Oprah Winfrey
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Oprah Winfrey's book recommendations

Oprah Winfrey’s most frequently mentioned books on podcasts are Anatomy of the Spirit (undefined shows, 3 episodes), The Seat of the Soul (undefined shows, 2 episodes) and Daring Greatly (undefined shows, 2 episodes), and Oprah Winfrey’s most frequently recommended book is Getting the love you want (1 episode). Across 17 episodes on 4 of the 69 shows we track, through , 21 books have come up (3 explicitly recommended and 18 discussed).

Guest on Oprah's Super Soul, The Mel Robbins Podcast, On Purpose with Jay Shetty, a16z Podcast · 21 books · 17 episodes across 4 podcasts

Oprah Winfrey has also written 13 books: see Books by Oprah Winfrey.

Across 4 podcasts. Every show Oprah Winfrey appears on, in one place, not just one.

Oprah Gail Winfrey is an American media mogul, actress, executive producer, author, and television personality. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from Chicago, which ran in national syndication for 25 years, from 1986 to 2011. Globally, she is the richest Black woman and the wealthiest female celebrity. Dubbed the "Queen of All Media", she was the richest African-American of the 20th century and was once the world's only Black billionaire. By 2007, she was often ranked as the most influential woman in the world and in 2026 was named the greatest living self-made American. On her show, Winfrey recommended Harville Hendrix’s Getting the Love You Want, noting that reading it helped her maintain her relationship, and she urged audiences to read Iyanla Vanzant’s Trust. She also discussed Debbie Ford’s The Dark Side of the Light Chasers, the collaborative book The Shadow Effect by Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, and Debbie Ford, Ford and Wayne W. Dyer’s work on courage, and Maya Angelou’s Mom and Me and Mom.

Books Oprah Winfrey recommended or discussed

Who said what is our best reading of each episode. In hand-checked samples, at least 6% of mentions were credited to the wrong speaker, sometimes an interviewer’s line recorded as the guest’s, sometimes the reverse. Every entry below in the top 20 quotes the words and links to the episode, so you can check it; every other book's page carries its quotes.

  1. Anatomy of the Spirit

    Caroline Myss · Discussed · 3 episodes

    Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss is a well-known spiritual guide that integrates various cultural and religious traditions to explore the energetic and emotional roots of physical healing.

    Discussed
    “I remember doing a show where Carolyn Mays was on with her book, Anatomy of Spirit, and the audience was watching, but I could see they had gone they had gone somewhere else.”
    Where to get it
  2. What Happened to You?

    Bruce D. Perry; Oprah Winfrey · Discussed · 3 episodes

    What Happened to You? is a book on trauma, resilience, and healing co-authored by Oprah Winfrey and psychiatrist Dr. Bruce D. Perry.

    Discussed
    “Not until probably 2020 just during the pandemic when I was going over a book that I had written with Dr. Bruce Perry about what happened to you”
    Where to get it
  3. The Seat of the Soul

    Gary Zukav · Discussed · 2 episodes

    Gary Zukav's The Seat of the Soul is a transformative spiritual guide that explores the evolution of human consciousness and the alignment of personality with the soul.

    Discussed
    “Cuz around this time, 19 in the late 1980s, I was reading Gary Zukov's book, Seed of the Soul. And in that book, one of the best books of my life actually, and he has two chapters on intention.”
    Where to get it
  4. Daring Greatly

    Brené Brown · Discussed · 2 episodes

    Daring Greatly by Brené Brown is a prominent nonfiction book that explores vulnerability, shame, and courage.

    Discussed
    “She's the author of the best-selling Daring Greatly and the famous TED Talk that has millions, millions of views. And Brene says that daring greatly actually means to have the courage to be vulnerable.”
    Where to get it
  5. My Love Story

    Tina Turner · Discussed · 2 episodes

    My Love Story is a poignant memoir by legendary singer Tina Turner that chronicles her remarkable life, career triumphs, and severe medical struggles.

    Discussed
    “It's called My Love Story.”
    Where to get it
  6. Getting the love you want

    Harville Hendrix · Recommended · 1 episode

    Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix is a renowned relationship guide that introduces transformative communication tools and psychological frameworks for couples seeking deeper connection.

