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Words That Matter: A Little Book of Life Lessons

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O, The Oprah Magazine encourages confident, intelligent women to reach for their dreams, express their individual style, and make choices, guided by the values of one of the most charismatic women in the world, O Editorial Director Oprah Winfrey. Words That Matter collects more than 600 of the most inspiring things ever said in the pages of O, The Oprah Magazine over the course of its extraordinary ten-year history.

179 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

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O, The Oprah Magazine

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5 stars
157 (35%)
4 stars
141 (31%)
3 stars
105 (23%)
2 stars
28 (6%)
1 star
15 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Kellie Barlow.
65 reviews10 followers
April 28, 2011
This is a little book full of inspiring quotes. I took my time with this one, savoring each page. I found one of my new favorites in here :

"People believe themselves to be dependent on what happens for their happiness. They don't realize that what happens is the most unstable thing in the universe." -Eckhart Tolle (So very true.)

And one more:

"Don't get hung up on the size. If you feel bad about yourself because a 12 is what fits, take a sharpie, and write '6' on the label." -Stacey London (Cute philosophy, huh?)
Profile Image for Tilara.
115 reviews5 followers
December 8, 2013
I'm a big Oprah fan and when I saw this little book I thought it would be interesting to see what kind of people she would quote and how this book would turn out. Many of the people quoted have been on her shows (Dr. Phil, Martha Beck, Maya Angelou, etc.) but there are many other quotes from authors, poets, entertainment people and philosophers, as well as Oprah's own words.

The book is entirely quotes, there is no extra anything else, it is just quotes, so it is not the kind of book you sit down and read in an afternoon. It is something you could read before bed, or upon waking or to have on your coffee table.

The quotes are sectioned by type: Dreaming Big, Love sex, friendship & family, Giving thanks/giving back, Joy fun & pleasure, Honoring your Body, Aha moments, Finding balance, Your thoughts & Beliefs, Aging Brilliantly & Reinventing Boldness.

I enjoyed this book and found myself tagging pages to write down in my own little quote book. I also found that Martha Beck's quotes hit home with a punch and a little dab of humor, so I will be seeking out some of her books to see if I enjoy reading her books as well.

Overall, a nicely put together little book and a keeper for those who like uplifting quotes.
Profile Image for هَيَـــــا.
41 reviews
March 6, 2012
That book is a treasure trove of words that inspire, encourage,and teach you life lessons ranging from dreaming big, love, friendship and family to finding a balance and aging brilliantly. It not a coffee table book that you read and forget about, it is rather a guiding tool that you should get back to when seeking a bolt of inspiration.
Profile Image for Janet.
2,302 reviews27 followers
April 8, 2010
I'm a quote hound, always looking for good ones. This collection would have been a lot better if Oprah herself (and writers who contribute regularly to her magazine)didn't turn up quoted on what seemed like every other page...
Profile Image for Jacqueline.
Author 79 books91 followers
August 4, 2016
This is a quick read that would make a nice gift for someone who finds comfort in wise quotes.
Profile Image for Amanda.
36 reviews3 followers
July 18, 2020
This book is exactly what it says that it is, a little book of quotes that readers can use to seek inspiration every day. The book is dazzlingly organized by inspirational need, such as “Aging Brilliantly”, “Reinventing yourself with Boldness”, and “Honoring Your Body, Trusting Your Gut”.

I am enamored of the power of words. Why simply say “difficult” when you can suggest something is “brutal”? How boring would life be if a lesson was simply “informative” vs. “brilliant” or “life-altering”? Words are powerful. The brief glimpses of words in this book the power to help us feel comfort, inspiration and love.

You can digest these inspirational quotes as you would pieces of chocolate to bring small bits of joy across the days.

“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.” – Iris Murdoch, novelist

Use this book as one of them.

162 reviews2 followers
February 17, 2018
I love the emspirations of the different quotes. They encourage you. A person in this sence need some guidance. And motivation. It tells you to think outside the box. Now if I am going through some difficultes or anything bad I would go back. to this book. I love the advise that this book is providing. I would recommend this book to anyone going through a hard time. I was going through some confusions and. fustrations. I am trying to find myself. I am still exploying. Well as I said, people need to read this book.

