What happens when a thirty-five-year-old average American woman spends one year following every piece of Oprah Winfrey's advice on how to "live yo...
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Sep 17, 2011
Choco
rated it: 
Okay here goes a really harsh review...
I did not understand the purpose of this one-year experiment. After finishing the book, I did not gain any insights into anything. At least Oprah wants viewers to have a better life etc. What was this book for us readers? What am I to get out of this reading experience?
The author just went through all the advice from Oprah without giving much thought to the purpose of each advice. She would kiss her husband for ten seconds beca More...
I did not understand the purpose of this one-year experiment. After finishing the book, I did not gain any insights into anything. At least Oprah wants viewers to have a better life etc. What was this book for us readers? What am I to get out of this reading experience?
The author just went through all the advice from Oprah without giving much thought to the purpose of each advice. She would kiss her husband for ten seconds beca More...
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Dec 30, 2011
Jo
rated it: 
A few weeks ago a friend mailed a copy of Living Oprah to me. One day I must ask her why she thought I needed to read it.
It took a while for me to get around to reading it. The whole premise of the book actually put me off.
Why oh why would anyone want to live by every piece of advice issued on the Oprah show for a year?
I have to admit to skipping over the monthly accounting most of the time. I just got bored with those pages.
Socially it is possibly More...
It took a while for me to get around to reading it. The whole premise of the book actually put me off.
Why oh why would anyone want to live by every piece of advice issued on the Oprah show for a year?
I have to admit to skipping over the monthly accounting most of the time. I just got bored with those pages.
Socially it is possibly More...
Nov 26, 2011
Jennifer
rated it: 
Toward the end of L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time, Meg and Charles Wallace arrive on the planet Camazotz. It's a place run by a CENTRAL Central Intelligence agency, actually a front for an evil, disembodied brain (referred to as IT) whose telepathic abilities keep the entire population in lock step. Charles Wallace, going up against IT, temporarily succumbs to the planetary Group Think, before eventually being rescued by his sister.
The entire time I was reading Living Oprah, I couldn't hel More...
The entire time I was reading Living Oprah, I couldn't hel More...
Jul 30, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
I know I have been reading a lot of experiment books lately. What made this book stick out from the others is the way it was written. It was more chatty then usual, which is a format I really like. The women lives in Chicago and a sort of fan of Oprah and does this experiment more to see what the social impact is then anything. I thought it was interesting on all the facts that contradict themselves that Oprah throws out. She'll say one day, diet time! and then a month later, she'll promote and
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Jul 27, 2011
Tracey Lee
rated it:
I was excited about the idea behind this book, but it just didn't deliver. It felt like a lackluster recap of the author's blog (which I did not read). The book was organized by month, with a chart detailing time & money spent at the end of each chapter, but it still felt a bit haphazard, maybe because the author did not always do/buy items in the months they were suggested, and so were mentioned more than once.
One thing that really bothered me about this project is the toll that it s More...
One thing that really bothered me about this project is the toll that it s More...
Feb 27, 2011
Megan
rated it:
I was excited to read this book. BUT, to enjoy this book you have to get over the ridiculous premise: the fact that she acts as though Oprah really wants everyone to do and buy every single thing she says. I realize Oprah has a lot of power but it's not like it's a cult. Anyone with a half a brain could realize that any woman's magazine or show has the same message of, "Buy this! Do this to make your marriage better!" Oprah is the giant of them all, but they all do it. Everyone SHOULD
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Jun 01, 2010
Lain
rated it: 
When Robyn Okrant decides to "Live Oprah--" follow everything the queen of the talk show circuit dictates for one year -- she's not sure how her life will change. The book follows her through a full 12 months of living Oprah -- following her advice, eating her recommended recipes, buying what she says we all "must have," and even attempting to feel as Oprah dictates we should feel.
Okrant's discovery is that the more she steps away from her own thoughts and feeling More...
Okrant's discovery is that the more she steps away from her own thoughts and feeling More...
May 15, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
From My Blog...
