Highlights of the August 2008 Issue of O The Oprah Magazine

August 2008 - The "True Life Stories" Issue

"This month's issue is about where we've all been, and what we've picked up and discarded along the way to becoming who we are right now. It's about peeling back the layers of fear that keep you mired in that part of the brain that says "I can't" and finally realizing that you absolutely can, and you should and you must seize this day. Somewhere in the back of your head you really do know exactly what to do for yourself - and we're here to help you actually do it."

Here are a few of the best items from this months "O" list:

• Classic whoopie pies in a variety of flavors including peanut butter and red velvet from wickedwhoopie.com
  
  
• Amazon's Kindle wireless book device from amazon.com
  
  
• Clear, water-repellent totes in bright, summery colors from lugtravel.com
  
  
• Retro style and color mini fridge from pbteen.com

Aimee Lee Ball set out in "Women and the Negativity Receptor" to find out why women are so self critical, worry so much about being good enough and have difficulty hearing positive feedback. What she found was that, "you (and I, and anyone) can make profound, fundamental changes in how the brain operates. It's not that different from doing pilates or a spinning class to change your physical self."

Having the right hair color for your skin tone can make blemishes disappear, while the wrong shade can enhance the smallest imperfection. Four women get hair color transformations to make them look their best. Also included, a color guide for fair, medium and dark skin tones - find out what is best for you.

This month's special titled "O's Memoir Feast" gives us an intimate glimpse into the lives of eight women willing to share the details of their lives. The stories in this issue's special include:

• "This Does Not Have to Be a Secret" by Elizabeth McCracken
  
  
• "The Correct Grip" by Amy Hempel
  
  
• "Not to Look Away" by Marie Howe
  
  
• "Three Dog Nights" by Abigail Thomas
  
  
• "Difference" by Asali Solomon
  
  
• "Maybe it Happened" by Jo Ann Beard
  
  
• "Patron Saint of the Embarrassed" by Sandra Tsing Loh
  
  
• "Roll Up the Light of Love" by Lorene Cary

Abigail Thomas also shares her expertise in "How to Write Your Own Memoir" where she gives 10 exercises to get you started telling your own story.

Martha Beck: "One Stroke at a Time"

A guide to making a change between knowing what the right thing is to do, and actually doing it. Martha suggests:

1. Don't substitute talk for action
2. Do hit your mute button
3. Don't rely on fantasy transitions
4. Do figure out what's standing between you and your goals
5. Don't scare yourself
6. Do discover the power of calm
7. Don't fight yourself
8. Do stop the inner arm wrestle
9. Don't track the wrong things
10. Do measure what matters

Dr. Phil's Reader Questions:

A wife's difficult decision to let her husband come back home or move on? - Is anger toward an infant justified? - Should a family confidence be broken?

Suze Orman's Reader Questions:

When to stop helping everyone at a job with little compensation? - How should a single woman take care of herself and not wait for a man to rescue her financially? - How to manage daily living and paying off medical bills?

Oprah - What I Know For Sure:

"Using your instincts and feelings as your personal GPS puts you in a position to make the best choices for you."