Troycia Webb

If it weren’t for Emma Johnson, Caryn Johnson would have never become Whoopi Goldberg. Emma gave her children the loving care and wisdom they needed to succeed in life, always encouraging them to be true to themselves. When Whoopi lost her mother in 2010—and then her older brother, Clyde, five years later—she felt deeply alone; the only people who truly knew her were gone. Emma raised her children not just to survive, but to thrive. In this intimate and heartfelt memoir, Whoopi shares many of the deeply personal stories of their lives together for the first time.

After early retirement, Jonah Freeman finds himself unsure of his next chapter in life. His corporate career had not been especially fulfilling. He hoped his next stage would help him find more purpose and self-actualization. To his surprise, he stumbles upon a need that he works to fulfill. After some serendipitous events, Jonah begins listening to strangers’ personal stories on a bench in a city park.