45 pages • 1 hour read
Barking to the Choir
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Book Brief
224
Book • Nonfiction
Los Angeles, California • 2010s
2017
Adult
18+ years
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.
Heartwarming
Inspirational
Emotional
Hopeful
Informative
Reviews & Readership
7,845 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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 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.
7,845 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
224
Book • Nonfiction
Los Angeles, California • 2010s
2017
Adult
18+ years
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