Christian Cooper | Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World

REGISTER Doors open at 6:45pm. Walk-in seating available.

In conversation with Tamala Edwards, anchor, 6abc Action News morning edition

Central Park birder Christian Cooper is the host and consulting producer on the National Geographic channel’s Extraordinary Birder and is on the board of directors of the New York City Audubon Society. Also a groundbreaking comics writer, he introduced the first openly lesbian character for Marvel, conceived the first gay male character in the Star Trek universe via the Starfleet Academy comics series, and created Queer Nation: The Online Gay Comic. In Better Living Through Birding, Cooper tells the story of his life leading up to the morning in May 2020 when he was engaged in the birdwatching ritual that had been a part of his life since he was a child—and what might have been a routine encounter with a dog walker exploded age-old racial tensions. Cooper’s viral video of the incident would shock the nation. Also part travelogue and primer on the art of birding, the book follows his worldwide avian adventures, explores his unique career, and offers insights into the ways his long history of looking up have prepared him to be a gay, Black man in contemporary America.

Because you love Author Events, please make a donation when you register for this event to ensure that this series continues to inspire Philadelphians.

Masks are welcome but not required
Books will be available for purchase at the library on event night.
A book signing will follow the presentation.
Books provided by Uncle Bobbie's Coffee and Books