Week 13 Reading Wrap-Up: Faith, Fairness, and Feathered Friends
This week’s reads occupied two very different but oddly complementary headspaces—one grounded in political introspection and faith, the other taking flight (quite literally) into the world of quiet observation of our ornithological neighbors. Let’s dive into both.
Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk by Eugene Cho
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
This one hit close to home—not because I agreed with every single point (spoiler: I didn’t), but because I wholeheartedly agreed with its heart.
Cho’s core message is simple but powerful: Christians should never let political allegiance eclipse their call to love, show kindness, and respect others. That shouldn’t be controversial, but here we are. In a culture that seems increasingly hellbent on yelling across ideological lines, this book offers a breath of fresh air. Imagine a world where the loudest Christian voices were also the kindest. What a revolution that would be.
Sure, there were moments where I diverged from Cho’s specific takes, but we’re different people, shaped by different experiences. Still, the shared foundation—that love should always lead—was more than enough to keep me nodding along.
Side Note: It’s amazing how refreshing decency can be when it shows up in political discourse.
Get Your Copy:
📚 Amazon
📚 Bookshop.org
Slow Birding by Joan Strassmann
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
This was such a pleasant surprise. I picked it up on a whim, the cover bringing back memories of sitting in the observation area at Muscatatuck Wildlife Refuge with my son, watching a parade of birds (and the occasional rogue raccoon) visit the feeders outside.
Strassmann invites readers into the world of “slow birding”—a gentle rebellion against the list-checking, rare-species-chasing mentality that sometimes sneaks into the birdwatching world. Instead of pursuing the flashy or faraway, she encourages us to slow down, observe, and truly know the birds in our own backyards. Their rhythms, quirks, habits. It’s part mindfulness, part science, and fully delightful.
Reading this also stirred up memories of my trip to Guatemala and my unfulfilled dream of spotting a Quetzal. (Apparently, Petén isn’t prime Quetzal territory—I plan to spend more time in Huehuetenango on my next trip.) But no matter; the birds at home still have stories to tell.
Future Plans: I never finished 10 Birds That Changed the World, but Slow Birding might have just rekindled that interest. I’m circling back and planning to add a few more bird books to the rotation.
Get Your Copy:
📚 Amazon
📚 Bookshop.org
Themes of the Week:
- Slowing Down: Whether it’s rethinking political engagement or quietly watching birds, both books advocate for stepping back from the chaos.
- Seeing with New Eyes: Cho challenges us to view people through the lens of compassion; Strassmann teaches us to really see the birds we pass by daily.
- Reconnecting: With our values, our natural surroundings, even with past versions of ourselves.
📚 In Summary:
This week was a study in contrasts that actually worked together beautifully. Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk challenged how I think about faith in public life, while Slow Birding reminded me that sometimes, the best things in life are the ones that don’t move too fast. Both left me eager to find that sense of peace that can be found, if we are willing to slow down and look for it.
🔗 Links & Resources:
🎧 Podcast Episode – Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: Eugene Cho’s Guide to Political Conversations on the For the Love with Jen Hatmaker Podcast
🎧 Podcast Episode – Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk on the Voxology Podcast
🐦 This page contains links to Joan’s social media, her research with Washington University in St. Louis, and videos, articles, and podcasts on “Slow Birding”.
🦅 eBird – This is a great resource, not only for birdwatchers but for researchers as well. Allows you to track your bird sightings and provides statistical data to researchers in the process. Sponsored by Cornell University’s CornellLab.
🕊️ Merlin – This app helps with bird identification whether you are a beginner or a full-fledged ornithologist. Also sponsored by CornellLab.
📖 Follow me on Goodreads!
🧑🏻💻 Catch up on previous weekly reading wrap-ups. Read last week’s blog here.
