arielmerm8's review against another edition
4.0
We read and discussed this as part of our Political Action Network meetings during the pandemic lock-down. It was a good look at the dangers of Christian Nationalists and gave some good arguments if ever confronted with Christian ideologies.
kayedacus's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know if Andrew Seidel chose his own narrator for the audiobook or if his publisher did, but Christopher Grove does a great disservice to the important topics covered in this book by being monotone and seemingly disinterested in what he was narrating.
pandacat42's review against another edition
3.0
It’s most everything you think you’re going to read. For me it was one of those “preaching to the choir” books, so it was hard to hold my interest.
burdasnest's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
DNF, but I invested my time in about 2/3 of this book. I have a lot of complicated feelings about The Founding Myth. First, I agree with Seidel's perspective and (lack of) religious beliefs, and am also the type to be open to to the arguments he makes and the evidence he provides. With that in mind though, who is this book for? Because the people who would read this book and be receptive likely already have come to the same conclusions as Seidel and will find the content repetitive. On the other hand, people who are not already on the same page as Seidel will not be persuaded by The Founding Myth because they will find their beliefs attacked alongside the logical arguments that show the founders' clearly intended separation of church and state. Evangelical atheism doesn't lend itself to convincing religious folks to secular arguments.
I've been on a quest this year to read up on Christian Nationalism and womanhood in the US, and have come across so many good books, like Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Cultish by Amanda Montell, and Disobedient Women by Sarah Stankorb, and I can't say I would recommend this one to anyone not looking to make a legal argument about the separation between church and state. If Seidel wanted to reach a wider audience, he should have taken a note from Beth Allison Barr in The Making of Biblical Womanhood and established common ground and empathy with believers instead of demonizing organized religion and putting them off to his entire argument for secular government.
I've been on a quest this year to read up on Christian Nationalism and womanhood in the US, and have come across so many good books, like Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Cultish by Amanda Montell, and Disobedient Women by Sarah Stankorb, and I can't say I would recommend this one to anyone not looking to make a legal argument about the separation between church and state. If Seidel wanted to reach a wider audience, he should have taken a note from Beth Allison Barr in The Making of Biblical Womanhood and established common ground and empathy with believers instead of demonizing organized religion and putting them off to his entire argument for secular government.
katiemulcahy122's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
5.0
My only issue with this is that I listened to the audiobook, which was good but not helpful when I wanted to go look stuff up (and listening to the insanity got me really heated). But altogether, this was a fascinating book that really shredded the idea that the any part of the founding of the United States was influenced positively by Christianity.
leemiller2112's review against another edition
5.0
This is essential reading for anyone who has forgotten, or is in denial, that American was founded as a secular nation.
bergstrom's review against another edition
4.0
Worth the read - gets into details that I'd been vaguely aware of, but goes into the events that demonstrate how strongly the founding of our country was secular. Additionally touches on the pledge, in god we trust, and the 10 commandments - all commonly brought up as a Christian basis.