Table Of Content

OPRAH WINFREY: A Biography Helen S. Garson GREENWOOD PRESS OPRAH WINFREY Recent Titles in Greenwood Biographies J.K. Rowling: A Biography Connie Ann Kirk The Dalai Lama: A Biography Patricia Cronin Marcello Margaret Mead: A Biography Mary Bowman-Kruhm J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography Leslie Ellen Jones Colin Powell: A Biography Richard Steins Pope John Paul II: A Biography Meg Greene Malvasi Al Capone: A Biography Luciano Iorizzo George S. Patton: A Biography David A. Smith Gloria Steinem: A Biography Patricia Cronin Marcello Billy Graham: A Biography Roger Bruns Emily Dickinson: A Biography Connie Ann Kirk Langston Hughes: A Biography Laurie F. Leach Fidel Castro: A Biography Thomas M. Leonard OPRAH WINFREY A Biography Helen S. Garson GREENWOOD BIOGRAPHIES GREENWOOD PRESS WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT . LONDON Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Garson, Helen S. Oprah Winfrey : a biography / Helen S. Garson. p. cm. — (Greenwood biographies, ISSN 1540–4900) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0–313–32339–9 (alk. paper) 1. Winfrey, Oprah. 2. Television personalities—United States—Biography. 3. Actors—United States—Biography. I. Title. II. Series. PN1992.4.W56G37 2004 791.4502(cid:1)8(cid:1)092—dc 22 2004010669 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2004 by Helen S. Garson All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2004010669 ISBN: 0–313–32339–9 ISSN: 1540–4900 First published in 2004 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 For Neil, Always CONTENTS Series Foreword ix Acknowledgments xi Timeline xiii Chapter 1 The World and Oprah 1 Chapter 2 Life Is a Journey 7 Chapter 3 Televisionland 43 Chapter 4 Books and More Books 67 Chapter 5 Intimates 79 Chapter 6 Bad Food, Good Food, Weight, and Exercise 107 Chapter 7 O,the Choice of Women Everywhere 135 Chapter 8 Into the Future 153 Bibliography 157 Index 165 Photo essay follows page 78. SERIES FOREWORD In response to high school and public library needs, Greenwood devel- oped this distinguished series of full-length biographies specifically for stu- dent use. Prepared by field experts and professionals, these engaging biographies are tailored for high school students who need challenging yet accessible biographies. Ideal for secondary school assignments, the length, format and subject areas are designed to meet educators’ requirements and students’ interests. Greenwood offers an extensive selection of biographies spanning all curriculum-related subject areas including social studies, the sciences, lit- erature and the arts, history and politics, as well as popular culture, cover- ing public figures and famous personalities from all time periods and backgrounds, both historic and contemporary, who have made an impact on American and/or world culture. Greenwood biographies were chosen based on comprehensive feedback from librarians and educators. Consid- eration was given to both curriculum relevance and inherent interest. The result is an intriguing mix of the well known and the unexpected, the saints and sinners from long-ago history and contemporary pop culture. Readers will find a wide array of subject choices from fascinating crime figures like Al Capone to inspiring pioneers like Margaret Mead, from the greatest minds of our time like Stephen Hawking to the most amazing suc- cess stories of our day like J.K. Rowling. While the emphasis is on fact, not glorification, the books are meant to be fun to read. Each volume provides in-depth information about the subject’s life from birth through childhood, the teen years, and adulthood. A