45 pages • 1 hour read
Gregory BoyleBarking to the Choir
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2017A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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
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.