Week 14 Weekly Reading Wrap-Up: Birds, RBG, and Dreams Deferred
Books Finished This Week:
- Ten Birds That Changed the World by Stephen Moss ★★★★☆
- Notorious RBG by Irin Carmon & Shana Knizhnik ★★★★☆
- The Making of a Dream by Laura Wides-Muñoz ★★★☆☆
This week’s reading lineup had range—birds who made history, a Supreme Court justice who did the same, and an immigration narrative that didn’t quite land. Let’s break it down.
🐦 Ten Birds That Changed the World
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
This one’s been sitting unfinished on my shelf for years. But after last week’s Slow Birding, I was inspired to go back and actually finish it—and I’m glad I did. Moss’s book was a strong read: part natural history, part cultural exploration, and part historical deep dive. It’s also a bit of a paradox. The author is clearly a pro-evolution science writer, yet consistently uses BC and AD instead of CE and BCE. A minor detail, but it stood out to me.
The “ten birds” that left their mark on humanity:
- Raven
- Pigeon
- Wild Turkey
- Dodo
- Darwin’s Finches
- Guanay Cormorant
- Snowy Egret
- Bald Eagle
- Tree Sparrow
- Emperor Penguin
Standout Quote:
“Throughout history, birds have not only fascinated humanity; they have shaped its destiny.”
Some chapters were more gripping than others, but each bird served as a doorway into a much larger story—about empires, revolutions, environmental change, and even national identity. It’s the kind of book that makes you look at your local pigeon and wonder what legacy it might carry.
⚖️ Notorious RBG
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Going into this, I had my reservations. I grew up in conservative circles, and the only thing I really “knew” about Ruth Bader Ginsburg was that she was a liberal icon and, supposedly, a terrifying force on the Supreme Court. But I’d also heard that she and Justice Scalia were famously close, which always seemed odd—how could such an “evil” person have a “good” friend on the other side?
Turns out, RBG wasn’t as evil as I had been led to believe. Or even particularly radical. Notorious RBG does a great job of humanizing her—maybe a little too glowing at times, but still grounded in real-life moments. The book paints her as methodical, principled, and often surprisingly moderate. She believed in incremental change, worked hard for equality, and had a wicked sense of humor (and fashion, too).
Standout Quote:
“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg
I still disagree with many (if not most) of her positions, but I came away with a deeper understanding and, honestly, some admiration for the person behind the robe. Perspective: it’s a powerful thing.
🌎 The Making of a Dream
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
This one… it just wasn’t it… I really wanted to love it. It covers the stories of DACA “Dreamers”—young immigrants caught in the political and legal crosswinds of American immigration policy. The material is important. The real-life stakes are huge. But the book? It just didn’t work for me.
The biggest issue was the lack of focus. There are too many characters, too many threads, and not enough clarity or emotional depth to tie it all together. It’s not incoherent, but it’s not compelling either. I wanted sharp storytelling and raw emotion—what I got felt more like a long-form news article that couldn’t quite decide if it was about policy, people, or politics.
Still, there were moments. A few of the personal stories linger. But overall, it missed the mark.
📚 Get Your Copy
- Buy Ten Birds That Changed the World (Bookshop.org)
- Buy Notorious RBG (Bookshop.org)
- Buy The Making of a Dream (Bookshop.org)
(Purchasing through these links supports local bookstores!)
🔎 Resources
For Ten Birds That Changed the World:
For Notorious RBG:
- “Notorious RBG” exhibit at the New-York Historical Society (Virtual Tour)
- NPR Interview: “The Life and Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg”
For The Making of a Dream:
- Article: “Undocumented and Unafraid — How Community Organizing Changed My Life“
- PBS NewsHour Interview with Laura Wides-Muñoz “The Making of a Dream”
Final Thoughts
This week’s reads reminded me why I love variety in my reading life. Sometimes birds can change empires. Sometimes public figures are more complicated than their caricatures. And sometimes, even a miss has something to teach.
Until next week—happy reading, and may your books surprise you in the best possible ways.
