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Product Description
Review
American Author's Association website, December 2008
"A story that needed to be told...A very personal and brutally honest memoir, that opens up and exposes the underbelly of the evangelistic movement...Gives the reader a rare and different look at some of various leaders of the fundamentalist moment...The book may open some eyes and minds about the dangers of politics and religion...A must read book for serious seekers looking for their own authentic path to enlightenment, or at least some inner peace."
"A story that needed to be told...A very personal and brutally honest memoir, that opens up and exposes the underbelly of the evangelistic movement...Gives the reader a rare and different look at some of various leaders of the fundamentalist moment...The book may open some eyes and minds about the dangers of politics and religion...A must read book for serious seekers looking for their own authentic path to enlightenment, or at least some inner peace."
De-conversion.com, 12/2/08
"A must read for the de-converting...It is brutally honest, eye-opening, at times laugh out loud funny, and heart breaking."
"Princeton Packet," 2/13/09
"Mr. Schaeffer knows what he's talking about. He was there, and his book lays it all out, chapter and verse."
Product Description
By the time he was nineteen, Frank Schaeffers parents, Francis and Edith Schaeffer, had achieved global fame as bestselling evangelical authors and speakers, and Frank had joined his father on the evangelical circuit. He would go on to speak before thousands in arenas around America, publish his own evangelical bestseller, and work with such figures as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and Dr. James Dobson. But all the while Schaeffer felt increasingly alienated, precipitating a crisis of faith that would ultimately lead to his departure-even if it meant losing everything. With honesty, empathy, and humor, Schaeffer delivers a brave and important book (Andre Dubus III, author of House of Sand and Fog)-both a fascinating insiders look at the American evangelical movement and a deeply affecting personal odyssey of faith.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Schaeffer's biography is painfully honest, both about his personal life and his involvement with America's religious right movement in the 70s and 80s. Most of the book concerns his youth, his generous but driven parents, and his own journey as an artist. The political right-wing movement forms a relatively minor portion of his life. Through it all, Schaeffer faces his own failings and delusions unflinchingly -- sometimes it is hilarious. And he opens up to real gratitude for all the people who showed him compassion.
At one point Schaeffer says "Honesty is the only thing that is satisfying about writing". And he proceeds with such disarming honesty as to give a clear window, not only on a soul, but on an era of American history.
At one point Schaeffer says "Honesty is the only thing that is satisfying about writing". And he proceeds with such disarming honesty as to give a clear window, not only on a soul, but on an era of American history.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I heard Frank Scheaffer speak at the Greenbelt Festival and found him open, honest and witty. I bought the book and have read it in 2 days. I really could not put it down. His honesty about himself, his mistakes, and his life as the child of American Evangelical leaders makes this a book well worth reading. Anyone who wants to understand the American political and religious right should read this warm, compassionate and gripping book. Even as the story of an extraordanary and eccentric upbringing, it is a must read.
Format:Paperback
I've met a few folk who went to l'Abri in the Vaudois Alps, founded by Francis and Edith Schaeffer. As a result, I was surprised to see the rather different writings of Frank, formerly Franky, Schaeffer (hereinafter "Jr.") in places such as "The Huffington Post". This caused me to buy the book. The subtitle also attracted my attention.
First of all, for fans of the Schaeffers and their work, a health warning is in order. Jr. peppers his book with four-letter words and his personal sexploits, which may put some folk off. Personally, I find his honesty refreshing.
Now the interesting bit; did he REALLY help found the Religious Wrong in America? He thinks so. Indeed, he takes most of the credit for introducing the wedge issue of abortion, which has become such a distorting factor in US politics (he says his father was never so gung-ho about it). Alas (according to Jr.), his (as he saw it) nuanced stand on the issue was taken over by the "under-no-circumstances" pro-lifers (I love that name, never having actually met anyone who is NOT pro-life). Does he deserve this self-administered pat on the back? Who knows? (who cares?)
