Today I am celebrating. Why, you might ask? Why, I'll tell you. I am excited today because after 8 months of doing exactly what I've been told by Oprah nutritionally, my visit to the bathroom...my morning constitutional...ahem...when I dropped the kids off at the pool...hm...oh, I'm just going to say it: My poo was "S" shaped! Woohoo! Just like Oprah and Dr. Oz say it should be!! Par-tay! Incidentally, I decided that I'd take the high road and NOT document this milestone with a photograph. You're welcome.
I'll admit this is WAY more information than I really feel comfortable giving you, but Oprah makes such a huge deal about what shape our fecal matter should take, I thought I should share my big day with you. Cards and gifts are unnecessary.
I'm heading off to get rolfed now. My dad asked for more information about what this therapy entails, so I thought I'd send him some info from the rolfing website. When I visited it, I was met with a headline, "Welcome Oprah Viewers!" I don't know what it is...maybe you can help me put my finger on it...this seemed really cheesy. I think rolfing is a valuable therapy and Oprah's name commercializes it somehow. (Yes, I do tend to use "commercialization" as a 4-letter word). But, on the other hand, maybe commercializing rolfing will make it more accessible to a wider range of client. It's a double-edged sword for me.
I'd like to kick off a conversation today on the topic of products/services displaying Oprah's name. How are you effected by this? Have you ever bought an item OR decided not to make a purchase all based on Oprah's name or logo plastered on it? In my personal experience, keeping in mind I can be a bit of a book-snob, I never liked buying publications that had Oprah's seal of approval on them. I feel the same way about the Bob Greene/Best Life stamp displayed on food in the grocery store. I find it repels me from the item, rather than draws me to it.
How about you?
Living Oprah
Living Oprah
Blog Archive
Find Living Oprah online:
Visit my personal website
Join me on Facebook.
Subscribe To Living Oprah
Posts
Comments
Sign up for an email subscription
Literary representation
I want to hear from you!
I'm curious what you would ask Oprah Winfrey if you had the opportunity for just one question.
About Living Oprah
- livingoprah
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- I am a 35 year old writer, performer and artist living in Chicago.
Radio Interviews
In print and online
Disclaimer
40 comments:
Thank you for your vulnerability. You're an inspiration to us all. :)
I've never actually purchased anything with the Oprah logo on it...I haven't really seen it around much except on the Book Club books and I, too, have always stayed away from any of those. The Book Club logo has always been a turn off. I resent her telling me what I should read and I can't imagine doing EVERYTHING she tells us to do so you have my complete and utter admiration for taking on the task. I've never been a big fan of the branded anything...why should I pay money to any company for the "privelege" of displaying their logo on my person? I think that's the opposite of the way advertising is supposed to go. I'm especially leary of purchasing anything with a celebrity endorsement. Why is Oprah an expert on what we should buy? Shouldn't we buy what we like and what we need? Personally, if Oprah says it's great I'll probably NEVER buy it.
I've been disappointed by the Oprah book club books a few times, so her seal on a book was a sign to me that it was a book I either wouldn't be able to relate to or would consider to be poorly conceived.
I have to say, I liked Bob Greene at first, but since his facelift and hair plugs, I really lost interest in his professional advice. If he would do that, what else would he do that we don't know about? Lipo? I like the "You on a Diet" guy right now, even though he's 60 something and obviously dyes his hair, but other than that, he looks real.
Twice a year or so, I'll page through O magazine and make note of Oprah's favorite things and such, and she does have good taste and an eye for quality; however, the stuff is out of my range financially. So I guess the Oprah tag says to me: "Expensive, rich in tactile satisfaction, sometimes lacking substance."
I love the feeling of "discovering" a book, so I was very disappointed a number of years ago to find that one of my favorite books (She's Come Undone) had been on Oprah's book club before I even read it. Since then, I've run across the Oprah logo a few times at the library, but it doesn't affect my borrowing habits much.