Living Oprah by Robyn Okrant is no ordinary book, especially not for me. Let me explain a little so one can understand the difficulties I perceived that I faced (before realizing this was more a sociological study). I went into this reading this book hesitantly, as I am not an Oprah watcher. I did see some shows early in the 90s and since 2002, I watched exactly two episodes: Bra fitting and jean fitting, to be specific. I am neither a fan nor a critic of Oprah, I beli More...
Living Oprah by Robyn Okrant is no ordinary book, especially not for me. Let me explain a little so one can understand the difficulties I perceived that I faced (before realizing this was more a sociological study). I went into this reading this book hesitantly, as I am not an Oprah watcher. I did see some shows early in the 90s and since 2002, I watched exactly two episodes: Bra fitting and jean fitting, to be specific. I am neither a fan nor a critic of Oprah, I beli More...
May 09, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
This last year I found myself saying "I was watching Oprah and..." many more times than seemed possilbe for someone who tapes the show and then only watches the ones that interest me. Typically I watch one a week or one every two weeks. I have seen so many Dr. Oz segments that I don't watch those. I don't care much about celebrities or the musical "talent" she shares on the show so I don't watch those. I skip the Friday's because she has a round table with people who are no m
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Feb 12, 2010
Heather
rated it:
I picked this book up at the library as I was passing through earlier this week. I wouldn't call myself an Oprah fan, but I used to watch her show for a couple years when my older child was an infant and I was looking for ways to pass the time at home with her. Now that I have two kids and no time during the day to watch TV, Oprah - and other daytime TV - is a thing of the past for me. But the premise of the book - a year-long experiment to follow the advice and guidance of Oprah and her expe
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Jan 15, 2010
Rachel
rated it: 
I wasn't necessarily expecting to like Living Oprah as much as I did. I hadn't followed the blow and picked up the book because I'd heard about it and it sounded intriguing. Okrant sets out to follow every rule that Oprah specifically says is a "must," and charts exactly how much time and money she spends each month on everything from exercising, reading O magazine, buying new items for her home, seeing movies and reading. Simply seeing the sheer number of things Oprah wants her viewer
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Mar 01, 2010
John
rated it:
Okrant writes quite well, but near the end I had such a strong feeling I was listening an abridged version that I had to go back and double check that wasn't the case.
She seemed to spend quite a bit of time, nearly the first hour of seven, "introducing" her project, after which she introduces each month with time devoted, dollars spent, etc. for the next five hours (the final, seventh hour consists of a conclusion and brief author interview) we hear a lot about her feelings More...
She seemed to spend quite a bit of time, nearly the first hour of seven, "introducing" her project, after which she introduces each month with time devoted, dollars spent, etc. for the next five hours (the final, seventh hour consists of a conclusion and brief author interview) we hear a lot about her feelings More...
Jun 21, 2010
Meg Marie
rated it:
A friend had mentioned this book to me a few weeks ago, so I picked it up when I saw it in the new releases section at the library. Robyn Okrant is a semi-crunchy, pretty self-confident seeming yoga teacher from Chicago who decides to spend 2008 trying to "Live Oprah." She watches the show every day and takes notes on what she's learned. If Oprah says something is a "must see" or a "must buy" Robyn does her best to see it and or buy it. She jumps headfirst into
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May 24, 2011
Jocelyn
rated it:
My first impression of a book dedicated to living according to Oprah was, "Uh. Fan girl." Okrant actually falls somewhere between "Fan" and "Critical Viewer", and started this project as part of her work to complete grad school.
Okrant is about the same as I am, and I can appreciate it when she writes about growing up and coming of age in parallel to Oprah's influence.
One thing I really appreciated about Okrant's experience was how she explo More...
Okrant is about the same as I am, and I can appreciate it when she writes about growing up and coming of age in parallel to Oprah's influence.
One thing I really appreciated about Okrant's experience was how she explo More...
