35-year-old Chicago blogger Robyn Okrant (aka "Lo") tapes every episode of Oprah, takes notes on what the talk show host advises, and lives according to the letter. When Oprah said everyone should adopt an animal from a shelter, Lo got a cat from the Humane Society. It's all part of a year-long experiment in "living your best life" as Oprah sees it, tracking the costs of that lifestyle, and seeing whether or not Oprahism can really improve one's outlook...
Lo's been living this way since January 1, 2008, supplementing the advice Oprah espouses on her show with tips from "O" Magazine and oprah.com. Lo is bankrolling the year herself, and has spent a few thousand dollars so far buying what Oprah recommends, cooking suggested meals, decorating her apartment according to Oprah's advice, and following other recommendations like seeing Celine Dion in concert. Some of Oprah's suggestions are silly (like the charge to buy leopard-print flats) and some are more serious (like the call to reduce one's carbon footprint).
Lo spends about 40 hours a week following Oprah's philosophy and blogging about it. Her project has been covered by major media including the NY Times, NPR, and the Guardian. To read her play-by-play account of life according to Oprah, click here.
Photo: Living Oprah


Sprout Side Table
Living Oprah: How to get a book contract without even trying.
Clever. I have to admit, I am SURE she knows not to take all the O says literally, but it's clever premise for a blog. I took a quick peek. I don't think I could follow her blog every day - but a nice recap of the entire process would give me a nice chuckle.
If nothing else, she got a cute kitty out of it.
At least the kitty is living a better life. This sort of sounds a LOT like the Julie and Julia project where the woman made all the recipes from the Julia Child cookbook on her blog and then got book deal...and now a movie...
sounds kind of cult-ish....
I want to "Live Bourdain"
ugh. Oprah needs to be silenced for a while.
living in a reality that oprah created? scarier than a trip to neverland ranch.
haha. agreed. silence oprah!
I'm sick of Oprah telling everyone how to live their lives...and I'm certainly not interested in hearing what this sycophant has to say about it.
It's an interesting exercise in testing the Power of Oprah - reality or illusion? Surely it's an illusion bestowed upon Oprah by millions of followers, but this is just Lo's way of testing that power. I think it's smart, and if she gets a book deal, good for her.
I'm not sure my liver could 'live bourdain'
but its a nice thought!
totally cool
Wow - for once I agree with all the commenters.
I read the NYT article when it was first published, and I really don't think she's a devout follower.
She's taking on more of a passive skeptic role.
And just a side note that a few of you may find juicy: I used to work at Harpo Studios, and had the "pleasure" of interacting with Ms. O several times.
I'll just say she isnt all good feelings and positive thoughts.
www.thebitterfoodie.blogspot.com
Without having read the blog or any articles about this, I think this is a totally cool conceptual art piece and a book deal would be a very integrated part of the whole thing.
Hey sounds like a cult, whatever you do don't drink the KoolAide. Wow some people are are such @$$ clowns.
every time i see a house tour i'm gonna rearrange my furniture like them. i'm living AT. Maxwell is my leader all haill max all hail max...
Sounds like she should have an interesting blogg.
"BOOOO" to all of those who are hating on Oprah. I doubt if she REALLY expects you to "follow" her. (insert eyeroll whenever ready)
La loca, "living Bourdain" would be so awesome!
Being neutral to Oprah's powers, I picked up a few back issues floating around the office. Really, the way everything is worded in her magazine, it pretty much seems that she expects those embarking on the "Best Life" plan should follow her to the letter. To me, it sounded like I'd be labeled an asshole by the world for not luxiriating in her imported Andean llama wool slippers or trying to go raw/vegan for a month long cleanse. She irks me something awful now. The tone of her entire magazine is similar to Martha Stewart's "Gentle Reminders" section. The O magazine has that sing songy tone your most bitchy teacher used to give you when she asked you do something. As if you are too stupid to follow what is common sense.
i would love to Live Bourdain! let's get on it!
i want to live bourdain too ... but ... i'd have to go to the gym fifty times more than i do now. i don't have tall skinny guy genetics that can handle as much pork fat as he eats :)
this is so frickin' funny - i'm going to have to start following the blog now :)
I don't think we need to take Oprah or this blurb about it all too seriously. I am sure the journalist blogging about it is doing it as an experiement, meant to be ironic. I am sure it will bankroll a bundle for her at years end. Lets just take it for what it is and not get all philisophical KTG, live Bourdain for goodness sake!
