"What do you know for sure?" A thought provoking question asked of Oprah by film critic Gene Siskel in 1998. A question that went on to be the genesis of this beautiful little book, as well as the title of Oprah's monthly column in O magazine.
In order to put this book together, Oprah reviewed fourteen years worth of her columns to see whether they stood the test of time- did she really know anything for sure, or did she just think she did? Ultimately, Winfrey found that the things she truely believed she knew for sure still remained some of her firmest beliefs, however, she did concede that many of her thoughts required updating.
"What I Know For Sure" is split into several sections such as joy, connection and power that each contain Winfrey's myriad of musings on the subject. I found Oprah's pearls of wisdom both compelling and personally relevant- it is a huge credit to Winfrey's character that despite the magnitude of her success, fame and wealth, that she still manages to make a connection with her reader in a deeply personal way.
Not only did this book prove that Oprah is not so far removed from the everyday reader, I found that it managed to help me navigate several difficult situations in my own life and gave me unexpected insight into the lives of the people around me.
Overall rating: ★★★★½
Oprah's ability to create an emotional connection with anyone she interviews is almost as famous as she is. "What I Know For Sure" proves that this remarkable ability is not restricted solely to television interviews, but extends into the literary world as well. I felt personally touched by many of Oprah's musings and have attempted to keep them in mind in my day to day life. Definitely worth the read!
