Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier

Oprah Winfrey, who is popularly known simply as Oprah, is an influential figure in the realms of media, philanthropy, and personal development. Born in rural Mississippi in 1954, Winfrey endured a challenging childhood marked by poverty, adversity, and abuse. Winfrey’s trajectory—overcoming a difficult childhood to become a global media mogul and one of the wealthiest women in the world—likely influenced the perspectives and philosophies that she shares in Build the Life You Want. Her life story supports the belief that one can pursue happiness despite experiencing difficult external circumstances, and this is a belief that both Winfrey and Brooks explore through the theme of Individual Agency as a Key to Happiness. Winfrey is most well-known for her acclaimed talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. In describing the process of writing Build the Life You Want, Winfrey notes that her talk show exposed her to countless stories of the human experience, and that she drew upon these stories as she contemplated the concepts of happiness and unhappiness. Oprah is also known for her philanthropic endeavors. The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls focuses on education and empowerment, particularly for young women facing adversity.