I'm Oprah Winfrey. Welcome to Super Soul Conversations, the podcast. I believe that one of

the most valuable gifts you can give yourself is time, taking time to be more fully present.

Your journey to become more inspired and connected to the deeper world around us starts right

now.

Throughout my life, and I bet yours too, certain works of literature and film have completely

changed the lens through which I see the world. This list is long for me, but there are two

classics in particular that I treasure. I was in my early years of high school, living

with my mother in Milwaukee when a librarian made a recommendation that would change me

forever. She noticed that I checked out five books each visit and said, if you like reading

these kinds of books, you might like to kill a mockingbird. She was right. The moment I picked

it up, I was in trance. The story of Boo Radley, Scout, and Atticus Finch is probably the

reason I started a book club because it was one of the first books that I wanted everyone

around me to read. I was drawn to Scout's spirit. I felt a kinship with her curiosity and

admired that despite her age, young Scout knew exactly who she was and what she believed.

I felt emboldened by Scout. At the time, I was awakening to the idea of racism just like

her and her eyes were opening to the complex realities of the world just like mine. I

also wanted the kind of relationship Scout had with her father, Atticus, especially when

she called him by his first name. Many years after I'd read the book, I found myself at

a luncheon seated next to Gregory Peck, who of course portrayed Atticus in the movie

version of the book. The only words I could think to say were, so how scout? Mr. Peck was

gracious and answered my question about his co-star who played the little girl. Well,

he said, that was 40 years ago. So she's okay. To me, Scout was as powerful a character

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