I n other words its a good book. It is full of encouragement. It helps you to get out of a rut.
Profile Image for Lawrence.
Author 9 books5 followers
August 17, 2019
Enjoying it so far in a quiet Saturday. Found one that really stood out, "All intimacy is rare - that's what makes it precious. And it involves the revelation of one's self and the loving gaze upon another's true self (no makeup, no fancy car, no defensive charm, no seduction) - that's what makes it so damn hard. Intimacy requires honesty and kindness in almost equal measure, trust and trustworthiness, forgiveness and the capacity to be forgiven... it's more than worth it - just don't let them tell you it's bliss."
Profile Image for Marilyn.
848 reviews14 followers
January 1, 2018
What a super way to end the year and bring in a new one! Many new "favorite" quotes! I loved being told that it was A-OK to stay home, pet my dog and watch "Law and Order". Lots of Oprah quotes. She must have written the book to have a venue for her gems. Martha Beck too.
1,321 reviews16 followers
December 28, 2017
A positive book of quotes by many people who have been there and seen many things.They have survived and want to let us know that it is possible to be ourselves,happily and productively.Sometimes it takes all we have and then some,but it is obtainable.
Profile Image for Rebeca Núñez.
801 reviews37 followers
July 13, 2020
No era lo que esperaba, pero eso no es necesariamente malo. Básicamente son frases de personajes famosos por diferentes cosas, que están separados por temas como familia, prosperidad personal, y temas así.
Profile Image for LoLa.
161 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2020
A book full of quotes. One of my favorite type
Of books. Def something that will have me revisiting every so often.
1 review1 follower
May 10, 2023
Great book for little bits of inspo whenever you might need a little boost.
Profile Image for Ramona.
165 reviews33 followers
August 13, 2010
I love quotes and took my time enjoying reading the quotes Oprah compiled in her book. I marked some of my favorites with post it notes & know I will enjoy rereading Words That Matter and using it as a reference when I'm looking for a good quote to share.

"One single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer." G. E Lessing, philosopher

"We can't take any credit for our talents. It's how we use them that counts." Madeleine L'Engle, author

"You're worried about how you're going to feel at the end of your life? What about right now? Live. Right this minute. That's where the joy is." Abigail Thomas, writer

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalms 30:5

"There is no old age. There is, as there always was, just you." Carol Matthau, writer

"I know for sure that while it's great to have role models, we should never try to be anyone but ourselves." Mattie J. T. Stepanek, poet who died from muscular dystrophy at age fourteen
Profile Image for Carly Shaw.
7 reviews
January 15, 2011
This book by Oprah Winfrey is an entire book of quotes. Oprah gathered all of her favorite quotes and put them in to one book to live by. Oprah claims to live her life by quotes, as she states on her show, and these are the ones that inspire her every day. One of the more famous quotes from this book is "Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome." — (Arthur Ashe).Overall, this book is a set of standards to live by and gives motivation to those who seek it.
I strongly enjoyed this book and it was very inspirational. At first glance, the thought of a book with all quotes seems somewhat boring, but it surprised me! Oprah's purpose for this book was to inspire peoples lives just as she's been insprired. These quotes are not quite rules to live by, but they can be a great guideline. The theme of this book is there is always a positive side to everything, and one must always look forward to brighter days.
Profile Image for K8e .
163 reviews
May 16, 2025
ix- Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame, but greatness, because greatness is determined by service. -Martin Luther King Jr.

x- The more you focus on words that uplift you, the more you embody the ideas contained in those words. -Oprah

4- Fortes fortuna javat. (Fortune favors the brave)

10- You should be cooking on all four burners. -Breena Clark

11- Let passion drive your profession. -Oprah

26- Something does not have to end well for it to have been one of the most valuable experiences of a lifetime. -Ethel Person

48- When people show you who they are, believe them. -Maya Angelou

57- When you focus on the good in your life, you create more of it. -Oprah

59- We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. -Winston Churchill

105- I can't inspire self-confidence in others if I personally haven't achieved it. -Samantha Dunn
Profile Image for Cristina1961.
72 reviews
August 12, 2010

I'm not sure how I sat on the chaise and read 159 pages of quotes in an hour waiting for one to leap out and grab me by the cojones-that would have been funny. Metacognition on vacation?

I should have known when I read the title page, Words that Matter. Who can claim that? All words matter.

Lesson learned. Pay attention to my own life's lessons. I can't find them on the pages of someone else's book.

Too bad I have to give it one star.
Profile Image for Becca.
598 reviews38 followers
June 28, 2011
Well, what did I expect from this? It's a book of Oprah's favorite quotes to inspire the reader. Eh. How exciting can a book of quotes be (unless you're writing a paper)?

I guess this would be good to whip out when writing a letter or email or even to add a little extra touch to a greeting card, but I can do almost the same thing by searching for "inspirational quotes" online.
Profile Image for Sheryl.
479 reviews45 followers
September 21, 2015
I do see myself opening this up once in a while to take in little nuggets of inspiration. I found though that how the quotes were organized were a bit out order. It followed the themes or tried to but really each section felt like its content were a bit all over the place so I constantly had to remind myself what the section was trying to achieve.
Profile Image for Tonya.
190 reviews1 follower
December 8, 2014
I enjoyed this quick read; I tabbed almost every page to remind myself of the quotes I wanted to keep. One thing though, I did not like that every other quote was by Oprah. Not only were half the quotes by Oprah, they took up the most space! I felt the book should have been renamed _Quotes by Oprah and 'em_.
29 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2011
Wonderul, inspiration quotations from a wide array of personalites.
Profile Image for Nurashikin.
15 reviews12 followers
March 4, 2013
A friend give me this book. I love it. Quotes are my passion. Oprah has the best ever quote collection.
Profile Image for Larashi.
134 reviews7 followers
December 5, 2012
penuh inspirasi dan menyenangkan
syukurlah saya sudah menjalani hidup paling gokil selama ini
hehehe
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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