Books Recommended by Oprah Winfrey
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Cry, the Beloved Country
Alan Paton
Source: "Captures the very essence of South Africa in transition from a rural, tribal nation of spiritual heritage to a modern country of big cities, violence and upheaval." - Oprah Winfrey
2 recommendersIf at Birth You Don't Succeed
My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny
Zach Anner
Source: "[The author] makes you want to be a better person, with his humor and his heart and everything he's had to deal with from the time he was born." - Oprah Winfrey
3 recommendersA Fine Balance
Rohinton Mistry
Source: "I've never encountered pages that took me so far, and removed me from my own way of life and way of thinking the way [this book] did." - Oprah Winfrey
3 recommendersGilead (4 books)
Marilynne Robinson
Source: "A quartet of masterpieces." - Oprah Winfrey
1 recommenderCane River
Lalita Tademy
Source: "[Opens] the door for a lot of people who want to trace their own roots or look at what their heritage, what that legacy has meant for them." - Oprah Winfrey
1 recommenderThe Underground Railroad
A Novel
Colson Whitehead
Source: "Every now and then a book comes along that reaches the marrow of your bones, settles in, and stays forever. This is one." - Oprah Winfrey
4 recommendersTo Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird, Book 1
Harper Lee
Source: "I remember starting it and just devouring it, not being able to get enough of it, because I fell in love with Scout." - Oprah Winfrey
The Good Earth
House Of Earth, Book 1
Pearl S. Buck
Source: "[The author's words] evoke the simple beauty of the characters and the harsh mystery of China's ancient culture." - Oprah Winfrey
2 recommendersSay You're One of Them
Uwem Akpan
Source: "Masterfully both captures the innocence and the horror of the unimaginable events these children witness." - Oprah Winfrey
1 recommenderBehold the Dreamers
A Novel
Imbolo Mbue
Source: "About race and class, the economy, culture, immigration and the danger of the us-versus-them mentality." - Oprah Winfrey
1 recommenderSula
Toni Morrison
Source: "There would have been no Oprah's Book Club if this woman had chosen not to share her love of words with the world." - Oprah Winfrey
2 recommendersDeacon King Kong
A Novel
James McBride
Source: "Reminds us that when we come together as a community in compassion and empathy, our love triumphs." - Oprah Winfrey
1 recommenderThe Bluest Eye
Toni Morrison
Source: "One of the things [the author is] able to do in this book is [to let] people know that they are not alone." - Oprah Winfrey
2 recommendersHidden Valley Road
Inside the Mind of an American Family
Robert Kolker
Source: "A riveting true story of an American family that reads like a medical detective journey." - Oprah Winfrey
1 recommenderThe Invention of Wings
A Novel
Sue Monk Kidd
Source: "It is impossible to read this book and not come away thinking differently about our status as women." - Oprah Winfrey
1 recommenderAmerican Dirt
Jeanine Cummins
Source: "Changed the way I see what it means to be a migrant in a whole new way." - Oprah Winfrey
1 recommenderOne Hundred Years of Solitude
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Source: "As steamy, dense and sensual as the jungle that surrounds the surreal town of Macondo!" - Oprah Winfrey
Drowning Ruth
A Novel
Christina Schwarz
Source: "It will drive you crazy with suspense. I loved it, loved it, loved it; I stayed up all night reading it." - Oprah Winfrey
1 recommenderFreedom
A Novel
Jonathan Franzen
Source: "It’s got everything—sex and love, even rock n’ roll, and everything you want in a book." - Oprah Winfrey
1 recommenderThe Story of Edgar Sawtelle
A Novel
David Wroblewski
Source: "I think that this is right up there with the greatest American novels ever written." - Oprah Winfrey
1 recommender
FAQ
Did Oprah Winfrey recommend all these books?
Not necessarily. This book list has Oprah Winfrey must-read recommendations, but it also has a mix of mentions and suggestions.
How do you know Oprah Winfrey mentioned these books?
Every suggestion made by Oprah Winfrey is validated by our editors. You can find the sources to the recommendations linked next to the books.
Did Oprah Winfrey actually create this list?
No. This reading list was curated by our editors based on confirmed mentions from Oprah Winfrey, the sources are made available under each recommendation.
100 books
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