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Spartan Book Club

Spartan Book Club

Connect with Spartans and friends in a vibrant online community united by a love of reading. Join engaging discussions on a variety of topics — from the comfort of your own space. It’s easy to participate; simply borrow the book from your library or purchase a copy.

With a new book selection every two months and the flexibility to join or skip sessions as you like, this offers a fun, low-pressure way to stay connected with and inspired by fellow Spartans.

Join the Club
"Birding to Change the World" by Trish O'Kane

Current Book: "Birding to Change the World" by Trish O'Kane - Amazon says, "In Birding to Change the World, O'Kane details the astonishing science of bird life, from migration and parenting to the territorial defense strategies that influenced her own activism. A warm and compelling weave of science and social engagement, this is the story of an improbably band of bird lovers who saved their park. And it is a blueprint for muscular citizenship, powered by joy."

About the Club

There are no meetings — participate whenever and wherever it’s convenient for you! As long as you have internet access, you can join the discussion. See the details below to learn more about how the program works.

  • This is a flexible, online forum moderated by the professionally managed book club organization, PBC Guru.
  • Discussions, networking and questions take place in a private forum, with weekly emails guiding the conversation.
  • Members can join discussions, share insights and participate by borrowing or purchasing the book.
  • A new book is selected every two months through a group vote, but participation is optional.
  • Even if you’ve read the book before, engaging with the Spartan community offers fresh perspectives and meaningful discussions.
Join the Club

Have a suggestion for a book you'd like us to consider reading? Email Elizabeth Wheeler. Our preferred genres are fiction, historical fiction, mystery/thriller, biography and history.

Trish O’Kane is an accidental ornithologist. It was a lone red cardinal and a cast of house sparrows that changed everything for O’Kane after Hurricane Katrina shattered her life in New Orleans. She soon found herself pursuing an environmental science doctoral degree in Wisconsin, where she became obsessed with birds.

When her daily birdwatching haven was threatened with development, O’Kane became an environmental activist. “Birding to Change the World” details the astonishing science of bird life and is an engaging and eye-opening memoir of one woman’s commitment to her community and the natural world. With birds at the center, it weaves together stories of science and social change.

Trish O'Kane is a writer and a senior lecturer in environmental justice at the University of Vermont. A former human rights journalist in Central America and the American South, she has written for the New York Times, Time and the San Francisco Chronicle. 

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Are you a Spartan Author?

We’d love to hear from you! We're compiling a list of Spartan authors and their book(s) to share. To provide your information, email Elizabeth Wheeler.

In fairness to all Spartan authors, please understand that we currently do not plan to feature any Spartan authors as a book club selection.