Stats are updated on a monthly basis.
| Years Active | September 1996 - Present (~28 years) |
| Members | 1 Million |
| Book Count | 108 |
| Book Frequency | ~ 4 per year |
| Book Selector | Oprah |
| Theme | Unknown |
| First Pick | The Deep End of the Ocean |
| Latest Pick | A New Earth |
| Complete List | Oprah's Book Club List |
SUMMARY
The original Oprah’s Book Club kicked off in September 1996 with Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard. The club began as a segment on The Oprah Winfrey Show with monthly picks. Soon the selections became more sporadic, shifting to primarily bi-monthly choices over the next 14 years. The club’s final picks, Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities, marked its closure in December 2010, coinciding with the end of the show itself.
In June 2012, Oprah’s Book Club was revived as Oprah’s Book Club 2.0, a collaboration between OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network and O, The Oprah Magazine. The first book of the revival was Cheryl Strayed’s Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. The book club has continued to operate, though its frequency and number of selections per year have varied, from one to four picks annually. In recent years, there have been four to five selections each year, though the timing and themes remain inconsistent.
Spanning over 28 years, this book club has seen a variety of selections, frequencies, a hiatus and remains one of the top, most popular book clubs.
CLUB RATINGS & REVIEW
RATINGS
Ratings are updated on an annual basis. See where this club lands in the best book clubs ranked for the year.
REVIEW
Here is BCR’s review of Oprah’s Book Club and the breakdown of the ratings above.
Selection Details
For most book clubs, especially successful major book clubs, the selection details are among the most known and consistent factors of the books the club reads.
Selector
Oprah Winfrey, talk show host, actress, author, and media mogul, is the driving force behind this book club, personally selecting each book it features. While the club is named after her, not all book clubs are led by their founders in this way. Oprah’s personal endorsement of every book chosen for the club has played a significant role in its enduring success and lasting influence.
Theme
The theme of Oprah’s Book Club is not entirely clear or not explicitly defined. There has never been a clear or consistent theme, either at its inception or in the years that followed. However, upon reflection on her 100th selection in 2023, Oprah said, “The whole reason I started a book club was to uplift and inspire people.” Others have speculated on emerging themes upon analysis of the selected books and genres. All in all, as the first celebrity-led book club, this book club has had an impact on getting more people to read and talk about books. That in and of itself is an emerging theme we can get behind.
Notification
Book selections for Oprah’s Book Club are often inconsistent, which means notifications and announcements can be unpredictable as well. For casual followers, discovering whether a new book has been selected can take some extra effort. When a selection is made, it’s typically posted on the club’s website, where visitors can also sign up for a newsletter to receive book announcements directly. BCR signed up to make this process easier and have the selections delivered straight to our inbox. For a long time, however, we didn’t receive a single email. Eventually, emails began to arrive regularly. We continue to check the website, and announcements are also shared on social media, including the club’s Instagram and Facebook pages.
Frequency
Book selections for Oprah’s Book Club are really inconsistent. Overall, it comes out to about four picks per year. Sometimes books have been selected in back-to-back months. Sometimes books have been selected five months apart. Other than the very early days of this club, there is no clear pattern of when a book might be selected.
BCR’s frequency rating for this book club is not based on the intervals but the inconsistency. It’s not the most inconsistent we’ve seen a book club be but it is not the most consistent. If the intervals were more consistent, the rating would be higher. The frequency and regularity of book selection are important to membership engagement and overall club success.
Book Details
For most book clubs, the book details of selections are less intentional and less known than the selection details. However, book details can be important underlying elements that influence members, readership, and the success of a club overall.
Availability
As a very popular book club, finding Oprah’s Book Club picks to purchase is not a challenge. However, for library lovers, expect a long waitlist. This is true even of older club picks. If you want to read the book as soon as it is selected, be prepared to buy it.
Format
A benefit of this club’s popularity is that the picks can be found in all of the most popular formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook. This is a plus for readers who may prefer one format over another. Or for readers who are flexible on format, you have more chances of getting the book sooner from the library.
