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A review by andipants
The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University by Kevin Roose
5.0
This was a quick but engaging book. Kevin Roose, a self-described "secular Quaker" who is largely unfamiliar with evangelical Christianity, transfers for a semester to Liberty University, a hyper-conservative school founded by the late Jerry Falwell, as a sort of undercover observer. He goes in cautious but open-minded, and his observations paint a picture of a group of (mostly) kind, compassionate people trying to do right and good in the world. Of course, what exactly constitutes "right" and "good" are key points of contention, and Roose understandably expresses extreme discomfort with some of what he sees. However, it is overall a humanizing portrait, and it is important to remember that whatever side one falls on, "the other side" is mostly not populated by the frothing, angry ranters As Seen On TV. True dialogue and progress happens when we view those with whom we disagree as human beings with whom we disagree, not as agents of evil bent on destruction or any other hyperbolic exaggeration. This is something I think all sides could use a reminder of every so often, and this book is an excellent example of that concept.
Writing-wise, it was also a very enjoyable read. The prose was clear and engaging, mixing the author's observations and conversations with his own commentary in a way that kept the reader interested and made points without harping on them. It was also funny; Roose finds himself in some objectively absurd situations, and his wry humor had me frequently chuckling and reading bits out loud to my husband. It's also worth noting that the humor was never mean-spirited, and often self-deprecating; he seems like a guy who'd be fun to chat up at a party.
I do wish Roose had spent a little more time seeking out the experiences of other groups. He mentions at one point that the fact that he's a white, straight, cisgender male has a lot to do with how he experiences life at Liberty, and the experience might likely be vastly different for someone who is a different race, gender, or sexual orientation. This is an important point to acknowledge, but he doesn't then seem to go out of his way at all to seek out the points of view of any members of those groups. Granted, it would probably be difficult to find anyone in that environment who admitted to being gay (or trans!), but he seems to regularly hang out with at least one black guy and actually dates at least one girl, so it seems like he could have maybe asked a few more questions, at least of the "What do you like/dislike about Liberty?" variety. Coming in mid-year as the new guy, I wouldn't expect that to raise too much suspicion. In the end, though, the book doesn't aim to be anything more or less than his personal experience, and on that front, it succeeds quite well. Definitely recommended.
Writing-wise, it was also a very enjoyable read. The prose was clear and engaging, mixing the author's observations and conversations with his own commentary in a way that kept the reader interested and made points without harping on them. It was also funny; Roose finds himself in some objectively absurd situations, and his wry humor had me frequently chuckling and reading bits out loud to my husband. It's also worth noting that the humor was never mean-spirited, and often self-deprecating; he seems like a guy who'd be fun to chat up at a party.
I do wish Roose had spent a little more time seeking out the experiences of other groups. He mentions at one point that the fact that he's a white, straight, cisgender male has a lot to do with how he experiences life at Liberty, and the experience might likely be vastly different for someone who is a different race, gender, or sexual orientation. This is an important point to acknowledge, but he doesn't then seem to go out of his way at all to seek out the points of view of any members of those groups. Granted, it would probably be difficult to find anyone in that environment who admitted to being gay (or trans!), but he seems to regularly hang out with at least one black guy and actually dates at least one girl, so it seems like he could have maybe asked a few more questions, at least of the "What do you like/dislike about Liberty?" variety. Coming in mid-year as the new guy, I wouldn't expect that to raise too much suspicion. In the end, though, the book doesn't aim to be anything more or less than his personal experience, and on that front, it succeeds quite well. Definitely recommended.