She is bankrolling this my @$$. She gets paid for every media outlet (major and minor) that picks up her musings about living her best life. PT Barnum must be chuckling from the grave.
I'm frightened and fascinated with how it turns out. Wonder how far in the hole she'll end up. I'm surprised that's not that $150 teacup I saw Oprah touting away back.
Incedentally buying leopard print shoes is not going to reduce your carbon footprint... what to do when Oprah contradicts herself? LOL
Ultimately, people emulate those who inspire them by their example and I'm guessing Oprah must inspire a lot of people if they're willing to follow her advice. I've never seen Oprah's show since I've lived in Japan for the past 19 years. However, I don't think she's offering advice that she expects anyone to slavishly follow, but just what she is enthusiastic about or feels is best. The nice thing about free will is that we can listen to advice, but not take it.
As for the woman doing this, it's clearly for attention and profit. It's too gimmicky to be anything else. Mind you, if it helps her fulfill some personal goal and it harms no on in the process, more power to her.
If anyone would like to obey me for a year, please let me know.
Purely on the most shallow and aesthetic-concerned level, I'd much rather imitate Martha for a year than Oprah. If nothing else, Martha's is all about EFFORT, the message being meticulous attention to detail brings happiness, and Oprah's seems to be about buying stuff.
To paraphrase my mother "If Oprah told you to jump off the roof, would you?"
ROFLMFAO, Bradseed, I'll get back to you on that.
ugh. Oprah needs to be silenced for a while.
-- first5times--
haha. agreed. silence oprah!
posted by jln3681 on 2008-09-23 14:28:43
-- jln3681--
I'm sick of Oprah telling everyone how to live their lives...and I'm certainly not interested in hearing what this sycophant has to say about it.
-- suzy8track --
It's an interesting exercise in testing the Power of Oprah - reality or illusion? Surely it's an illusion bestowed upon Oprah by millions of followers, but this is just Lo's way of testing that power.
-- lisan43 --
Just remember - Oprah is the one who introduced America to Barack Obama, before he was even in office for the 143 meager days prior to running for president.
You do the math.
Oprah nation.
hmmm... as someone who used to work at a women's lifestyle magazine, i don't think Oprah expects you to follow EVERYTHING she says. All ideas presented are just options, if youâre not keen on anything, you donât have to do it.And you donât have to watch the show or read the mag if youâre sick of âem, theyâre there for the people who need the guidance, and happen to choose Oprah as their "consultant".
As for Loâs project, I would do it to see if the ideas presented by the media actually work. Itâll be sort of a media watchdog thing â âcan you believe everything the media tells you?â. She should have done this as a thesis and get her masterâs or phD as well on top of everything else!
This is so ridiculous and amazing at the same time.
I agree with "Oprah needs to be silenced" but I'm happy that cat got a new home!
"Some of Oprah's suggestions are silly (like the charge to buy leopard-print flats)"
Whats so silly about leopard-print flats???
isn't it after all a tv show... remember. a tv show.
First: very, very happy for the little cat...Second:It is this lady's gig for the year..her thing...Third: I totally need KTG to run for president...or something!..wit and common sense!
freaky
Ooh, KTG, I freaking love my jersey knit comforter cover and I'm a grown woman. Yes, I had to buy it from the children's section of Garnet Hill...but whatever, it's comfy!
Instead of "Living Your Best Life", shouldn't it be "Living Your Spiritually Shallow, Trend-of-the-Season Mediocre Life"?
But the blog isn't very interesting. I pity her husband.
If Lo was a more engaging writer, I might be drawn in, but she's just flat. Julie and Julia was interesting as a blog, dull as a book, and it's a Norah Ephron movie, so I don't expect much.