Length
Oprah’s Book Club selections tend to be on the longer side, averaging 391 pages. Nearly half of the books chosen exceed 400 pages, reflecting this preference for lengthier reads. The shortest selection to date is Night by Elie Wiesel, at just 115 pages, while the longest is Familiaris by David Wroblewski, spanning 979 pages.
The varying intervals between book selections further complicate things for readers. Longer books work well during extended gaps between announcements, allowing ample time to dive in. However, when the next pick comes just a month later, it can be challenging for members to finish on time.
Rating
BCR considers a rating of 3 or higher as a good rating. On Goodreads, all of Oprah’s Book Club picks surpass this benchmark. Her picks boast an impressive average rating of 3.96, with the highest-rated book being The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton at 4.64 and the lowest-rated at 3.39. Overall, these ratings reflect consistently strong and positive reception.
Genre
The genres of Oprah’s Book Club picks are not very diverse. The top categories are Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Adult Fiction, and Novels. These classifications are quite similar and fall into broad, generic categories, offering limited variety in genre exploration.
Year Published
If you like reading newer and older books, Oprah’s Book Club is a good fit. This club’s books span decades and even centuries. About half a dozen books were published in the 1800s and early 1900s. Another half dozen are from the mid-20th century. The majority are from the 1980s through today. The club’s revival in 2012 denotes a noticeable shift towards modern book choices.
Authors
For most book clubs, author selections are likely less intentional than the club’s selection details but perhaps given more consideration than book details. Often, BCR finds authors to be subtle but important elements that can influence book selections. Author selection can paint a picture of and guide the intentions and direction of a book club.
Favorites
It seems Oprah’s Book Club has quite a few favorite authors, which may or may not be intentional. And given the notable longevity of this club, author repetition is almost inevitable. The following authors have each been selected twice:
- Jonathan Franzen
- Jane Hamilton
- Wally Lamb
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- Barbara Kingsolver
- David Wroblewski
Renowned author Toni Morrison has been selected four times. Additionally, Morrison is the most recurring author across the BCR book clubs. Five of her 11 novels are on three of the Best Book Clubs lists.
Diversity
Oprah’s Book Club showcases impressive diversity among its authors, featuring works by both men and women from various races, cultures, and backgrounds. The list also includes several translated books, possibly more than any of the other best book clubs. However, one notable critique is the limited representation of LGBTQ+ authors, which feels disproportionate given the extensive number of selections the club has made.
Club Details
All of the above contribute directly and indirectly to factors that make up the club details below.
Book Count
In March 2023, Oprah’s Book Club reached the milestone of 100 books. Now at 107 selections and counting, it boasts the highest total among the Best Book Clubs. While this number is impressive, it’s worth noting that the club has spanned four decades. This highlights how breaks and inconsistencies in selection frequency have impacted the total book count. Compared to other best book clubs, Oprah’s Book Club has the lowest book-count-to-years-active ratio. Some younger clubs, with a much faster pace, are quickly approaching the 100-book milestone and are set to surpass Oprah’s total within the year.
Membership Count
Oprah’s Book Club has maintained a loyal following over the years, despite breaks, changes, and inconsistent selection frequency. Currently, it boasts the second-largest membership among the Best Book Clubs, with an estimated 1 million members—a testament to its enduring influence and popularity.
Membership Engagement
Oprah’s Book Club engages members and followers in many ways. First, this club makes it super easy to join. To join, simply follow the club on any of its social media accounts. We love that this club makes it that easy to consider yourself counted as a member. Casual followers and dedicated members can keep up with the club on its website, social media, and newsletter.
Years Active
Spanning four decades, Oprah’s Book Club has been active for approximately 28 years. This club’s longevity demonstrates a dedication to the club’s intention, membership, and readership. And it looks like its momentum and popularity will continue to carry on.
Overall Rating
Is Oprah’s Book Club the book club for you? Get the complete Oprah’s Book Club list now.