Barking to the Choir

The Power of Radical Kinship

By: Gregory Boyle

Narrated by: Gregory Boyle

In a moving example of unconditional love in dif­ficult times, Gregory Boyle, the Jesuit priest and New York Times bestselling author of Tattoos on the Heart, shares what working with gang members in Los Angeles has taught him about faith, compassion, and the enduring power of kinship.

In his first book, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, Gregory Boyle introduced us to Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention program in the world. Critics hailed that book as an “astounding literary and spiritual feat” (Publishers Weekly) that is “destined to become a classic of both urban reportage and contemporary spirituality” (Los Angeles Times). Now, after the suc­cessful expansion of Homeboy Industries, Boyle returns with Barking to the Choir to reveal how com­passion is transforming the lives of gang members.

In a nation deeply divided and plagued by poverty and violence, Barking to the Choir offers a snapshot into the challenges and joys of life on the margins. Sergio, arrested at age nine, in a gang by age twelve, and serving time shortly thereafter, now works with the substance-abuse team at Homeboy to help others find sobriety. Jamal, abandoned by his family when he tried to attend school at age seven, gradually finds forgive­ness for his schizophrenic mother. New father Cuco, who never knew his own dad, thinks of a daily adventure on which to take his four-year-old son. These former gang members uplift the soul and reveal how bright life can be when filled with unconditional love and kindness.

This book is guaranteed to shake up our ideas about God and about people with a glimpse at a world defined by more compassion and fewer barriers. Gently and humorously, Barking to the Choir invites us to find kinship with one another and re-convinces us all of our own goodness.

Beautiful

I was sad for it to end. Looking forward to the next book! As excellent as the first book. Must reads

What a wonderful message

So many tears as I listened to these stories. It left me with a renewed determination to do find a way to connect better in my community.

My soul needed this

Just read it. Reset your ideas on kinship, Godliness, and purpose. Thank you Father G for putting this in ink (and vocals).

Gregory Boyle is a Storyteller for our time

Gregory Boyle has done it again by telling great stories of his shared life with the Homies and Home Girls of HomeBoy Industries. This is a great book full of moments where you will laugh and where you will cry. I highly recommend it to anyone I know.

We each need to listen to Father G

After reading tattoos on the heart, I was compelled to download the audiobook “Barking to the Choir.” I find after listening to Father G, I often reflect on my life. My volunteer work ( going to the margins, not to serve others but to be changed by those at the margins). I live by mantras, as does Father G and I learned several from him that I now use daily. Catch yourself. Being in awe of the burdens humans at the margins carry not in judgment of how they carry them. These are just a few listening to or reading Father G . Upon reflection you will be altered in how you see and think about gang members. We’re all human beings.