Whatever her missteps and stumbles along the way, the journey of Oprah Gail Winfrey from Hattie Mae"s pig farm in Mississippi to the pinnacle of wealth, power, and success in American television is a journey we must all admire. In looking for the secret to her achievement, too many observers focus on her poise or brashness or honesty. The secret is much more complex, as is Oprah herself. There is an inner strength of spirit and a belief in self that is as astonishing as the outer trappings of her success. Oprah is more akin to Maya Angelou, Deepak Chopra, and Marianne Williamson than she is to Phil Donahue or Sally Jesse Raphael.