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cindy_ped's review against another edition
5.0
Very well written, easy to read. For a non-believer, I found it very thought provoking. It also made me realize that tolerance is something everyone needs a little more of, both from the left and right, because we're all just trying to make our way in this world the best way we know how, even if the 'best way' isn't someone else's.
nancyadelman's review against another edition
3.0
Kevin Roose is a sophomore at Brown University and decides to take a leave of absence to immerse himself for a semester at the country's most religious school, Liberty University. That is the premise of this memoir, and it's a good one for someone just starting out in his writing career. Kevin points out all of the foibles of life at Liberty and the unique teachings of his professors and even manages to score an interview with the esteemed Jerry Falwell, founder of Liberty University. This was a fun, lighthearted read that is not disparaging to any faiths. I found his writing to be similar to that of A.J. Jacobs, which is unsurprising when considering that Roose interned with Jacobs for some time.
kitkatsbookden's review against another edition
3.75
This book was truly fascinating and I enjoyed a great deal of it.
With that being said, I can’t get over the author’s attitude and sexualization of woman. It was gross and really took away from the writing.
3.75/5
With that being said, I can’t get over the author’s attitude and sexualization of woman. It was gross and really took away from the writing.
3.75/5
danoreading's review against another edition
4.0
Kevin Roose first went to Liberty University while working as a writer's assistant to A.J. Jacobs, when Jacobs was doing research for his book "The Year of Living Biblically." I enjoyed the A.J. Jacobs book and had a desire to learn more about Liberty University, so I picked this one up, thinking it would be a Liberty tell-all.
Roose instead writes a really insightful book that shows his own spiritual growth. A great book, considering Roose was about 19 when he wrote this.
Roose instead writes a really insightful book that shows his own spiritual growth. A great book, considering Roose was about 19 when he wrote this.
vegantrav's review against another edition
5.0
interesting and entertaining . . . great insight into life at an uber-fundamentalist college: Liberty University; some scary stuff (especially the extreme and unapologetic homophobia) but for the most part, it's a great portrait of the youth in contemporary Christian fundamentalism, and most of these kids, despite holding religious and political views that are the antithesis of my own, still seem to be, at heart, pretty good kids
kirstenrose22's review against another edition
4.0
I was inspired to read this by A J Jacobs' The Year of Living Biblically, and I must admit, I like this book better than that one. This one is more sincere and less gimmicky. (Also, Roose is not trying so damn hard to be Funny - and this helps.) The amazing statistic that jumped out at me early on in the book: 51% of Americans say they do not know any evangelical Christians, even casually. (I think this sounds high - I didn't realize that my high school was so unusual, I guess. But it goes to show a lot about how insular certain communities - or philosophies - are. And that goes both ways.)
Roose has a really interesting semester at Liberty and I really appreciated his insights into how he benefited from his time there - though he fully admits that he was not converted or saved, he still changes because of his time there. While it may not be stunning news that the evangelical community is not monolithic in terms of its attitudes and beliefs, I do think that's important for many people to hear that - so many people hear "Christian" and make many automatic assumptions.
Roose has a really interesting semester at Liberty and I really appreciated his insights into how he benefited from his time there - though he fully admits that he was not converted or saved, he still changes because of his time there. While it may not be stunning news that the evangelical community is not monolithic in terms of its attitudes and beliefs, I do think that's important for many people to hear that - so many people hear "Christian" and make many automatic assumptions.
jennbliven's review
5.0
I expected this book to be funny, but it was so much better than I anticipated. Perspective was enlightening and writing was excellent.
keen23's review against another edition
4.0
Being a godless heathen, I find the whole idea of a religious university as foreign. But, it was an interesting read.
writermags's review against another edition
3.0
5-star premise with a 3-star execution. I'd like to write a review eventually when I get my thoughts in order, but for now we'll say that this book gets my recommendation with a few minor caveats.