After years of putting it off, I decided to delve into Anna Karenina. Two weeks after I had started reading it, Oprah picked it for her book club choice. I'd been reading a different edition for two weeks on the el to and from work and suddenly I felt people were thinking I was reading it because Oprah told me to do it. I wanted to stick a disclaimer on my copy saying,"I was reading it first. It's not even the same edition. See, there's no Oprah sticker."
Everything in America is commercialized. Even Christmas. We've gone too far. There's no turning back now, so I guess we might as well just get used to it.
I guess when I see the "O" sticker, I do an eyeroll and think "I can't believe people would buy/read that just because she says so." Especially books. I do agree O likes nice, quality products, but I don't know anyone who likes every book I like and vice versa. Why would I like every book O does?
One show I saw a few years back upset me because Oprah was pimping Nine West as a great "knockoff" shoe brand and Victoria's Secret as a great "knockoff" lingerie line. And here I was considering a pair of Nine West shoes or a Victoria's Secret purchase a "splurge"! She totally ruined it for me!!
I will begrudgingly admit to thoroughly enjoying many of the Oprah Book Club books. I've alwways read them based on recommendations from friends, not Oprah, so her sticker kind of embarasses me.
Okay, I'll say it: I've read books based on Oprah's recommendations. And loved many of them.
We have similar taste in books and usually (though not always, to be sure) if O likes it it's an indicator to me that it has solid writing, or a good story, or both. Thanks to Oprah, I discovered Wally Lamb and Jonathan Frantzen, both of whom I love. I don't think she should be the final arbiter of what's worth reading by any means, but I also think that anything that gets people reading (especially those who might not do it otherwise) can't be all bad.
That being said, it is a weird feeling to have a book with her book club logo on it. Something about it seems to annouce to the world "I'm a sheep, and do what Oprah tells me" even if the book is something I would have read anyway. I'm kind of glad I read "Beloved" years before Oprah made her movie because my copy doesn't have the sticker on it.
I do wonder why in general (and I am REALLY generalizing here) in our culture, we don't mind walking around with designer logos plastered all over our handbags, shoes, luggage, etc., but we hate having a logo on our books. Is it maybe that we just don't like to admit that openly that marketing has worked on us? We all like to think we're savvy consumers, but advertisers keep advertising for a reason: it makes people want to buy things.
The book club thing sort of turned me off. But no, I haven't purchases or declined to purchase based on what Oprah thinks.
I was an avid reader (until I had baby #2) and I found that many of my favorite books ended up on Oprah's book club after I read them so a)I might look at an O club book more closely since I guess I have similar tastes to it and b)I'm still oddly proud that I read them all before they were in the club!
I recently read that the foods that scream at us in the grocery store are often the ones we want to avoid - it's the apples and artichokes sitting quietly with no loud labels that we want to eat, not the apple-flavored cereal boasting fewer calories and the artichoke-flavored dip boasting less fat. Advertising in general that's too loud and urgent seems to have an air of falseness and desperation that turns me off.
That being said I also understand the rolf site putting Oprah's "stamp of approval" on their site. Being recognized by someone who has a tremendous amount of influence can increase business exponentially. But I think there's a difference between a suggestion or an acknowledgment and a pushy, shady advertisement.
And I'm glad you have 's' shaped poop. =)
My gut reaction when I see the Oprah or Bob Green seal of approval is "Ugh!" Which is strange because I have no bad feelings about either one of them, and watch the Oprah Show on a regular basis.
I have not bought a book based on Oprah's Book Club selection yet, but if I were to, I would actually avoid the copies w/her seal on it. I would feel embarassed being seen reading a book w/that "O" sticker/logo.
I did read "The Road" (borrowed from the library -- no seal), and that was a great book. It really stays with you.
-american girl, I feel the same way! I was reading Eat, Pray, Love a few months before it first aired on Oprah, and I wanted to tell everyone "Hey, I read that first!"
I also felt embarrassed buying a book with the O on it, as if the bookstore clerk was thinking I was some kind of blind Oprah follower or something.