    Recommended
    “I read, well, I had, you know, I had Harville on here and like whenever he wrote Getting the Love You Want. Yeah. I would not still be in relationship with seven and had I not read that book.”
    Where to get it
  7. Trust

    Iyanla Vanzant · Recommended · 1 episode

    Trust by Iyanla Vanzant is a self-help and spiritual guide focusing on how individuals can heal from past pain and learn to trust again.

    Discussed
    “in her book trust iyanla also shares the deeply personal work she had to do herself to recalibrate her own internal compass”
    Where to get it
  8. Wild

    Cheryl Strayed · Recommended · 1 episode

    Wild by Cheryl Strayed is a bestselling memoir chronicling the author's solo 1,100-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail and the profound personal healing she found along the way.

    Book club
    “I said I have to bring back the book club because I can't keep it to myself. I just can't keep it to myself. I need to shout from a mountaintop. I need to shout on the web. I need to tell everybody I know about this book.”
    Where to get it
  9. A Return to Love

    Marianne Williamson · Discussed · 1 episode

    A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson is a spiritual guide and mainstream adaptation of A Course in Miracles that explores how to replace fear with love.

    Discussed
    “Because, you know, Marianne Williamson said in her book, Return to Love, we're either moving in the direction of love or moving in the direction of fear. When something shows up in your life that causes that fear to rise, take three breaths in the moment that it shows up.”
    Where to get it
  10. Courage

    Debbie Ford; Wayne W. Dyer · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “When you were asked to write a book on courage, when was that? That was about three and a half years ago. About three and a half years ago, before you went through this fire.”
    Where to get it
  11. Hungry

    Dr. Robin L. Smith · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “And that conversation led to Dr. Robin's latest book, Hungry, a very personal look at the relationship choices, career setbacks, and childhood wounds that can leave any of us feeling empty and hungry for more.”
    Where to get it
  12. I, Tina

    Tina Turner; Kurt Loder · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “If we were to trace a line from the bravery it took for you to write your story back in the '80s, I, Tina, to women today speaking out about Harvey Weinstein and other powerful and abusive men.”
    Where to get it
  13. Learning to Walk in the Dark

    Barbara Brown Taylor · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “But I thought, you know, until I read this book, this is why this is so fascinating, Supersolars, that we're still evolving and growing in our knowledge of our spiritual selves.”
    Where to get it
  14. Mom and Me and Mom

    Maya Angelou · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “And she just finished her latest piece of work and inspiration, sharing some of the deepest personal stories of her life in Mom and Me and Mom.”
    Where to get it
  15. Out on a Limb

    Colin Higgins; Shirley MacLaine · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “I invited her to the show because I had read and loved her memoir out on a limb while filming The Color Purple.”
    Where to get it
  16. The Book of Secrets

    Deepak Chopra · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “Yeah, I heard that when you were in dialysis, you were reading Book of Secrets from Deepak Chopra. You were reading Dante.”
    Where to get it
  17. The Color Purple

    Alice Walker · Discussed · 1 episode

    The Color Purple by Alice Walker is a powerful Pulitzer Prize-winning epistolary novel that follows the harrowing life, resilience, and emotional awakening of Celie, an impoverished African American woman in the American South.

    Discussed
    “because the Golden Rule says do unto others as you would have them do unto you in the color purple remember color purple That moment when miss Celie says everything you even try to do to me is already done to you”
    Where to get it
  18. The dark side of the light chasers

    Debbie Ford · Discussed · 1 episode

    The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford is a transformative guide focused on shadow work, self-acceptance, and personal growth by confronting the hidden aspects of the human psyche.

    Discussed
    “I think it's so interesting that you, Debbie Ford, author of The Dark Side of the Light Chasers, would say that you were in denial”
    Where to get it
  19. The Shadow Effect LP

    Deepak Chopra; Marianne Williamson; Debbie Ford · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “I know in the shadow effect, both you, well, the three of you, you, Marianne, and Deepak, write about the, and Marianne so beautifully, years ago, talked about our deepest fear”
    Where to get it
  20. Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now

    Maya Angelou · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “Maya used Maya actually wrote a book called I think it's a book of poetry called I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.”
    Where to get it
The other 1 book Oprah Winfrey recommended or discussed, ranked
  1. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes · discussed · 1 episode

Books by Oprah Winfrey

13 books Oprah Winfrey wrote, best known first. What podcasts say about them →

Questions about Oprah Winfrey’s book recommendations

What book does Oprah Winfrey recommend most?

