The Best Memoir Picks From Oprah's Book Club

Oprah Winfrey's book club has curated a diverse selection of monthly picks since its initial launch in 1996, with the cultural icon often favoring meaningful, thought-provoking titles. In addition to beloved classics and character-driven literary fiction, this penchant for vulnerable stories makes memoirs a natural addition to the reading group's catalogue. The talk show host even praised the genre in an essay penned for O Magazine back in 2015. "Whether you were born to write and have a talent for it or you just want to articulate what matters to you, I know for sure: There is power and meaning in everybody's story," she wrote. 

For the uninitiated, memoirs are defined as narrative-driven, autobiographical stories that typically center around particular life moments and experiences. Though they recount individual-specific events, these personal stories are usually explored and reflected on in a broader context, making them a great avenue to explore larger issues and themes. So, whether you're a memoir-enthusiast like Oprah, or simply looking for your next read, Oprah's Book Club has several standout titles to choose from.

"The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row" by Anthony Ray Hinton is a tale of hope and perseverance in the face of injustice, with Hinton recounting the several decades he wrongfully spent on death row. "I started to read it and I couldn't put it down," Oprah Winfrey told CBS News of the memoir, which she included as a June 2018 selection. "It's a true story of this man's anguish and the fact that he was mistreated and misjudged, has never received an apology for it from the state of Alabama, and was on death row for 30 years for a crime he did not commit."

Nominated for the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards, "The Sun Does Shine" boasts an average rating of 4.65 stars on Goodreads. While reviewers note how the memoir demonstrates the failings and incompetence of the criminal justice system, Hinton's ongoing faith and forgiving heart is another major highlight of the memoir. Readers interested in the issues of incarceration and criminal justice should check this Oprah Book Club pick out, but it will also appeal to bookworms looking for a story of inspiration and hope.

Maya Angelou's "The Heart of a Woman" is another top-rated pick from Oprah's Book Club, with the memoir being selected for the reading group back in May 1997. The legendary author and poet is most known for her first memoir, titled "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings," with this book club pick being the fourth installment in the same autobiographical series. "I could fill a book–and maybe one day I will–with lessons from Maya," Oprah said via Oprah's Book Club. "But she is, as I said, a mother, a mentor and one of my favorite writers of all time."

Set between 1957 and 1962, this memoir chronicles Angelou's work in the Civil Rights Movement alongside her experience as a budding creative in New York City. In this way, the historical context is an integral element of this memoir, with the author even encountering famous figures like Malcolm X and Billie Holiday, while more personal topics of romantic entanglements and single motherhood are also explored. "The Heart of a Woman" maintains a 4.23 rating on Goodreads, with readers noting Angelou's literary writing, unabashed honesty, and insightful reflections as standout elements.

"From Here to the Great Unknown" by Lisa Marie Presley and daughter Riley Keough is another must-read memoir. Keough completed the memoir after her mother's death in January 2023. While tape recordings from Lisa Marie are used to reconstruct her life as the daughter of the Elvis Presley, Keough brings an intergenerational element to the memoir by supplementing the tapes with her own commentary. This title belongs among the celebrity memoirs that you'll want to listen to on audiobook, as the narration features clips of Lisa Marie's recordings alongside voicing from Julia Roberts and Keough.

"This is an intimate look at what it was like growing up as heir to one of America's most famous families," Oprah Winfrey said via Instagram. "I have great love and admiration for Lisa Marie Presley, and was so moved that her daughter Riley, through her grief, was able to help her finish a beautifully touching memoir that allows us to see her mother at her most honest and vulnerable." With an average rating of 4.30 stars on Goodreads, this Readers Choice Awards nominee provides an emotional and unabashed glimpse into one of America's most sensationalized families. For fans of celebrity culture and intergenerational tales, this is definitely a Oprah-backed pick to keep on your radar.

Ranking as one of the best books written by first ladies, "Becoming" by Michelle Obama is another standout memoir from Oprah's Book Club. This December 2018 selection spans Obama's adolescence on the South Side of Chicago to her experience as the first-ever Black American to serve as first lady. In this way, Obama explores the discrimination and adversity she faced alongside the issues and circumstances that galvanized her, providing insight into her familial relationships and her life with Barack Obama along the way.

"This book is everything you wanted to know and so much you didn't even know you wanted to know," Oprah told Oprah Daily of the pick. "It's a tour de force. I laughed and I cried. It is exquisitely written. She just opens up herself. It's so vulnerable, and I'd say that even if I didn't know her." Likewise, online readers praise "Becoming" for its balance of authenticity and optimism, with the title having an average rating of 4.22 stars on Goodreads. This is the Oprah's Book Club pick to add to your TBR if you're looking for a memoir that is heartfelt and inspirational.

Not only does "Finding Me" by Viola Davis rank as a great memoir, it doubles as the highest rated Oprah's Book Club pick of all time. In this moving April 2022 selection, award-winning actor Viola Davis provides an unflinching look at her abuse-filled childhood and her determined rise to fame while pairing her experiences with reflections on love and self-acceptance. "There are so many lessons to be learned from this breathtaking memoir about triumphing over adversity and trauma," said Oprah Winfrey via Oprah Daily. "Viola Davis leaves it all on the page—from her beginnings in South Carolina as the fifth of six children born in a sharecropper's shack to acclaim as an actor, producer, and philanthropist."

With a 4.54 average rating on Goodreads, "Finding Me" is noted as being a powerful, heart-wrenching read with a particularly good audiobook experience. This memoir is definitely an inspirational tale of overcoming immense hardship, but Davis's experiences also shed light on issues like colorism, privilege, and system racissm. While readers are encouraged to consult content warnings at their own discretion, this is otherwise a must-read among the memoirs from Oprah's Book Club.

To highlight the best memoirs from Oprah's Book Club, we narrowed our selection to titles with an average Goodreads rating of 4.2 stars or higher. From there, we endeavored to curate a list that highlighted varied stories and experiences while still adequately reflecting the values and themes represented in the Oprah's Book Club catalogue. In this way, Oprah's own commentary and reflections on the books were also considered.