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News Mon Jan 04 2010
Living Oprah Book Out Today
Living Oprah: My One-Year Experiment to Walk the Walk of the Queen of Talk by Robyn Okrant, based on the Chicago-based writer, performer and yoga instructor's year spent living according to advice from our resident queen of all media, made its debut today. Okrant said the experiment was rewarding but ultimately exhausting -- particularly when Oprah contradicted herself:
Whereas most viewers regard Winfrey's directives as merely enthusiastic suggestions, Okrant took them literally, which at one point made her the owner of a fire pit from Lowe's.
While promoting a variety of products during her 2008 season, Winfrey also spent considerable time encouraging viewers to soak up the wisdom of Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth, which reminds people they are not what they own.
Winfrey's shows that season also featured ongoing segments on the plight of hoarders and tips on cutting down on clutter featuring de-clutter expert Peter Walsh.
The message was murky. Do you buy the items Winfrey says will improve your life? Or do you remember you are not defined by your possessions, and that you probably don't need many of them, anyway?
Okrent's blog about living according to Oprah's rules is still active at LivingOprah.com. She plans to transform it into a blog about "facing habits head on" starting this week.
