she has changed over the years.

    5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 20, 2010

    kitty is a hack

    I question her sources. She notes oprah's sister as a first hand source. Kitty must have special connectons to the other world because Oprah's sister has been dead for nine (9) years.

    5 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 21, 2010

    Don't believe the bad reviews...this book is exceptional!

    An absolute fantastic book. As the friend of a former Oprah employee, I knew about some of the bombshells in this book. It was easy to read & for someone, as Oprah, who professes herself to be "holier than thou", she has many skeletons in her closet. It is sad that someone must lie so much to make herself into someone that she is not, just "to give the audience what she thinks they want" & all for higher ratings. The book is well written, easy to ready & extremely hard to put down. Whether or not you are an Oprah fan, you will walk away understanding the greed that power brings. Celebrity comes with a price & it will show you that celebrities are no different from anyone else. A MUST READ!

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 16, 2010

    Trash

    This book was a total waste of time and money and I am embarrassed that I lowered my literary standards to read it. Ms. Kelley's sources are based largely on acquaintances who feel jilted because either Oprah did not give them money or did not attend their social event. There were only assumptions about how Oprah felt or what she was thinking not based on fact but on the author's own personal feelings towards Oprah. Nearly every page contains a petty insult about Oprah's weight and additionally there were no big revelations or scandalous secrets just a bunch of small-minded assessments that were sensationalized to sell books.

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 8, 2010

    Oprah

    Kitty Kelley provides a fascinating portrait of an Oprah Oprah does not want anyone to know. The more I read about her, the less that I like her. The research, which includes interviews with Oprah's father and other relatives and which offers a thoughtful analysis of Oprah's relationship with her mother and her attempts to reconstitute the family to which she was born, is first-rate.

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 6, 2010

    Very Defensive

    I have not read this book, but find it very interesting that those of you who don't like the book are defending O as if you know her personally. If you have never met her (except maybe in passing), worked closely w/ her, or are a family member of hers then how do you know the book isn't true?! Strange that you could stand up for someone so vigiliantly when you don't even personally know her. I have no idea if the findings in the book are true or not, but feel sorry for those of you who find it necessary to stand up for her strongly. I only put a rating because it is nec. in order to write review.

    4 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 21, 2010

    Shouldn't Change Your Opinion of Oprah

    If you like Oprah, this book shouldn't change your mind. If you are like me, and consider her a narcissistic phony, this book will also support that opinion as well. Oprah is who she is... a complicated person who, for whatever reason, has come to think she is god-like and beyond/better than the "every woman" she once claimed to be.

    And for those who are griping because they claim the e-book costs more than the hardback... please go back to school and learn some elementary arithmetic. What rock have you crawled out from under?

    3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 3, 2010

    Horrible Biography!

    I bought this book hoping that I would read the true and inspiring account of Oprah Winfrey. As I was reading, I felt Kelley was attacking Oprah than retelling the story of her life. It appears that Kelley focuses too much on the alleged negative scenarios in Winfrey's life rather than the positive and triumphant outcomes. I have been a long time Oprah fan, and I will remain loyal to the "Queen of Talk" despite Kelley's claims. I simply stopped reading the book.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted June 2, 2010

    The Oprah we didn't know

    I usually don't purchase audio books but I was embarking on a long (16 hour) road trip and Oprah seemed like the perfect ancedote to not falling alseep at the wheel. Which was indeed the case. Several chapters captivated me to the point that I remained in the car to get to the end of the passage. Kitty Kelly's reading was at times dry and droll and she does have tendency to repeat herself in subsequent chapters. Overall, I found this to be a fair and engaging portrayal of someone I "thought I knew" who turns out to be more complex and controlling in her personal and professional life. Is she gay? Don't care. Can she turn on and off the charm in front of her audience? Evidently so. Would I recommend this book to others, absolutely...if you enjoy mucking it up in the pop culture world.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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