Please note: The opinions expressed within the essays are not necessarily those of Oprah Winfrey, Oprah's Book Club or Harpo Productions, Inc. and should not be read as such. Some of the essays contain profanity and/or graphic language and all of the essays have been edited and/or names have been changed where appropriate.

The Judges

• Douglas Greenberg
• Sara Bloomfield
• Dr. Alexandre Kimenyi 
• Thane Rosenbaum 
• Rachel Shankman