Mar 25, 2010
Rebecca
rated it:
This book is a super fast read. I don't know that it will change my life but I did find it interesting and thought provoking. As someone who doesn't watch Oprah or read self-help books, I'm probably not the target audience for this book. Or, I'm the perfect the audience. In some ways, this book crams all the self-help trends into one book so I now know everything I've been missing, and - as it turns out - don't miss at all. This book offers a nice commentary on the impact of media - positiv
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Feb 27, 2010
Terri
rated it:
I felt a little disappointed with Living Oprah. Primarily because I was in the mood to read a really funny book and I thought this looked like it would be good for some laughs. Although, I'm not quite sure where that idea came from. Just as assumption I guess. I picured myself belly laughing at how hysterical it would be for someone to try to follow EVERY single piece of advice that Oprah dished out for an entire year. Granted I got a couple of giggles out of the book....just no belly laugh
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Dec 18, 2011
Holly
rated it:
So I heard an interview with Robyn Okrant on CBC Radio and later saw this at Chapters for 2$ and got it. And then a while later I read it because the shape of the book is pretty unappealing.
Anyways, it was pretty meh. I was hoping for something more like The Year of Living Biblically, which I loved, but there wasn't much depth to this experiment. She details doing all the things Oprah tells her seemingly at random, but she only occasionally gives some thought to why she's doing More...
Anyways, it was pretty meh. I was hoping for something more like The Year of Living Biblically, which I loved, but there wasn't much depth to this experiment. She details doing all the things Oprah tells her seemingly at random, but she only occasionally gives some thought to why she's doing More...
Mar 19, 2010
Meghan
rated it:
Based on a blog of the same name, Living Oprah tells the story of 2008 and the author's attempt to follow all of Oprah's edicts. She watches the show and reads the magazine and does anything that Oprah explicitly says you need to do. This runs the gamut from seeing Celine Dion in concert to placing a special, gorgeous chair in each room of her house. She signs a contract on Oprah's website to live her Best Life, and follows the diet and exercise guidelines therein.
My big complaint ab More...
My big complaint ab More...
Aug 25, 2010
Heather
rated it:
This book was enjoyable as I was reading, but by the end, it kind of faltered for me and felt as if the book were rushed to publication as soon as the year-long-blog-project ended rather than giving a decent post-January-1 wrap up. The book pretty much ends on January 3rd, with the author sitting down to write the book. Self referential much?
Now, don't get me wrong, I really did enjoy reading this book - as in at times actually cracked smiles while reading and kept eagerly turning More...
Now, don't get me wrong, I really did enjoy reading this book - as in at times actually cracked smiles while reading and kept eagerly turning More...
Apr 22, 2010
B
rated it:
my beach read...somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. worth the library pickup if you can admit you're an Oprah fan : ) or at least a little curi-O-us...
Lighthearted, and a good, quick read - the author is funny but in an admittedly nerdy way, and though I sometimes found her humor to be much older than her actual age (approx the same as me), I still appreciated her efforts and "research"...basically it's a straightforward compilation of blog posts - confessional, chronological More...
Lighthearted, and a good, quick read - the author is funny but in an admittedly nerdy way, and though I sometimes found her humor to be much older than her actual age (approx the same as me), I still appreciated her efforts and "research"...basically it's a straightforward compilation of blog posts - confessional, chronological More...
Sep 01, 2011
Joy
rated it:
This is one of those books that just caught my eye and I read it on a whim. It was actually pretty engrossing and turned out to be a great piece of thoughtful journalism (blogism?). I am not a particular fan of Oprah, I don't watch her show (or any other show--we have not had cable or TV for several years and i REALLY don't miss it) or read her magazines, so I only know of her influence in the general culture, which, in the case of Oprah, is a considerable share. The topics that this book cov
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Jan 04, 2012
Colleen
rated it:
I enjoyed the author's "voice" throughout this book. She made it feel personal. I found it a little repetitive after the first few months of the experiment. I got the point that she did everything Oprah told her. I think she could have spent more time discussing why she took on this project in the first place. At one point she says she was offended that people thought that she was a "super fan" or the opposite, that she was trying to make Oprah look bad but she didn't rea
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May 05, 2010
Toni
rated it:
There seems to be two popular schools of thought about Oprah Winfrey. People either love her or they believe that the people who love her are crazy automatons. In fact, more people are probably in the middle of that spectrum, like me. Yes, I used to tape the show everyday (until my VCR recently died) and watched every episode (except the ones where she interviewed celebrities who are also her friends - too gushy for me). Yes, I was a charter subscriber of O Magazine, until the subscription p
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Jul 05, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
This was an interesting book. I think the author was brave to take on a task like this, but I don't think I could have done it. She spent one year of her life doing everything that Oprah said via her show, her magazine, and her website. It sounded exhausting. Plus, some of the things that she (Oprah) said to do conflicted with personal choices that I have made in my life, meaning that it would conflict with my moral values. That would have made me fail at this project because I would have p
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Feb 27, 2010
Carolyn J.
