What made her audiences love her so? She is a clear and fluent interlocutor with a talent for connecting with her guests, but it goes beyond that. Fans say they "trust her," find her "sincere" and "open," and respect her overcoming a challenging childhood (she freely revealed a past scarred by episodes of drug use and other behavior). "Oprah is a sweetheart, a good person, who treats people with love and respect, despite her wealth and power," wrote one fan.

Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, loc. 789