8 Books Recommended by Oprah Winfrey

Woman reading a book.

Entrepreneurs must invest not only in their businesses but also in themselves. The most successful entrepreneurs are constantly learning, both through experience and study. Regardless of your schedule, make sure to plan reading time. You’ll reap excellent returns on time invested as you learn from informative books about business, startups, entrepreneurs, and other topics.

One of the most recognized authorities on books is Oprah Winfrey. While she recommends books across subjects and genres, she’s made plenty of business book recommendations over the years. Here are some of the most notable must-read works Oprah has recommended. You’d do well to read any (or all) of these.

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Books Oprah Recommends for Startup Success

Even with the proliferation of podcasts and how-to videos, there’s still no substitute for the traditional book. Books can go into much more detail than other media, allowing you to take notes and easily mark important sections. Below are some of the books Oprah has put on her list of the best books.

1. ‘The Seat of the Soul’ by Gary Zukav

Before Oprah Winfrey had the literary sway that now sends virtually any recommended book to the best-seller list, she sat down with a life-changing book. Gary Zukav made a simple statement in “The Seat of the Soul.” That statement was simple, yet Oprah found it profound and credits much of her professional and personal success to this idea.

Zukav grounds his statement in the third law of physics: every action has a reaction. He applies this to people’s actions but goes on to pontificate about what precedes the action. Before there’s an action or even a thought, there is an intention.

You’ll have to read Zukav’s work to determine whether you agree with his idea. Oprah has certainly taken it to heart, and her success should at least be enough reason to read the book.

2. ‘The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment’ by Eckhart Tolle

Oprah is hardly the first person to recommend “The Power of Now.” Jim Carrey and Kobe Bryant have likewise mentioned the book, not to mention plenty of scholars. Perhaps no celebrity is a more ardent fan of the book than Oprah, though. She’s previously mentioned always carrying a copy on her person (although it’s unclear whether she does now).

“The Power of Now” finds its genesis in a single night. Ekhart had been distressed by late-night thoughts, feeling morose and worried regularly. One night he questioned what made life unbearable and found his answer in “I.” That is, his self-generated thoughts were the issue. They could also be changed — and the next morning, Ekhart woke without the distress, depression, or worry that he previously suffered from.

The resulting book unpacks this night’s epiphany in three main points. Life is a series of present moments, all pain stems from resistance to things outside of what you control, and freedom from pain comes by examining your mind and not judging your thoughts. In other words, your thoughts right now determine who you are and how you feel. There are some similar themes to Gary Zuvak’s writing on intention.

3. ‘Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living’ by Shauna Niequist

“Present Over Perfect” continues the themes of examining one’s thoughts and living in the moment. Shauna Niequist challenges readers to consider their lives, activities, and settings, and poses a different paradigm. What if people were always present rather than always pursuing a future “perfect”?

The goal of Niequist’s paradigm is to give yourself room to breathe. That room allows you to relax, think, and pursue positive relationships. These then lead to a more satisfying and (counterintuitively) successful life.

“Present Over Perfect” poses a challenge for everyone today, as schedules are booked with activities, and downtime is filled with social media. The message is especially applicable to entrepreneurs, however. Whereas many founders praise entrepreneurs who live, eat and breathe their businesses 24/7, this paradigm suggests that the way forward to success might be by taking a small step backward — or at least to the side so you can “breathe” some different air.

4. ‘The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom’ by Don Miguel Ruiz

In “The Four Agreements,” Don Miguel Ruiz posits that people hold themselves back. Self-limiting beliefs can cause suffering and paralyzation, making it difficult or impossible to move forward. To counter this, Miguel Ruiz shares four principles that must be followed in order to overcome self-limiting thought.

“The Four Agreements” has undertones of similar themes and is widely applicable to entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs alike. Those running startups are under specific pressure to move forward in the face of doubt and failure, though, and the book’s lessons are thus especially poignant for business leaders.

While there’s overlap with some other books on this list, Oprah was particularly impressed with how Miguel Ruiz unpacks his four principles. She didn’t just recommend the book and interview Miguel Ruiz on her show – she also gave each of her children a copy.

5. ‘A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles”’ by Marianne Williamson

Oprah recommends Marianne Williamson’s “A Return to Love” as one of the most moving books she’s read. The selection examines pain in a spiritual way.

The lessons contained within Williamson’s work are again widely relevant. Readers will find suggestions on how to identify the source of pain, whether relationships, career, health, or something else, and ways to overcome the hurt. 

The lessons on how to address pain for personal growth are as relevant to startup founders and entrepreneurs as anyone else, though. Few people make sacrifices and must overcome mistakes on par with what successful (or unsuccessful) entrepreneurs go through.

6. ‘Tuesdays With Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man and Life’s Greatest Lesson’ by Mitch Albom

“Tuesdays With Morrie” is a well-known book on finding meaning in life. The book isn’t necessarily business-oriented on the surface and could even be considered counter to some entrepreneurial advice.

The story follows Albom’s personal account of going from being a successful sports journalist to finding life’s deeper meaning. The deeper meaning comes after Albom rekindles a friendship with his old college professor “Morrie,” whose health is failing. The title stems from Albom’s Tuesday visits with the professor.

Through the rekindled friendship, Albom experiences and subsequently shares lessons on fulfillment, happiness, and forgiveness. The very non-materialistic lessons aren’t always what’s foremost on business leaders’ minds, and they admittedly might not help much when trying to make the next sale.

For business leaders, however, “Tuesdays With Morrie” serves as a reminder and a guide to what’s really important in life. Albom had success but ultimately found other things more important. Oprah is likewise highly successful but sees value in the book’s lessons. Other business leaders would do well to heed these suggestions so they don’t become too caught up in the material success of a business and forget the really meaningful things in life.

7. ‘Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow’ by Elizabeth Lesser

The Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is a retreat center outside of New York City. More than 25,000 attendees take classes on the center’s campus each year, studying how they might have more hope, healing, and success. 

Oprah undoubtedly has been invited and appreciates much of the center’s philosophy. Most entrepreneurs don’t have the resources or time to attend sessions on the actual campus, though. If you can’t make it to the center, “Broken Open” shares much of the center’s philosophy.

Elizabeth Lesser is one of the co-founders of Omega Institute and has been involved with the center for more than 50 years. In “Broken Open,” she shares how she personally follows the center’s philosophical teachings to overcome and grow. The challenges of life aren’t just obstacles that must be addressed — they’re fundamental to personal improvement and greater future success.

8. ‘Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst’ by Robert M. Sapolsky

“Behave” again takes up themes of what motivates actions, but it does so in a more scientific way than most of the other must-read recommendations from Oprah. 

Robert M. Sapolsky is a neurobiologist and bases his findings on a study of science, history, and logic. Through these disciplines, he uncovers what drives actions that people take, including both good and bad ones.

The book’s value for entrepreneurs is multifaceted. Everyone can certainly benefit from a better understanding of why they personally do what they do. Entrepreneurs need to understand the causes of their actions so that they can constantly improve what they do each day.

Better understanding what causes actions additionally helps entrepreneurs sell better. Whether selling products to customers, getting buy-in from employees, or pitching to investors, entrepreneurs can tailor their message so that it takes advantage of what motivates people to act. Sapolsky even touches on how his research impacts trust and competition, giving entrepreneurs some initial suggestions as to how they might apply the insights.

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