rated it:
Worth reading, definitely reads more like a blog (as well as an academic experiment w/notes and charts at the end of chapters) which was it's original incarnation. I was fascinated and repelled by this at the same time, which I think the author may have been as well. I admire that Okrant was able to recognize some of the blatant hypocrises of all things O, and hers is a thoughtful voice that I believe tries to reconcile the idiocy of women reaching for shallow ideals that are cleverly marketed a
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Jul 10, 2011
Susan
rated it:
Who doesn't like to think that they are not influenced by media icons? Robyn okrant decided to put that to the test by following oprah's advise, recommendations and buying power for one year. This book was far more than entertaining. It was hilarious and telling of the ways in which we are often drawn to the media wisdom dosed out in hour long programs, monthly magazines, and endorsements. At her best, Oprah puts her passions to the service of others. On the flip side, can every woman affor
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May 10, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
I am a sucker for books that chronicle the authors thoughts throughout an unusual project. The first several months were entertaining, but the last few months I had to slog through. I'm sure that experience mimics what the author felt on her slog through her last few months of Living Oprah.
It is an interesting and quick read. The author is trying to derive some meaning from her experience for herself, but does pretty well not pushing an agenda on readers. It reads simply as a non-pre More...
It is an interesting and quick read. The author is trying to derive some meaning from her experience for herself, but does pretty well not pushing an agenda on readers. It reads simply as a non-pre More...
May 05, 2011
Katrine
rated it:
Robyn Okrant decides to live one year doing everything Oprah Winfrey says to do on her show, website and magazine. This is a lofty goal because Oprah can be a bossy little thing, can't she? And it is no surprise that not even Oprah knows what is best for everyone. Robyn did get in great shape and have arms like Michelle Obama's thanks to a get fit challenge. But she also had to purchase a lot of items she had no interest in. At the end of the year Robyn had spent $4,781.84 cents purchasing
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May 18, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
What would happen if you decided to follow every piece of advice from one of the biggest celebrities, Oprah? Robyn Okrant decided to find out, and she documented her experiment on a blog that eventually led to a this book. What she discovers may surprise you.
What I discovered was that following Oprah's advice could be a full time job, and a pricey endeavor. Okrant, like Oprah herself, can be conflicting at times with what she agrees and disagrees with. She's watches an awful lot of TV, More...
What I discovered was that following Oprah's advice could be a full time job, and a pricey endeavor. Okrant, like Oprah herself, can be conflicting at times with what she agrees and disagrees with. She's watches an awful lot of TV, More...
Jan 17, 2010
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
rated it:
If reality tv is all the rage in the television world, then attempting one-year challenges is all the rage in book world. Robyn Okrant set out to try to follow Oprah’s precepts, those presented on her show and in her magazine and online, for a year.
I heard about this last summer and have been waiting for the book ever since. I was not disappointed. Okrant is respectful of Oprah, and, though she finds many of Oprah’s pronouncements overly enthusiastic, she also discovers many wise ti More...
I heard about this last summer and have been waiting for the book ever since. I was not disappointed. Okrant is respectful of Oprah, and, though she finds many of Oprah’s pronouncements overly enthusiastic, she also discovers many wise ti More...
