Lili Taylor’s frank, affecting essays chronicle her transformation into an avid birder.

On this episode of Fully Booked, award-winning actor and author Lili Taylor joins us to discuss Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing (Crown, April 29). Kirkus calls Taylor’s debut essay collection “a delightful celebration of the joys of birding—and how it leads one to look at the world in a new light.”

Taylor, a star of stage and screen, has appeared in films including Ship of Fools, Ransom, Girls Town, I Shot Andy Warhol, Short Cuts, Dogfight, Say Anything, Public Enemies, and The Conjuring; on television in HBO’s Subway Stories; and on stage in Three Sisters and Avenue Boys. She sits on the boards of the National Audubon Society and NYC Bird Alliance, and lives in Brooklyn, the Hudson Valley, and on location.

Here’s a bit more from our review of Turning to Birds:“In this infectiously exuberant collection of short essays, Taylor describes how she brought her passion for birding back to New York City, where she regularly keeps an eye out for these ‘flying dinosaurs,’ tracking them on the BirdsEye app in her Brooklyn neighborhood and beyond. ‘Wherever I am, wherever I listen,’ she writes, ‘I can tap into that profound energy of survival and draw power from it.’ A thoughtful actor, Taylor wisely finds parallels to birding. The skill she most prizes in her work is listening—focusing her attention on the actor with whom she shares a scene. Investigation is another valuable skill, she believes. She likens herself to a ‘kind of psychological detective, tracking piece after piece of emotional information.’”

Taylor and I explore the wide-ranging benefits of birding and of deepening one’s connection to the natural world. We discuss the skills and resources needed for birding, the science of awe, and the impact of awe on self-perception. We discuss the surprising effects of the Tribute in Light on birds—and how volunteers ensure this awe-inspiring 9/11 memorial art installation doesn’t disrupt their migration. Taylor speaks to the importance of sharing her love for birds with others, her service on the boards of NYC Bird Alliance and the National Audubon Society, and much more.

Then editors Laura Simeon, Mahnaz Dar, John McMurtrie, and Laurie Muchnick share their top picks in books for the week.

EDITORS’ PICKS:

Cincinnati Lee, Curse Breaker by Heidi Heilig (Greenwillow Books)

Mistaco by Eliza Kinkz (Kokila)

The Secret Life of a Cemetery: The Wild Nature and Enchanting Lore of Père-Lachaise by Benoît , illus. by Daniel Casanave, trans. by Arielle Aaronson (Greystone Books)

The Lilac People by Milo Todd (Counterpoint)

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

City Swimmers & Other Stories by Steve Clark

Capital Acts by Stephen Moore, with Johnny Holliday, Steve Lorenz, and Charles David Young

Ashes of the City by Quinton Taylor-Garcia

Fully Booked is produced by Cabel Adkins Audio and Megan Labrise.