As for the Best Life mark, I've found it funny that the logo is on some foods which I wouldn't consider really nutritious food. I guess they can't stamp the logo on apples and lettuce, so it has to go on processed food like Cheerios and sugary granola. Sigh. Marketing.
Well, I am a complete and utter failure then, because my poo is never S-shaped, and as I have IBS, it's not likely to ever be!
TMI for you? ;)
I haven't seen a lot of Oprah product up here, other than her magazine, which I don't buy because she's always on the cover.
Well...I have read several of her original book club picks, come to think of it. But that's about it.
I enjoy buying Oprah book club picks mostly because I know it annoys the hoity-toity book store people who can't stand the fact that an overweight black woman who entertains soccer moms is the most influential literary figure of our time. It especially annoys them when Oprah picks a difficult book like Tolstoy because Oprah is sending the message that the soccer moms of the world are just as literate as they are and enjoy the same books they do. They resent Oprah for this because they no longer have anyone to look down on.
I also think there's a bit of sexism when people call Oprah's followers sheep. When a man buys a book because it gets a good review in the NY Times no one calls him a sheep, but if a woman finds she can relate to the book suggestions of a woman's stalk show she's somehow an object of derision? No I hold my head up high when reading my Oprah picks. I'm a secure person and I have nothing to be embarrassed about. The books are generally of good quality so why shouldn't I read them.
You know, I've stayed away from Oprah Book Club books with the stamp simply because I didn't want to seem to be one of those people who was reading the book merely because Oprah had it as a part of her book club. I've even steered clear when it was a book I was genuinely interested in. I guess I didn't want to get razzed for trying to be "hip" in my reading selections based on what Oprah and her legion of book club members were reading that month. I don't begrudge them--I like Oprah's book club, but I have been deterred from purchasing books based on the label. I just didn't want to seem like I was reading a particular book because it was the "in" book at the moment.
I have, however, bought food products with the "Best Life" label-In some cases because I already just wanted that product, but in some cases I sort of felt that Bob Greene wouldn't steer us wrong--A girl's gotta eat, so I may as well eat what's good for me.
I also wanted to applaud the poster "pinktissue"--I liked your post too. :)
Anon: Hey - completely UNNECESSARY.
to those of you who feel a bit embarrassed by carrying an Oprah's Book Club selection...why do you think that is? i can relate, by the way, i'm not judging. but, i'll gladly tell a friend that i got fitted for a new bra because i heard about it on oprah, but i don't want to carry a book with a giant O upon it.
i also think reading is terrific - and if oprah's recommendations get more people reading, i'm really grateful. i mean, sheesh, i'm a writer...i'd love people to be reading books instead of watching endless hours of tv (i type as America's Next Top Model plays in the background).
and yet...as a READER, i'd prefer to allow the writer/novel to be the draw to a certain work, rather than a celebrity.
xo
LO
Ah, the ubiquitous alphabet turd. Now God is surely smiling down on you....and your poop.
Personally, I think it's ridiculous to deprive myself of a potentially great read just because it's been made commercially popular. That's like some sort of bizarre snobbery in reverse.
What's more important: to broaden your mental horizons by reading a great work of literature like Anna Karenina (and yes, I know not all Oprah's picks are great works of literature), or to stubbornly refuse to buy a book because of (gasp) what someone else might THINK of you?
And I'm all for Oprah's book club. Anything that gets people reading is fine with me.
i won't buy books that are part of her club. i read waht i like, not what she likes!she's become almost a religion for people, like a cult, and it's scary. i remember what she was like 15-20 years ago, and boy has the show changed! can't she get anything else on the cover of O magazine but herself? i don't watch her but maybe a few minutes once every few months, but i've noticed her audience really gets dressed up for the shows. it's just sad.
i love reading your blog!!
I wanted to re-read Anna Karenina and the only version I could find (truly) was the one with the Oprah Seal of Approval. I have to admit, it embarrassed me and there are many times when I'll shy away from a product because it has Oprah's endorsement.
She's turning into the arbiter of American life. I don't think this is healthy for anyone.
