Review of OPRAH WINFREY'S BIOGRAPHY by Jenefa Kubua.

The Moncoeur Global Book Club read the second edition of the Greenwood Biographies on 'Oprah Winfrey' in the month of August. Jenefa Kubua like the previous month shares a review of this fascinating nonfiction.

While reading the second edition of Oprah Winfrey's Biography in the Greenwood Biographies complied by Helen Carson; I stumbled on seven key points that the life of this phenomenal TV Pioneer has to impart.

1. Be Aspirational and Determined

Whether your birth was planned by your parents or not, you were very intentionally created by God for a purpose. Oprah was illegitimate, born into poverty, in a poor rural southern state where young blacks were victims of prejudice. Her childhood was filled with more pain and sadness than joy.

She was sexually abused, became promiscuous and even got pregnant (although lost the baby) but she never downgraded herself. It was easy to get discouraged and bitter but she didn't instead she believed more in herself and put more effort to become successful. Never get discouraged by your background and circumstances. What you think, you become because your thoughts create you.

2. Know God for Yourself

Oprah's grandmother led her to Christ and taught her to study the scriptures. She said "I have church with myself. I have church walking down the street. I believe in the God force that lives inside all of us, and once you tap into that, you can do anything."

3. Be True to Yourself

Winfrey admitted her flaws and mistakes, unleashed a confession culture and promoted controversial self-help ideas. This made her vulnerable and she was criticized for it by some people but she never let her troubles hold her back. Instead, her open, sincere, generous and warm heart made several other people love her the more.

4. Work on Yourself

Winfrey had a fierce drive for self-improvement. There were times when she had professional setbacks but instead of getting discouraged, it simply redoubled her determination. She always read a quote which she pasted on her mirror that served as her drive and encouragement by Jesse Jackson. It said "Excellence is the best barrier to both sexism and racism. Responsibility for our lives belongs to each of us and also the path to freedom is through education."

5. Be Accountable and Develop a Reading Culture

As you journey through life, it is important to keep record of every experience we encounter. At 15, Oprah began to keep a journal, and she has continued to write in it ever since then. I believe when you go through it from time to time it will help you appreciate God better.
Winfrey also contributed immensely to the publishing world by introducing a novel idea (a monthly television book club) as part of her talk show. The program gave pleasure reading a new kind of popular prominence.

6. Speak out (Talk)

The burden of sexual assult cannot be tolerated therefore, girls and women must never allow sexual assault hide them from the world.  Oprah did not do so as a child herself which served as a lesson and so now, she teaches that, in order to become responsible for one's own life, one has to tell the truth about an abusive situation again and again until someone listens.
Oprah is a sharer and so should we. When we share, we help others as well as ourselves. Talk is sharing, talk is healing. Talking isn't whining or being humbled and defeated. It is like a building block of character.

7. Parents should be More Accommodating and Flexible

Children need adults to talk to about important personal matters, and if they can't discuss such things with their parents, there must be mature adult friends to whom the children can turn.




About the Reviewer

Jenefa Blessing Kubua is a freelance writer, an editor and an environmental scientist. A co-author of an academic paper titled Acoustic Over-Exposure versus Human Health.

The Abuja-based writer is an amazing pet lover, cake lover and a foodie. When she is not baking, she is either listening to music or cooking.

You can connect with her on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/jenefakubua