7 books that helped Oprah sail through tough times

Over the years, Oprah Winfrey has shared a bunch of good reads with her fans and followers. More recently, considering that the year 2020 is full of unforeseen times and new challenges, Oprah took to social media wherein she shared seven books which have helped her sail through difficult times in the past. "I know it’s hard to focus on anything right now because we’re so distracted by the roar of the news and the steady hum of our own anxiety," Oprah wrote in a recent post on Instagram. Posting a video, she further shared a list of seven books for "their ability to comfort, inspire, and enlighten" her. "Let’s help each other through these times with the help of these books," she said.

Read on to know Oprah's book recommendations that helped her through tough times. These books are a mix of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, spirituality-- thus there's something for every kind of reader.

(Photo: Oprah/ Instagram)

Talking about 'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle, Oprah said that the book changed her life and it continues to guide her even now. The book takes the readers on a spiritual journey to achieve personal growth and find their true potential.

(Photo: Yogi Impressions Books Pvt Ltd)

Nobel literature laureate Toni Morrison's 1977 novel 'Song of Solomon' follows the life of an African-American in Michigan, Macon "Milkman" Dead III-- from his birth to adult-hood. The story explores what it means to be African-American, as the protagonist Milkman searches ways to be independent and gain his self-identity.

(Photo: RHUK)

Ta-Nehisi Coates' 2015 National Book Award winning non-fiction book 'Between the World and Me' is a heart-warming letter written by the author to his teenage son. In the book, Coates writes about what it really means and how it truly feels to be Black in the United States.

(Photo: One World)

Edited by Joy Harjo, 'When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through' is an anthology of poems written by 160 poets. The poems celebrate indigenous people of North America, thus making it an essential read promoting diversity in literature.

(Photo: W. W. Norton & Company)

Written in 1963, James Baldwin's non-fiction book 'The Fire Next Time' contains two essays: 'My Dungeon Shook: Letter to my Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation' and 'Down at the Cross: Letter from a Region of My Mind'. The book is considered an important work on race relations.

(Photo: Taschen GmbH)

In this book Pulitzer winner Jon Meacham helps readers understand the current American politics and life by giving a glimpse of the critical times in American history. By writing about the past-- Civil War; the backlash against immigrants during the First World War; fight for women’s rights-- he also gives hope to readers to look forward to and work for a better future.

(Photo: Random House)

In this poetry collection, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver has penned some 200 heart-touching poems spanning over 50 years. Through these poems, Oliver explores humanity, joy, the beauty of nature and what it means to be interconnected with each other.

(Photo: Penguin Press)