Throughout my career as a lawyer, teacher and labor leader, books

Host: The room was quiet, save for the soft rustle of pages as Jack turned them slowly, absorbed in the words of Randi Weingarten. The light of the evening was fading, casting long shadows across the floor, as the world outside seemed to slow into the calm of night. Jeeny stood near the window, her arms loosely crossed, gazing out at the darkening sky, reflecting on the powerful sentiment of the quote Jack had just shared.

Jeeny: “I’ve been thinking about Randi Weingarten’s words: ‘Throughout my career as a lawyer, teacher, and labor leader, books have remained my constant companion—stuffed into a briefcase, overflowing on my bedside table, stacked on my desk at work. Books have carried me to distant worlds, opened new doors and made me feel empathy, compassion, anger, fear, joy, acceptance—and everything in between.’ It’s such a beautiful way of describing the transformative power of books, isn’t it? The way they’ve shaped her life, offering not just knowledge, but a whole range of human experiences.”

Jack: “Yes, it’s incredible how she describes books as companions—how they’ve been with her through every aspect of her life, every role she’s played. Books aren’t just things she’s read—they’ve been a source of emotional connection, helping her feel everything from empathy to anger, to acceptance. They’ve opened doors, both literal and metaphorical. It’s as though books have been the thread that ties her personal and professional life together.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. She’s showing us that books aren’t just about learning facts or ideas—they’re about experiencing life in a deeper, more emotional way. They’ve taken her to distant worlds and allowed her to connect with the full spectrum of human emotion. It’s like books have given her the tools to understand and feel the complexities of life, helping her navigate different roles and perspectives. They’ve given her not just knowledge, but also empathy and insight.”

Host: The stillness in the room deepened, as the weight of Weingarten’s words settled between them. Jack’s fingers stopped turning the pages of the book, and Jeeny’s gaze softened, as if the thought of books as transformative companions had struck a chord with her. It was a powerful reminder that books are not just passive objects—they are active participants in our personal growth, in how we connect with the world around us.

Jack: “It’s amazing how she sees books not just as things to read, but as partners in her journey. They’ve been there with her through different phases of her career, through all the different challenges and triumphs. The idea that books help us feel as much as they help us think is so powerful. They open up emotional worlds that we wouldn’t otherwise experience.”

Jeeny: “Yes, and it’s interesting how she doesn’t just talk about books as tools of learning or escape. She sees them as a way to engage with the world in a fuller, more meaningful way. They help her connect to others, to understand their emotions, to feel a range of things she might not have experienced otherwise. It’s almost like they give her a deeper sense of humanity.”

Jack: “It’s like books offer a way of living multiple lives, of experiencing different perspectives and emotions, of becoming different people. And in doing so, they expand our own capacity for empathy and understanding. Weingarten is showing us that books are not just intellectual exercises—they are emotional and personal experiences that stay with you, that influence how you see the world.”

Jeeny: “Yes. Books teach us not just information, but also how to connect with others. They shape how we feel, how we act, how we understand the world. They help us feel less alone in our emotions and more connected to the broader human experience. Weingarten is reminding us of the deep, emotional power of reading—not just for knowledge, but for feeling.”

Host: The room had quieted, and the conversation had unfolded into something deeper—an understanding of the profound impact books can have on our lives, not just as sources of information, but as companions in our emotional and personal journeys. Jack sat back in his chair, his fingers lightly resting on the edge of his cup, while Jeeny’s gaze moved from the window to him, a quiet smile on her face. The realization that books are more than just things we read—they are tools for growth, understanding, and connection—had settled into a calm knowing. In the end, books have the power to shape not just our minds, but our hearts as well.