What I Know for Sure

“You lead life; it doesn’t lead you” is the motivating message behind media super star Winfrey’s life, career, and latest book—a compilation from the past 14 years of her monthly column in O, the Oprah Magazine. Divided into topics including resilience, clarity, gratitude, and awe, each essay provides a brief encouraging and thought-provoking reading moment. Winfrey writes calmly and conversationally. Among many other topics, she addresses personal strength, spirituality, clutter, and debt. She encourages readers to accept and welcome change, to appreciate the gift of life, and to be true to one’s self. She digs into painful memories to share lessons she’s learned, as well as how she has moved beyond pain and regret. Those interested in her personal life will find scattered details of how she spends her days, from time with her partner or her friends to reading and exercising. Gentle and supportive, while concise and sincere, these brief observations invite readers to five minutes of quiet contemplation. Ask yourself what you know for sure, Winfrey says, and “[w]hat you’ll find along the way will be fantastic, because what you’ll find will be yourself.” (Sept.)