When she started the book club, I thought it would be fun to read along. I liked some of the books but I began to feel that most were on the topic of rape and very depressing so I stopped. (This was a while a go so maybe things have changed.)
Note for Tolstoy fans: Don't hesitate to get the translation of Anna Karenina with Oprah's logo on it because you don't want to be lumped in with her book club. It is the most modern translation and from a Russian speaker's point of view (mine) the best and one most worth reading.....
From a book collector...There's a desire to have a copy that is either first edition or at least an early printing - it makes the book more valuable. When an Oprah seal is on it - that means massive printing, which means - "not special." I'm not saying this is logical but for those of us who have our weird, "we discovered this author first" thingy - it means something to us. Maybe we're snobs - it's possible. I will say that Oprah has had some outstanding picks. And yes, I do get a smug sense of satisfaction if Oprah selects a book that I have already read and loved. It's like the Tipping Point, some of us simply want to be ahead of the curve. Maybe we're insecure or maybe we're trend setters - who cares, as long as we're all reading!
Put me in the embarrassed group while holding an Oprah book club book! I'd rather not be lumped in with the "sheeple" I guess....and furthermore, if I did write a book...I'd like it to be a best seller based on my writing; not that Oprah picked it for her book club. Aren't you pretty much guaranteed a best seller if chosen?
On the other hand, best book I've recently read WAS a book club pick so go figure! EVERYBODY I saw was reading it...so I picked it up.
And LO--thanks so very much for the lack of documentation! *giggle*
I never really gave it much thought. I do like Bob Greene and have purchased some of his books, but he's the author.
As far as O's bookclub or other items she endorses, I don't look at her stamp of approval, but purchase an item if I want it.
Yes, I remember seeing that show about poop the first time it ran. My thought was, "Geesh! Now I have the worry about the correct shape of my No. 2?!" Leave it to Oprah to tell us there's a self-actualized way to S@#t.
You know, LO, the embarrassment over the giant O on the front cover of the book was something I had thought about but hadn't ever really expressed openly (because it didn't seem like such a big or important thing but was another thing that someone like Seinfeld would explore on his show-haha).
I guess I feel that a book selection is a little more personal (not that a bra fitting isn't! haha)--sort of that I want to go on the journey that I want to go on--not the same journey a lot of others are going on...or that I don't want to be teased about being a lemming and reading whatever just b/c someone else said to...
Although, honestly, that doesn't make much sense. I mean, a good book IS a good book--giant O on the cover or not--and it's not like Oprah's choosing junk for people to read--She chooses good, thought-provoking novels. I'm not sure why...Maybe it's not so much that she recommends the book, it's the giant O ON the book. I will go see a movie she recommends or take other recommendations, but somehow I think it comes down to a public endorsement of a book in a giant label (I mean, she doesn't add the giant O to movies she likes or endorses...27 Dresses does not have a giant "Oprah Approved" label, right?)...Maybe with books, it's more emotional. People like to take recommendations from others-but your friends don't write "Jamie-Approved-Book" on the front of books they lend you.
And I guess there is a part of all of that where people just want to feel as if they've discovered something on their own. Sort of like discovering a music group/artist right before they get really big and are played on the radio all the time. You kind of feel like you have discovered your own little happy secret, and there can be a silly sort of sense of loss when everyone else finds out about it. (Again, it's nonsensical, but I've heard people who like various musicians say stupid things like, "I liked "so and so" back BEFORE they were on the radio...I'm over them now (and the group had achieved a SMALL amount of success like 2 weeks before). It makes no sense, and it is purely emotional.
None of my reasonings make much sense...I know it somehow comes down to the writing on the front of the book--At the same time, I also avoid books with covers that reflect that the book is now a movie and has the actor/actress gracing the front cover...I guess it's purely an emotional, nonsensical reaction. It's silly, I know, but people do silly things.
This is interesting to think about though.
