The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year
As Margaret Renkl lovingly documents nature’s cycles across the seasons, she invites us to slow down, explore, and experience all the world offers.
In November and December 2026, the Science Friday Book Club will read “The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year” by Margaret Renkl. Both poetic and practical, “The Comfort of Crows” explores the changing landscapes, plant life, and animal visitors in Renkl’s yard across the course of a year. Along the way, she contemplates the transitions in her own life and in the lives of the people around her. Written as a journal, the book invites readers to contemplate their own experiences with nature and encourages everyone to take a moment to really look at the wild world around them. You can get your copy from your local bookstore or on Bookshop.org.
“The Comfort of Crows” is the Community Choice selection for 2026, voted on by our SciFri Book Club community.
Keep an eye on this webpage for updates. Or join our Book Club newsletter or community group to get alerts about this and upcoming books when they are announced. In the meantime, visit our collection on Bookshop.org to enjoy previous and current Book Club selections.
This Book Club season kicks off on Sunday, November 1, and you can read along with us! Discussion questions are shared in the community group on Monday of each week and via the newsletter on Wednesdays.
Giveaway!
Science Friday, in partnership with Spiegel & Grau, is giving away 10 free copies of “The Comfort of Crows“ by Margaret Renkl. Enter for your chance to win today!
This giveaway will close at 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, October 19. Winners will be chosen randomly and notified via email no later than Tuesday, October 20. Our Book Club for this book officially begins on November 1, 2026!
Grab your own copy
If you’d like to purchase a physical copy, we encourage you to start local! Check out the SciFri Book Club partner bookstores and libraries—if you’re in the area, consider supporting your local bookseller or public library (plus, mention our Book Club for a percentage off your purchase at participating shops!).
If they don’t have the book in stock or you’d rather purchase online, you can support Science Friday by buying your copy on our Bookshop.org page.
Want more ways to read? This book is available in a few formats via online retailers, your local library, or elsewhere:
Your local library may not currently have “The Comfort of Crows” in its catalog, but many branches offer options for patrons like you to submit book suggestions to librarians. Look for ways to suggest new titles via the Libby on your library’s website, or a suggestion box at your local branch!
Save the date(s): SciFri Book Club events
Book Club Kickoff
Got thoughts about our podcast episode with Margaret Renkl? Let’s talk about it! Join us on Zoom for a free, informal conversation to kick off our reading of “The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year.” We’ll dig into the interview, share first impressions, and get oriented on what’s ahead. No prior reading is required. If you haven’t heard the interview yet, we’ll catch you up. Everyone is welcome!
- When: Tentatively November 10 at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT
- Where: Science Friday’s Zoom
- Tickets: Free! RSVP for link
Please note that this is the working schedule, but of course, the news could change our plans.
Author Q&A Livestream with Margaret Renkl
Award-winning author, editor, and columnist Margaret Renkl has written about flora, fauna, and culture for nearly a decade. Learn about her work and writing as we discuss “The Comfort of Crows,” the natural world, and the power of observation. Come with your curiosity—we’ll be taking your questions in the YouTube livestream chat. You do not need to have read the book to participate. Everyone is welcome!
- When: Friday, November 20 at 4 pm ET / 1 pm PT
- Where: Science Friday’s YouTube channel
- Tickets: Free! RSVP for reminders
We are pleased to offer live English closed captioning for this event. If you RSVP, you will receive the recording link after the event.
Book Club Community Meeting
Want to connect with other Science Friday Book Club members, share your thoughts about the reading, and discover resources for deeper learning—all without leaving home? Our community meeting is the place for you! While the informal conversation will focus on themes and topics from the current book, you’re welcome to join us regardless of how far you’ve read. No spoilers. Come and chat!
- When: Thursday, December 17 at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT
- Where: Science Friday’s Zoom
- Tickets: Free! RSVP for link
Join our community space
And as you start reading, join us on our online community space: the SciFri Book Club is on Mighty Networks, a platform where we can gather, read and discuss science books together. We’ve built this community space to create a better way for readers to stay connected with other Book Clubbers, and we hope you’ll join us there!
Sign up for our newsletter
Subscribe to SciFri Book Club emails to stay updated on our monthly reads and join us for community discussions. We’ll send emails a few times per week.