Stories of Oprah: The Oprahfication of American Culture. Trystan T. Cotton and Kimberly Springer, eds. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi, 2010. 188 pp.

The ubiquitous Oprah Winfrey is a global media icon. Her syndicated daytime talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, is the highest-rated talk show in American television history, and when it ends in September 2011 will have aired for a quarter-century. Her Book Club recommendations virtually guarantee best-sellerdom for authors. Harpo, Inc., her production company, is behind films, television shows, satellite radio programs, and O: The Oprah Magazine. In January 2011 she launched her own 24/7 cable network. She even dispenses millions of dollars through Oprah’s Angel Network philanthropy. Regardless of her platform, Oprah’s message is positive, inspirational, and spiritual as she exhorts her fans to, “Live your best life.”  [Read more...]