When birdwatching in the park one morning in May 2020,
Cooper was engaged in the ritual that had been a part of his life since he was
ten years old. But when a routine encounter with a dog-walker escalates age old
racial tensions, Cooper's viral video of the incident would send shockwaves
through the nation. In Better Living Through Birding, Cooper tells the story of
his extraordinary life leading up to the now-infamous encounter in Central Park
and shows how a life spent looking up at the birds prepared him, in the most
uncanny of ways, to be a gay, Black man in American today.
“Better Living Through Birding” isn't just for bird lovers;
it's primarily a reflection on Christian Cooper's life. You might know him from
the incident in Central Park in 2020 but book
explores much more of his life, including his upbringing in New York, his
relationships with his parents, his identity as a black gay man, his career at
Marvel, his travels, and his involvement in civil rights movements. It offers
an honest and vulnerable look at his experiences, with the 2020 Central Park
incident being a minor part of the narrative. The audiobook, narrated by Cooper
himself, conveys deep passion and is enhanced by bird sounds during poignant
moments. I think this heartfelt story offers a unique perspective that
Americans can connect with in one way or another.
If you liked Better living through birding, you may also like…
In 2016, author Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world: Hatred and misinformation became a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more divisive than ever. In search of peace, Tan turned toward the natural world just beyond her window and, specifically, the birds flocking to the feeders in her yard. But what began as an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater--an opportunity to savor quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired. Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time--from before the pandemic to the days of quarantine--through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, Amy Tan charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world.
Spiegel & Grau, 2024. Audiobook. Non-fiction
In The Comfort of Crows, Margaret Renkl presents a literary
devotional: fifty-two chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her
backyard over the course of a year. As we move through the seasons—from a crow
spied on New Year's Day, its resourcefulness and sense of community setting a
theme for the year, to the lingering bluebirds of December, revisiting the nest
box they used in spring—what develops is a portrait of joy and grief: joy in
the ongoing pleasures of the natural world, and grief over winters that end too
soon and songbirds that grow fewer and fewer. Renkl writes, "radiant
things are bursting forth in the darkest places, in the smallest nooks and
deepest cracks of the hidden world."
