Oprah Winfrey, one of the most influential and successful media personalities in the world, started her own book publishing company, "Oprah's Book Club" in 1996, as an extension of her popular talk show, "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Oprah's book club was created to promote books that align with her values and interests, and that she believed would inspire and empower her audience.
The book club was launched on the "The Oprah Winfrey Show" with the selection of "The Deep End of the Ocean" by Jacquelyn Mitchard. The book quickly became a bestseller, and the book club's success was established. From 1996 to 2010, the book club had 72 selections and published a list of recommended books, the selection of a book led to an increase of sales between 10 and 20 times.
Oprah's book publishing company operates under the umbrella of her media empire, Harpo Productions. The company works closely with major publishers such as Random House, Penguin, and Simon & Schuster to select and promote books. The books selected for the book club are chosen by Oprah and a small team of editors who read thousands of books each year.
In addition to promoting books, Oprah's book publishing company also provides resources for authors and aspiring writers. The company offers writing workshops, mentoring programs, and publishing advice to help writers improve their craft and get their work published.
Oprah's book club was a way to share her love of reading with her audience and to help promote books that align with her values and interests. The club was an instant success and has had a significant impact on the literary world, with many of the books selected becoming national bestsellers and reviving the careers of several authors.