
The Unlikely Disciple
A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University
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Narrated by:
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Kevin Roose
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By:
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Kevin Roose
No drinking.
No smoking.
No cursing.
No dancing.
No R-rated movies.
Kevin Roose wasn't used to rules like these. As a sophomore at Brown University, he spent his days drinking fair-trade coffee, singing in an a cappella group, and fitting right in with Brown's free-spirited, ultra-liberal student body. But when Roose leaves his Ivy League confines to spend a semester at Liberty University, a conservative Baptist school in Lynchburg, Virginia, obedience is no longer optional.
Liberty is the late Reverend Jerry Falwell's "Bible Boot Camp" for young evangelicals, his training ground for the next generation of America's Religious Right. Liberty's 10,000 undergraduates take courses like Evangelism 101, hear from guest speakers like Sean Hannity and Karl Rove, and follow a 46-page code of conduct that regulates every aspect of their social lives. Hoping to connect with his evangelical peers, Roose decides to enroll at Liberty as a new transfer student, leaping across the God Divide and chronicling his adventures in this daring report from the front lines of America's culture war.
His journey takes him from an evangelical hip-hop concert to choir practice at Falwell's legendary Thomas Road Baptist Church. He experiments with prayer, participates in a spring break mission trip to Daytona Beach (where he learns to preach the gospel to partying coeds), and pays a visit to Every Man's Battle, an on-campus support group for chronic masturbators. He meets pastors' kids, closet doubters, Christian rebels, and conducts what would be the last print interview of Rev. Falwell's life.
Hilarious and heartwarming, respectful and thought-provoking, The Unlikely Disciple will inspire and entertain believers and nonbelievers alike.
©2009 Kevin Roose (P)2010 HachetteListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
Great listen!!
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Weirdly soothing
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What a balanced book
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Would you listen to The Unlikely Disciple again? Why?
I'm not usually a person to re-listen to or re-read most books, so my answer to this question is "no." However, the more important question, I think, is would I recommend it or do I regret reading it, and the answers are yes and no, respectively. Kevin Roose's look at Liberty University was respectful and thoughtful. As an evangelical myself and a professor at another Christian college, this look at how an "outsider" might view the evangelical sub-culture was enlightening and sometimes painful. His descriptions gave well-written word pictures that made me, as a reader, feel as if I knew the characters and the university.Who was your favorite character and why?
Besides Roose himself, who was the narrator, my favorite character was "Jersey Joey." Joey is a likable character who is a believer but a bit rebellious. He welcomes Roose into his group but is perceptive enough to be a bit suspicious of Roose and his intentions. I was glad to read in the Epilogue (spoiler alert!) that he and Roose remain friends after Roose tells him the true nature of Roose's semester at Liberty.Which character – as performed by Kevin Roose – was your favorite?
It's got to be Jersey Joey. I loved the accent and attitude, both of which made me feel like I knew him.Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I was rooting for Roose and Anna to get together, while at the same time glad that Roose was respectful enough of her and her beliefs to not get into a romantic entanglement under false pretenses. I was sad when they broke up, and later delighted (another spoiler alert) when they talked openly at the end of the semester and Roose risked a kiss on the cheek as they parted.Any additional comments?
This book is an enjoyable read and a thought-provoking one too. It is well worth a listen.Entertaining & interesting
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A Fascinating Outcome of Intellectual Curiosity
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Felt Like Roose was Speaking Directly to Me!
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College Students Must Read
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ry interesting book
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Outstanding
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Best of Both Worlds
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