Getting the love you want by Harville Hendrix. Oprah Winfrey recommended it in 1 episode.

How many books has Oprah Winfrey recommended on podcasts?

We have found 21 books Oprah Winfrey recommended or discussed, across 17 episodes of 4 podcasts. Ad reads and passing mentions are not counted.

What books are on Oprah Winfrey's reading list?

The books Oprah Winfrey has most frequently mentioned on podcasts are Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss (3 episodes), The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav (2 episodes), Daring Greatly by Brené Brown (2 episodes), My Love Story by Tina Turner (2 episodes) and Getting the love you want by Harville Hendrix (1 episode) (3 of 21 books carry an explicit recommendation; the rest were discussed). The full book list below has all 21.

What books has Oprah Winfrey picked for the book club?

Wild by Cheryl Strayed, newest first.

What books has Oprah Winfrey written?

The uncommon wisdom of Oprah Winfrey (1996), Make the Connection (1996), Oprah Winfrey speaks (1998), Journey to Beloved (1998), The best of Oprah's what I know for sure (2005), What I Know For Sure (2014), Food, health, and happiness (2017), Awakened Woman (2017), The wisdom of Sundays (2017) and The Path Made Clear (2019), among 13 in all.

What did Oprah Winfrey recommend on Oprah's Super Soul?

Daring Greatly, My Love Story and Getting the love you want, among 16 books in all.

What is the latest book Oprah Winfrey recommended?

The dark side of the light chasers, discussed on Oprah's Super Soul (2026-11-11).

People who recommend the same books

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
Debbie Ford: The Shadow BeliefOprah's Super Soul2026-11-115
What Maya Angelou Knew About Happiness That Most People Miss | Super Soul SparksOprah's Super Soul2026-11-083
Why Barbara Brown Taylor Says Running from Pain May Be Holding You Back | Super Soul SparksOprah's Super Soul2026-11-013
Julia Roberts: Daring and Vulnerable, Part 1Oprah's Super Soul2026-10-281
Alanis Morissette Opens Up on the Hidden Cost of Fame | Super Soul SparksOprah's Super Soul2026-10-251
Cheryl Strayed and Oprah on the Conversation That Could Change Your Life | Super Soul SparksOprah's Super Soul2026-10-181
Tina Turner: My Love Story, Part 2Oprah's Super Soul2026-10-142
Tina Turner: My Love Story, Part 1Oprah's Super Soul2026-10-076
Shirley MacLaine’s Shocking Views on Reincarnation & Life's Meaning | Super Soul SparksOprah's Super Soul2026-10-041
Dr. Robin Smith: The Truth About Being Emotionally FullOprah's Super Soul2026-09-304
How Saying Yes Changed Shonda Rhimes' Life | Super Soul SparksOprah's Super Soul2026-09-271
Iyanla Vanzant: The Four Essentials of TrustOprah's Super Soul2026-09-233
Oprah Winfrey: How to Find Your Unique Purpose, Authentic Power, and Calling In LifeThe Mel Robbins Podcast2026-09-173
OPRAH WINFREY: The Life Lessons That Changed EverythingOn Purpose with Jay Shetty2026-09-164
Give Me 30 Minutes and I’ll Teach You How to Let Go of the PastOn Purpose with Jay Shetty2025-10-011
How To Break The Addiction To NEGATIVE THOUGHTS & EMOTIONS | Oprah WinfreyOn Purpose with Jay Shetty2022-04-096
a16z Podcast | Belief -- An Interview with Oprah Winfreya16z Podcast2019-01-022
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
Passing Conversations with God, Book 1
“I was angry with God. It's like called Neil Donald Walsh. Really? Who wrote conversations with God. You were angry with God.”
Passing I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
“Her seminal autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, published to international acclaim, was named by Time Magazine to be one of the 100 best non-fiction books of all time.”
Passing The Color Purple
“I invited her to the show because I had read and loved her memoir out on a limb while filming The Color Purple.”