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This title in other formats:Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Backby Frank Schaeffer
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Frank Schaeffer grew up in Switzerland's L'Abri, an idealistic community founded by his parents, the American evangelicals Francis and Edith Schaeffer. By the time he was nineteen, his parents had achieved global fame as bestselling authors and speakers, L'Abri had become a mecca for spiritual seekers worldwide — from Barbara Bush to Timothy Leary — and Frank had joined his father on the evangelical circuit. By the age of 23, he had directed two multi-part religious documentaries and had helped instigate the marriage between the American evangelical community and the anti-abortion movement. But as he spoke before thousands in arenas around America, published his own evangelical bestseller, and worked with such figures as Pat Robertson, Jack Kemp, Jerry Falwell, and Dr. James Dobson, Schaeffer felt alienated, precipitating his own crisis of faith and eventually resulting in his departure. Schaeffer has since become a successful secular author. He was reduced to stealing pork chops from the grocery store in L.A., rather than take on any more high-paying evangelical speaking gigs. With its up-close portraits of the leading figures of the American evangelical movement, Crazy for God is a uniquely revealing and powerful memoir, which tells its story with empathy, humor, and bite. Review:"Part autobiography, part parental tribute and part examination of how American evangelism got to where it is, versatile author Schaeffer tells a moving story of growing up and growing wise in his latest (after Baby Jack: A Novel). Raised in Switzerland in the utopian community and spiritual school his evangelical parents founded, Schaeffer was restless and aware even at a young age that 'my life was being defined by my parent's choices.' Still, he took to 'the family business' well, following his dad as he became one of the 'best-known evangelical leaders in the U.S.' on whirlwind speaking tours. While rubbing shoulders with such empire builders as Pat Robertson, James Dobson and Jerry Falwell, Schaeffer witnessed the birth of the Christian anti-abortion movement, and became an evangelical writer, speaker and star in his own right. His disillusionment, when it came, hit hard; while he would eventually achieve modest fame as a filmmaker and author (of novels and nonfiction), the initial stages of Schaeffer's post-religious life were anything but glamorous; a particularly moving passage describes Schaeffer shoplifting pork chops rather than return to the evangelical fold. Schaeffer does not mince words, making his narrative honest, inflammatory and at times quite funny; despite its excess length and some confusing chronological leaps, this story of faith, fame and family in modern America is a worthy read." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.) Review:"Interesting glimpses into the burgeoning religious right folded into a deeply personal memoir." Kirkus Reviews Review:"Sounding a refreshing variation on the I-was-lost-but-now-I'm-found theme, Schaeffer's apology rings true." Booklist About the AuthorFrank Schaeffer was born in Switzerland to the famous American evangelical theologian and evangelist Dr. Francis Schaeffer. After a period in Hollywood as a documentary and feature film director, he became a bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction. Schaeffer has written for USA Today, The Washington Post, Reader's Digest, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Los Angeles Times. His previous works about the American Evangelical movement include Portofino and Zermatt. He has written the bestselling Keeping Faith: A Father-Son Story About Love and the United States Marine Corps, about his son's service in the military, which he followed with Faith of Our Sons: A Father's Wartime Diary, and AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America's Upper Classes from Military Service. Frank now resides in Boston and New York City with his wife, Genie. What Our Readers Are SayingAdd a comment for a chance to win!
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