Chris L Book tastes & Oprah

[Grimlock]

There is a fourth option, Grimlock:  That Oprah is wrong, but it doesn't matter, because most people don't read everything she recommends anyway, and at least some of what she includes in her club is worthwhile.  And even if some do read every single book she touts, one or two of them may be able to figure out that some of them rot, others rock, and a few rule.

But then I can't say "Show me the monism!"

[Fido]

Why be hatin on the Oprah?   Aren't there more worthy objects of our opprobrium?  I don't even know where to start, between the late Nicole Smith, Alberto Gonzalez, Karl Rove, Enron.  (what do all these things have in common?  Texas!)  I heard that Stalin loved Texas.

Anyway, if I had to watch Oprah's show half the days that it is on, I'd probably go nuts before too long.  If forced to read half the books in her book club, it might not kill me.  It might make me stronger if I had to read any 25% of them and got to choose which ones I read. 

But also, she did pick those books that Bill Cosby wrote.

[John Junk]

I don't like this whole The Secret thing but my girlfriend kinda thinks it's good and I know at least one American housewife who Oprah's book club and magazine and general media empire has DEFINITELY helped through a horrifyingly fucked up divorce. You can't throw Oprah Winfrey under the bus. 
The Oxygen Network is totally watchable.
Campus Ladies is one of the best shows on TV. (That's right, I said it.)

The Secret and the whole positive thinking trend is inherently non-threatening and not worth worrying or being in the least bit upset about, despite what Harper's Magazine editorials would have you think.  The only thing positive thinking threatens is the pleasure found in "I Don't Get It", "Take It Down A Notch" and "Come On Guys". 

[Chris L]

McCarthy (the writer, not the 80's indiepop band) on Oprah this Tuesday!  Break out the cattle guns!

[erika]

Oprah's book club is about selling books not reading them.

I've read many books on the Oprah's book club list since I was still a teen when it was started. I've gotta give it to her -- She's got some decent, solid books on there. Without Oprah I never would have read Stolen Lives by Mailika Oukfir (sp?) which was one of my favorite memoirs to date. I've since moved away from the OBC list, but I don't begrudge anyone who follows it. I'd say it's more for those people who like memoirs and terribly depressing stories.

Nothing can be as bad as the MySpace book club list. It's mind-meltingly bad. I mean "Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture"?? Really?

http://collect.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=books

[Jason]

Oprah's altruism did not make her worth $1.5 billion promoting products, including books and appalling psudo-scientific tosh like The Secret did.

[buffcoat]

Oprah's altruism did not make her worth $1.5 billion promoting products, including books and appalling psudo-scientific tosh like The Secret did.

Socialist.

[bruce]

Well just watched the interview, and to be honest was a bit of a letdown. McCarthy seems not to really care if people buy his books or not. That he has no idea where he going when he starts the book. It also shows why this was and will be his only TV interview. He is really not that engaging as a subject. Maybe I'm just nitpicking and was expectating way to much. Now when will Oprah pick a Gil Brewer book.