Part Six: Is Oprah Winfrey a Bastard?

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne introduces the concept of the law of attraction, which suggests that positive thoughts can attract positive outcomes in life. The book outlines a three-step process: ask, believe, and receive. Byrne emphasizes the importance of gratitude, visualization, and maintaining a positive mindset to achieve one's desires. The book covers various areas such as prosperity, relationships, health, and happiness, and includes examples and quotes from historical and modern-day teachers who have allegedly used this principle to achieve their goals[2][3][5].

This book, first published in 1989, outlines seven habits that are designed to help individuals become more effective in their personal and professional lives. The habits are grouped into three categories: Private Victory (habits 1-3), Public Victory (habits 4-6), and Renewal (habit 7). The habits include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking first to understand and then to be understood, synergizing, and sharpening the saw. Covey emphasizes the importance of personal integrity, effective time management, empathetic communication, and continuous self-improvement[2][5][4].

A Million Little Pieces follows James Frey, a 23-year-old alcoholic and drug addict, as he undergoes rehabilitation in a private clinic. The book chronicles his painful withdrawal, his relationships with other patients including a mafia boss named Leonard and a young woman named Lilly, and his struggles with the 'Fury' that drives his addiction. Initially marketed as a memoir, the book was later relabeled as a 'semi-fictional novel' after Frey admitted to fabricating several details of his story. The narrative explores themes of addiction, recovery, and personal responsibility, offering a raw and emotional account of Frey's experiences.

In 'The Age of Oprah', Janice Peck traces Oprah Winfrey's journey from a talk show host to one of the most influential figures in popular culture. The book examines the parallels between Winfrey's ascent and the political-economic rise of neoliberalism in the United States. Peck explores how Winfrey's influence extends into social, economic, and political arenas through her talk show, magazine, website, seminars, charity work, and public appearances. The book provides a detailed analysis of how Winfrey's brand of personal empowerment aligns with and reflects broader cultural and political trends, including the therapeutic enterprise, family values rhetoric, Reaganomics, neoliberal spirituality, and commodity philanthropy.

The novel follows Agu's journey as he is coerced into joining a rebel force after his village is torn apart by war. It vividly portrays the psychological and physical trauma experienced by child soldiers, highlighting the brutal realities of war and its dehumanizing effects. Through Agu's first-person narrative, the book explores themes of identity, loyalty, manipulation, and the loss of innocence, providing a powerful commentary on the horrors of civil war and its impact on communities.

The book, written by Herman Rosenblat, claims to recount his experience as a teenage boy during the Holocaust at Schlieben, a sub-division of the Buchenwald concentration camp. It tells the story of a nine-year-old Jewish girl who, posing as a Christian, met Rosenblat at the electrified perimeter fence and passed him food for seven months. The story also includes their supposed reunion and marriage years later. However, the central events of the book were exposed as fabrications, leading to the cancellation of its publication. Despite this, the book gained significant attention due to its emotional and seemingly true narrative, which was later debunked by Holocaust scholars and researchers.

In 'The Business of Redemption', James Arthur Ray discusses his journey, including the tragic events that led to his conviction for negligent homicide and his subsequent imprisonment. The book explores themes of leadership, personal growth, and redemption as Ray reflects on his past and his efforts to rebuild his life and business after his release from prison.

This collection by Uwem Akpan features five stories, each set in a different African country, narrated by children who are witnesses to and victims of various forms of violence, poverty, and social upheaval. The stories include 'An Ex-Mas Feast' set in Kenya, 'Fattening for Gabon' in Benin, 'My Parents' Bedroom' in Rwanda, 'Luxurious Hearses' in Nigeria, and 'What Language is That?' in Ethiopia. The narratives highlight the harsh realities of life for many African children, capturing their voices and experiences with vivid and stark prose.

The book tells the supposed true story of Misha Defonseca, a young Jewish girl from Brussels who loses her parents, runs away from her foster family, and embarks on a perilous journey across Europe during the Holocaust. She claims to have been adopted by a pack of wolves and to have experienced numerous extraordinary and historically implausible events. However, in 2008, Defonseca admitted that the story was entirely fabricated, despite its initial success and translation into 18 languages.

This anthology, edited by Rob Spillman, provides a snapshot of recent African writing, including works from West, Sub-Saharan, North, East, and Southern Africa. It addresses various themes such as the struggle against Western influences, the rise of women’s voices, and the personal and national impact of domestic and imported religions. The collection includes powerful pieces like 'Lomba' by an unnamed author, 'The Senghor Complex' by Patrice Nganang, and an excerpt from Nawal El Saadawi’s 'Woman at Point Zero'. These works collectively offer a diverse and urgent perspective on African culture, heritage, and the ongoing struggles of African people in a globalized world.

The Panic Virus is a riveting and sometimes heart-breaking medical detective story that delves into the vaccine-autism controversy. Seth Mnookin draws on interviews with parents, public-health advocates, scientists, and anti-vaccine activists to explain why many people still believe in a link between vaccines and autism despite scientific evidence to the contrary. The book chronicles the history of vaccines, the evolution of the autism diagnosis, and the impact of the internet on public perception of science. It also examines the role of celebrity influence and the consequences of vaccine skepticism on public health.

In 'Murambi, The Book of Bones', Boubacar Boris Diop confronts the chilling horror and overwhelming sadness of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. The novel follows Cornelius Uvimana, a Rwandan history teacher living in Djibouti, as he returns to Rwanda to understand the death of his family and to write a play about the events. Through Cornelius's journey, Diop explores the human cost of the genocide and the importance of bearing witness to such atrocities. The book is part of the 'Rwanda: écrire par devoir de mémoire' initiative and has been translated into English by Fiona McLaughlin[1][3][4].