The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose
Posted: 28 Jan 2011, 01:21
This is my first review on this forum 
I was recommended this (nonfiction) book by a friend. I read it, loved it... recommended it to my wife, brother in law, and a few other friends. Everyone has loved it.
Kevin Roose was a Brown University student from a moderately Christian/liberal family. Midway through his Ivy League education, he decided to take a year off to enroll at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. If you haven't heard of either, they are both about the antithesis of Brown politically and socially. Roose didn't tell anyone about his motives and managed to "fit in" (to the best of his ability). This book recounts his time there and his thoughts and reflections.
Roose does a superb job going beyond the stereotypes and labels. It is no where near cynical or condescending. While he does not accept much of what he saw or learned at Liberty, he passes along a great lesson of what it truly means to be tolerant. While far away from his comfort zone, he is able to find goodness and familiarity in situations initially thought quite bizarre. I don't want to ruin the book by saying anything more. But it's not a Christian-bashing session by Roose.
The writing is excellent, filled with humor and insight. Recommended for believers, non-believers, and all those somewhere in the middle.
I was recommended this (nonfiction) book by a friend. I read it, loved it... recommended it to my wife, brother in law, and a few other friends. Everyone has loved it.
Kevin Roose was a Brown University student from a moderately Christian/liberal family. Midway through his Ivy League education, he decided to take a year off to enroll at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. If you haven't heard of either, they are both about the antithesis of Brown politically and socially. Roose didn't tell anyone about his motives and managed to "fit in" (to the best of his ability). This book recounts his time there and his thoughts and reflections.
Roose does a superb job going beyond the stereotypes and labels. It is no where near cynical or condescending. While he does not accept much of what he saw or learned at Liberty, he passes along a great lesson of what it truly means to be tolerant. While far away from his comfort zone, he is able to find goodness and familiarity in situations initially thought quite bizarre. I don't want to ruin the book by saying anything more. But it's not a Christian-bashing session by Roose.
The writing is excellent, filled with humor and insight. Recommended for believers, non-believers, and all those somewhere in the middle.