Blog to Book - "Living Oprah" by Robyn Okrant

I heard about this book on the "Life Matters" show on Radio National yesterday, and given my post earlier this week on the Julie/Julia Project blog and the book and movie that followed, I had to find out more about Robyn's blog and book. From the website of the book's publisher in Australia, Harper Collins:

"On January 1, 2008, Robyn Okrant kicked off a year-long experiment to find out what would happen if an average 35-year-old woman put her life in the hands of television′s most influential personality, Oprah Winfrey. Using The Oprah Winfrey Show, O, The Oprah Magazine and Oprah.com as a roadmap for her journey, her rule was whatever Oprah says, she does. From her wardrobe to her marriage, diet, spiritual life, finances, home and beyond, the author redesigned her entire life according to Winfrey′s ′best life′ advice.

Why Oprah? Hers is the quintessential rags-to-riches story, and her ′Live Your Best Life′ theme inspires millions to strive for happier, more productive lives. And of all the cultural influences on women, Oprah is one of the most prevalent and powerful."

Do you watch Oprah? I don't, but a lot of people do – approximately 23 million people each week.

I think the interesting thing for me is why these blogs are so popular. Here are two women who have attached themselves to celebrities via these challenges they have set themselves, and other people are willing to spend time everyday logging in to read about what happens. Is it because we all believe that the blogger can’t possibly achieve what they have set out to do? Maybe, we feel that the blogger identifies with our own thoughts – can a normal person actually cook like this or, by following Oprah’s advice, make themselves into a better person? Are the meals in this cook book and the advice given on this talk show just something that we aspire to but don’t really believe can be achieved?
As a society, we love to watch self improvement shows, cooking shows such as Masterchef, reality TV shows such as Biggest Loser, and to read books about how to improve our lives such as “The Secret”.  Are we really interested in putting into practice what we watch/read or are we just happy to be caught up in the sense of belonging to this fantasy world where everyone can be a celebrity.