45 pages 1 hour read

Gregory Boyle

Barking to the Choir

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2017

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Barking to the Choir, Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries and Jesuit priest, uses personal stories and "homie-propisms" to explore themes of compassion, tenderness, and community kinship within the context of gang intervention and re-entry. Boyle gently subverts conventional wisdom, presenting the inherent worth and dignity of individuals labeled as gangsters or criminals, and advocates for a deeper, more genuine form of Christianity.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Gregory Boyle's Barking to the Choir is widely praised for its heartfelt and inspiring anecdotes from his work with former gang members. The book offers profound lessons on compassion and redemption. Some critics note a lack of analytical depth, and a repetitive narrative style, but overall, it is celebrated for its emotional impact and message of love.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Barking to the Choir?

Ideal for readers who appreciate narratives of redemption, compassion, and social justice, Barking to the Choir by Gregory Boyle speaks to fans of Tattoos on the Heart by the same author and Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. Those interested in faith-based community activism and transformative stories will find it particularly compelling.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Sociology

Social Justice

Religion / Spirituality

Themes

Values/Ideas: Good & Evil