Anyway, the book is a curious ramble, autobiography and spiritual journey all in one. Along the way, he paints unflattering portraits of the Big Cheese of the Religious Wrong (Robertson, Dobson), and he says that his father was uncomfortable with these political animals disguised as pastors. He realised too late (he says) that he and his father had been used. In the end, he drifted away from the Evangelicals and ended up in the Greek Orthodox church.
Speaking of his father, one of the endearing features of the book is the obvious affection he retains for his parents. They are portrayed not as infallible saints but as fallible people seeking to work out God's will as they saw it, and being prepared to change.
So, a mildly interesting read, but also, one suspects, a bit of an ego trip, tied in with a bit of catharsis.
One unexplained oddity - the photo on the cover is not Dad with Jr, but Dad with one of Jr's sisters. Why?
First of all, for fans of the Schaeffers and their work, a health warning is in order. Jr. peppers his book with four-letter words and his personal sexploits, which may put some folk off. Personally, I find his honesty refreshing.
Now the interesting bit; did he REALLY help found the Religious Wrong in America? He thinks so. Indeed, he takes most of the credit for introducing the wedge issue of abortion, which has become such a distorting factor in US politics (he says his father was never so gung-ho about it). Alas (according to Jr.), his (as he saw it) nuanced stand on the issue was taken over by the "under-no-circumstances" pro-lifers (I love that name, never having actually met anyone who is NOT pro-life). Does he deserve this self-administered pat on the back? Who knows? (who cares?)
Anyway, the book is a curious ramble, autobiography and spiritual journey all in one. Along the way, he paints unflattering portraits of the Big Cheese of the Religious Wrong (Robertson, Dobson), and he says that his father was uncomfortable with these political animals disguised as pastors. He realised too late (he says) that he and his father had been used. In the end, he drifted away from the Evangelicals and ended up in the Greek Orthodox church.
Speaking of his father, one of the endearing features of the book is the obvious affection he retains for his parents. They are portrayed not as infallible saints but as fallible people seeking to work out God's will as they saw it, and being prepared to change.
So, a mildly interesting read, but also, one suspects, a bit of an ego trip, tied in with a bit of catharsis.
One unexplained oddity - the photo on the cover is not Dad with Jr, but Dad with one of Jr's sisters. Why?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Honest account of Faith and Life
If I had to sum up this book in on e word, it is "honesty". The author lives up to his name and gives a frank account of his childhood and adolescent years in what could be seen... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Dr. Lars J. S. Knutsen
Crazy for God: Schaeffer, Frank
Controversial. Starts untidily but picks up and continues well with some excellent autobiography and recollections. Read more
Published 19 months ago by mcginty
Interesting account of life growing up in a bubble
I had never heard of Frank Schaeffer before I heard a podcast interview he gave for the Point of Inquiry show. Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2010 by M. P. Corkhill
Totally gripping
Just found this a very exciting autobiographical memoir - the subtitle says it all really! It's a great warts and all story of the author's journey and, from a personal point of... Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2009 by M. Evison
A journey through belief and experience
I've long been an admirer of Edith Schaeffer's books - L'Abri, What is a family, among them. So I was fascinated to see Francis Schaeffer among the authors: first, of a trilogy of... Read more
Published on 23 July 2009 by Sr A. M. House
A brilliant insightful book
I have just finished reading this book and found it amazing. I could not put it down. To be honest I'd not even heard of it and just noticed it in my local library and thought it... Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2009 by BM
A must-read book for anyone interested in Christianity and Politics
Frank Shaeffer's book tells his life story in a wonderful manner. He explains what it was really like to be brought up in a home of American missionaries in Europe, the clash... Read more
Published on 2 Oct 2008 by P. J. Leeson
The sin of Ham
Frank Schaeffer has a good entertaining writing style. As someone who has struggled with depression for years I an
encouraged by his description of his father's moods and... Read more
encouraged by his description of his father's moods and... Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2008 by G. J. Weeks
A big hearted and honest book
Frank Schaeffer, son of a well-known American conservative evangelical writer and preacher of a former generation of the same name, has written a revealing and moving account of... Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2007 by Miland Joshi
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