The Books That Help Oprah Through

Much like the rest of us, Oprah turns to books to get through tough times. And our current moment is no exception! So the legendary bibliophile has kindly a curated a collection of books reflecting timely and important themes in our world today. These are titles that have helped Oprah herself through life’s challenging moments, and she hopes to spark meaningful conversation and unite our global community through the power of the books on this list.

We’re thrilled to see two of our favorites included—scroll down to read more, and don’t miss this video of Oprah speaking about these books and this program on her Instagram.
 
 
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

A national bestseller when it first appeared in 1963, The Fire Next Time galvanized the nation, gave passionate voice to the emerging civil rights movement—and still lights the way to understanding race in America today.

At once a powerful evocation of James Baldwin’s early life in Harlem and a disturbing examination of the consequences of racial injustice, the book is an intensely personal and provocative document from the iconic author. It consists of two “letters,” written on the occasion of the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation, that exhort Americans, both black and white, to attack the terrible legacy of racism.

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Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

With this brilliantly imagined New York Times bestselling novel, Toni Morrison transfigures the coming-of-age story in this modern classic.

Milkman Dead was born shortly after a neighborhood eccentric hurled himself off a rooftop in a vain attempt at flight. For the rest of his life he, too, will be trying to fly. As Morrison follows Milkman from his rustbelt city to the place of his family’s origins, she introduces an entire cast of strivers and seeresses, liars and assassins, the inhabitants of a fully realized Black world.

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