I must say that I announce to my friends when I have "an Oprah Approved POO" its funny, I don't watch that show that often, but that one Poop show resonated. Now, everytime I poo, I think of Oprah and wonder what she would think of my bowel movements.... I am not kidding.
thanks for reminding me that I am not alone in my weirdness!
The Oprah/Bob Green seal turns me off too. And this extends to Barak Obama. When Ms. O became so public of her support, I became skeptical about Mr. O (Obama).
I like Oprah but a lot people she goes ga-ga over, I just don't get: Rachel Ray (ANNOYING, braying), Dr. Phil (Full if it), John Travolta (Just plain weird), that woman who wrote Eat Pray Love (Self-absorbed), Julia Roberts (VERY annoying and self-absorbed), Dr. Oz (Who lately has become quite self-satisfied. You can almost hear the voice in his head going, "Yeah. I'm a hottie. They love me in these scrubs."), etc., etc.
I live in Chicago and the mayor had his own book club to get the city reading. I don't know if it's still going or not. When I rode the el more often I remember seeing the book in a lot of people's hands as they made their commute. Once in awhile I overheard conversations start up between strangers because of the book. Personally, it seemed like a great program. If it didn't take me months to get through a book I probably would have joined them. People were bonding over the classics that all of us should be reading. And then there were the rest of us on the train, taking in this really nice spontaneous conversation. I can understand peoples' hesitation about a sticker on their book but I wonder why it couldn't be the same life sharing experience as Chicago's book club. Just wondering.
@Melissa - I totally agree with you! I try not to buy the books with the movie pictures on the front either! I think there's something so commercial about it, putting a big fat label on a book. I'm not usually one to get caught up in what people think of me, but reading is such a personal and lovely pleasure, I don't want Nicole Kidman's face staring at me every time I pick up a book, reminding me that this treasure I'm so deeply involved in has been warped into a movie. "Every one else likes it, too!" It seems to scream. Hard to explain... There's certainly nothing wrong with liking something that lots of other people like, it's looking like you like something because other people like it that's the problem. Yeah, that's it, I think...
And as a side note I think that Oprah's book club is a fantastic thing. Many fabulous books that would have gone overlooked have come to the masses and that's great. I read and LOVED Anna Karenina in college and I love that people who wouldn't have given it a second glance are now trying it out. And anything that gets people reading is a good thing.
I'm guilty of being one of those people who like the O on their books. I waited for 'New Earth' with the O to come to Australia, before I bought it. I really could not care less what people thought about what I read.
I think its everyone's prerogative to decide for themselves how they want to spend their cash, besides, I dont think Oprah comes to someone's house and forces them with a gun to their head to buy whatever she recommends, so give the girl a break and dont judge other people!
T
My two cents worth about the poop thing, I once read somewhere that as long as the poop sinks, then you're ok. When it floats, then it means your diet is all wrong, may contain too much processed, fatty foods which aint good for you. So next time you 'go', dont stress whether its an S or C, if its sunk, then you're good.
p.s. how is that for TMI, hahahahahaha
T
I think this issue taps directly into my biggest complaint about Oprah. It's that "be your own person", but "buy what I buy, eat what I eat, read what I read, journal like I journal" diatribe that I find to be so hypocritical. How can we truly think for ourselves and "be your best you" if we're such active lemmings at the same time?
That being said, I think I find her picture a distraction. If she were actually a nutrition expert, I might feel there was some credibility to the food items. If she were a literary critic, maybe her book club choice would sway my opinion.
Her show started out as fun and engaging, and has, in my opinion, turned into piety. I mean, really, there's NOBODY else worthy of the cover of that magazine?
I am actually incredibly curious about the rolfing... There are certain massage therapies that are beneficial to my own condition (advanced crohn's) and some that could harm it... I wonder the effects of rolfing on an autoimmune disease like mine? I'll look into it and let you know :-)
actually i have books and also I did the diet so some of that i did at the beginning until i became vegan.. but yeah they are only helpful suggestions you can just get what you want you know. I lost 95 pounds in 7 months on the diet
www.africa101project.org
Post a Comment