Better Living Through Birding

Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World

By: Christian Cooper

Narrated by: Christian Cooper

Central Park birder Christian Cooper takes us beyond the viral video that shocked a nation and into a world of avian adventures, global excursions, and the unexpected lessons you can learn from a life spent looking up.

"Wondrous . . . captivating.”—Ed Yong, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of An Immense World

Christian Cooper is a self-described “Blerd” (Black nerd), an avid comics fan and expert birder who devotes every spring to gazing upon the migratory birds that stop to rest in Central Park, just a subway ride away from where he lives in New York City. While in the park one morning in May 2020, Cooper was engaged in the birdwatching ritual that had been a part of his life since he was ten years old when what might have been a routine encounter with a dog walker exploded age-oldracial tensions. Cooper’s viral video of the incident would send shock waves through the nation.

In Better Living Through Birding, Cooper tells the story of his extraordinary life leading up to the now-infamous incident in Central Park and shows how a life spent looking up at the birds prepared him, in the most uncanny of ways, to be a gay, Black man in America today. From sharpened senses that work just as well at a protest as in a park to what a bird like the Common Grackle can teach us about self-acceptance, Better Living Through Birding exults in the pleasures of a life lived in pursuit of the natural world and invites you to discover them yourself.

Equal parts memoir, travelogue, and primer on the art of birding, this is Cooper’s story of learning to claim and defend space for himself and others like him, from his days at Marvel Comics introducing the first gay storylines to vivid and life-changing birding expeditions through Africa, Australia, the Americas, and the Himalayas. Better Living Through Birding recounts Cooper’s journey through the wonderful world of birds and what they can teach us about life, if only we would look and listen.

Bird audio provided by Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Cover images: Christian Cooper by Brittainy Newman / The New York Times / Redux, bird and sky / Getty Images

©2023 Christian Cooper (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Christian Cooper’s book is every bit as wondrous and captivating as the birds he so adores—a joyous tour across subcultures and continents, and a masterful account of a life full of song, full of heart, and fully lived.” (Ed Yong, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of An Immense World)

“An uplifting and inspiring read. Christian Cooper is a national treasure.” (Van Jones, New York Times bestselling author and host of The Van Jones Show)

“Utterly captivating, a marvel of storytelling . . . Christian Cooper’s memoir is tender, honest, funny, wise, poignant, piercing, and infused with brilliant observations on the nature of birds, humans, and his own extraordinary personal journey.” (Jennifer Ackerman, New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds)

If you’re not a birder yet, you soon will be.

Excellent story and narration! I finished listening to the book and immediately ordered binoculars and a sun hat. I want to be a birder NOW! Thank you Christian for sharing your story, your passion, and for being you!

Just Lovely

I could listen to Christian Cooper's stories all day. I wish he hadn't needed such a disturbing experience with Amy Cooper to reveal him to more of the world. The book is well-written, thoughtful, straightforward, and of course, a delight for this fellow birder. Encore, encore!

So interesting! Loved it! Of course, birder here.

I loved this book. It was a total surprise in its content. I think it is a must read! So much more to Christian Cooper than an encounter in Central Park. I loved his insight into religious experiences, people’s individual bigotry, being a gay person, his attitude about the person who wronged him, and all his experiences with birds. Being a birder myself (though to a lesser degree) I totally related to his birding adventures. Yes, I do remember where and when I see certain birds. Yes, my binoculars go everywhere with me! The birding aspect brought me in but it was so much more than that. Thank you Mr. Cooper for sharing yourself with us.

I love how vulnerable and honest Christian ‘s story is.

This book was recommended to me b/c I like birds…I wouldn’t even consider myself a birder, but I have an appreciation for the feathered. I had no expectations and was pleasantly surprosed. Sad for it to end.

Extraordinary Birding

Thank you, Christian, for writing AND reading your fabulous memoir. I came for the Central Park Incident and stayed for your lifetime of experiences. It was a pleasure to listen.

A multi dimensional person and story

The author-narrator is a gifted writer and story teller in this true life story. I anticipated this book would primarily be about the incident and aftermath of the false--and potentially life threatening--allegations made by a white woman who didn't think laws applied to her. I was wrong. The story of Christian Cooper transcends that. From his innate curiosity as a child, passion for birding, social justice work, finding his voice as a Black man and a member of the LGBTQ community, his capacity to ultimately accept the flaws of his parents while recognizing their love for him...and so much more... I thoroughly enjoyed this audible book. I listened to it recently on a cross-country drive and the miles seemed to go by quickly as the author's vivid imagery transported me through the various scenes of his life. I especially enjoyed trying to guess the bird calls that were often included at the start of a new chapter.

Christian cooper have a fascinating!

This was so well written and beautiful. It was a joy to combine my love of birding with learning about the human experiences of Christian.

Good story, but a bit light on the birding

This was a fascinating story about the author's life, both as a birder and as a general autobiography. I would have liked more information about birding, though.

Not about birding yet ALL about birding

Beautifully written. The author is a completely engaging reader. I know I laughed at every chapter and I’m pretty sure I tested up as well.

Sincere and heartfelt

Christian Cooper tells and reads his own story well. It's a beautiful, heartfelt memoir I hope many people will read it here.