youareheredesign

I came to this book expecting something light and full of fluff, in the vein of Matthew Polly or a slightly more licentious A.J. Jacobs (whose cover quote came as no surprise whatever). Instead, it hit me really, really hard. Parts of Roose's story are weirdly resonant: I was raised an evangelical Protestant, attended 2 years of middle school in much the same conservative atmosphere, and have been surrounded by the ideas, attitudes and emphases surrounding Liberty throughout my life: I know plenty of porn-battling, Hannity-listening, purity ring-wearing creationist Christians, and have always felt out of place with my Inner-Light seeking, diversity-accepting predilections. As a matter of fact, I'm a Christian who leans decidedly Quaker-ward (I really liked his insight regarding Quakerism). Basically the book deals with the same issues I've been for years. That's why I left this book conflicted: it was easy to wish he had been more condemnatory of the more odious aspects of the Christian Right, but he also shows the importance of open-mindedness, while keeping a grip on your own convictions. While also being willing to change them. See? These are really big questions, and Roose asks them with an honesty and earnestness that forces you to answer them. I don't know that he ever really answers them for anyone but himself, but that's the point, I suppose. Interesting book, to understate it. (As a side note, I went to the website, took the quiz...and made a perfect score.)

2020-09-17 21:15