During a recent episode of Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, host Keke Palmer sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a personal and honest conversation on freedom, faith, following your dreams, and important moments in her life and career, among many other things.
It’s no secret that the media mogul loves reading; her book club is one of the most influential today. Throughout the conversation, Winfrey named a few books that significantly shaped her outlook on life, influenced her career, and left a lasting impact.
This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you make a purchase.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
In The Power of Now, Tolle discusses how living in the present leads to a pain-free life and freedom from anxiety. Readers are encouraged to let go of certain expectations and strict timelines and instead appreciate the journey of their individual lives. This book is often recommended to those who feel behind in life.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Winfrey and Palmer agreed that chasing what you’re not meant to be will drive you insane, literally. And that’s essentially the premise of The Bluest Eye. Winfrey stated that this classic novel is her favorite book of all time.
The Bluest Eye tells the tragic story of 11-year-old Pecola Breedlove. Society’s racist beauty standards heavily influence her, and she equates beauty with whiteness. Pecola desperately wants blue eyes as she believes they will make her beautiful and accepted by others. As she grows up, her story becomes more challenging and heartbreaking to witness.
The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
Originally published in 1989, this book influenced Winfrey to be intentional about what she was platforming on her show. Her producers had to explicitly state the intention of every show they pitched before a final decision was made. A show would only air if she felt aligned with it. She decided her show needed “light” and wanted people to feel like watching was worth their time.
The Seat of the Soul explores how humans are evolving from external power, the ability to manipulate and control, to authentic power, the alignment of personality with the soul.
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
In Theo of Golden, a mysterious man named Theo arrives in the small southern city of Golden. He doesn’t reveal much about himself, but he soon begins buying portraits of the city’s inhabitants displayed in a local coffee shop, returning them to each person. In the process, he learns of everyone’s story, and transformation, healing, and relationships start to bloom throughout the community. Readers commonly describe this novel as emotional, heartwarming, inspiring, and moving.
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
When speaking on using your personality to fulfill your life’s purpose, Winfrey brought up A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, the expansion of its predecessor, The Power of Now. This book inspires readers to release their ego and fascination with earthly possessions to experience true happiness and peace. Tolle examines how being aware of the present moment can transform you and lead to a more conscious way of living.