Thursday morning, I saw that James Frey, author of bestselling A Million Little Pieces, and his publisher were appearing on Oprah. I told my staff if she is still supporting him, I’m going to write her a letter.
My concerns were allayed from the opening bell. With Oprah’s first salvo, Frey seemed befuddled and dazed. He had no defense. He threw no counter punches except a lame response to her question, "Why didn’t you have it published as fiction?" He said meekly and unconvincingly, "I still consider it a memoir."
It’s not accurate to say it’s based on a true story. It’s more like inspired by his experience. His story seems contrived from the very beginning.
First, there’s the improbable plane ride. Then, there’s an implausible car trip with his parents to the rehab center, drinking all the way. Next, there’s a lack of supervision at the rehab center (which is considered the best in the world), a brief severe episode of DT’s (Not just seeing animals – but they were talking to him. DTs are not likely at his age and they occur with delirium and require aggressive medical treatment), treatment with both Librium and Valium (These are both long-acting benzodiazepines – an irrational and potentially dangerous combination), a double root canal without anesthesia, etc.
As Richard Cohen, one of Oprah’s guests and a Washington Post columnist, said, "The book doesn’t pass the smell test … How’d this guy get on an airplane? I can’t get on with a third piece of luggage."
How do you define character, class and leadership? It’s simple: Oprah Winfrey. Yesterday we were treated to a tour de force. It was a course in dealing with mistakes, betrayal and confrontation in one hour.
Oprah was apologetic and humble, but also strong and determined. She accepted responsibility for her mistake. She showed no defensiveness, and she demurred when complimented for the way she had handled the whole situation. She was very clear not just with what she thought about all the gross deceptions and manipulation but also about her feelings. When the publisher said to her "I think this whole experience is very sad. It’s very sad for you. It’s very sad for us." Oprah replied, "It’s not sad for me. It’s embarrassing and disappointing for me."
We’re not embarrassed. We’re proud and glad that we have at least one model we can point to and say, "That’s how you do it."
2 thoughts on “Truth Matters”
Dr Jones
Bravo on your Oprah comments. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the same honesty and character from all our corporate leaders, Martha Stewart, politicians, the top level leaders in government and military. Seems many high achievers to want to “deceive to receive” and then invent elaborate “defenses”. I saw a news article stating that “52% of Americans expect a certain level of deceit from government officials.” Since certainty is difficult to find we can only trust and accept the fact that we are going to error- be human. Ever consider writing a letter stating that you are proud of her response?
I am going to try this one more time:
This guy is a drug/alcohol addict. That means
he suffers with all the ism’s that go along with
the disease, and the need to embellish is one of
those ism’s. Why? He does not have a healthy ego.
Shame on all the people who took his word without
question! His story is fantastic, and if it were
put in the right catagory (whatever that would be)
with “based on a real life story” written across the front of the book, it would have
sold as many copies and there would be no problem.
Instead, the people who published this book chose
to be decieved because they had their eye on the
almighty dollar. James Frey did what many authors
do. He tried to make an impression at the cost of
the truth. It worked in Biblical days when the
Jewish tradition of embellishing a story to get
the main point across was acceptable. I still think he has a marvelous talent and should continue to write. I hope he gets some help for
his character disorders and continues his road
of recovery (which is ongoing and didn’t stop
with a 30 day rehab program.) Oprah is so pure
and healthy in her insight into herself and others that she forgot that even the most well
intended people often don’t have the skills and
the insight to be beyond reproach. –a lesson we
all need to be reminded of from time to time!