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God’s Harvard: A Christian College on a Mission to Save America Audiobook
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(3.01) - 347 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Since 2000, America’s most ambitious young evangelicals have been making their way to Patrick Henry College in Virginia, a small Christian school that has earned the nickname “God’s Harvard.” Most of these students are homeschoolers whose idealism and discipline put the average American teenager to shame. The school grooms them to become the Christian elite of tomorrow, dispatching them to the front lines of politics, entertainment, and science to wage the battle to take back a godless nation.
Hanna Rosin spent a year and a half following these students from campus to Congress, conservative think tanks, Hollywood, and other centers of influence. Her account captures a nerve center of the evangelical movement at a moment of maximum influence and also crisis, as it struggles to remake the modern world in its own image.
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"I have a sick fascination with the religious right. This was a very informative and generally well written story about Patrick Henry College, a conservative Christian evangelical school in Virginia with the mission to educate young Christians to enter politics and "take back the nation." It is both fascinating and horrifying to me as a liberal-minded person. A lot of characters come into play, so by the end, it was a little hard to keep some names straight -- some people are featured more prominently than others...some show up in the beginning or middle once and then are mentioned again in the final chapter and conclusion. If you are interested in politics and what drives them, this is a great book. I found it especially informative because it was written during the Bush administration. My first election was 2008, so before then, I didn't have as much understanding of the national climate of our politics. It was an eye opener."
— Emily (4 out of 5 stars)
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“The challenge for any responsible journalist approaching this subject, then, is twofold. She must approach with compassion, avoiding the stereotyping that so often characterizes books and articles about religious groups…At the same time, she must retain her skepticism…With God’s Harvard, Hanna Rosin aces this balancing act.”
— Newsweek -
“How can a school introduce some of the country’s most sheltered youth to the ways of the secular world—even in hopes they will reshape it—without their being corrupted in the process? It’s a dilemma that makes for constant tension in Hanna Rosin’s nuanced and highly readable God’s Harvard.”
— Washington Post -
“A rare accomplishment for many reasons—perhaps most of all because Rosin is a journalist who not only reports but also observes deeply. Her insights come through in her balanced portrayal of each student, the nuance with which she inserts her own first-person narration, and—not least—her dry and sometimes acerbic sense of humor.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“Whether these kids terrify or delight you has everything to do with your political and religious views but, one way or the other, they are people that you should probably start getting to know. God’s Harvard…offers an intriguing introduction.”
— Christian Science Monitor -
“Rosin weaves a deft and honest narrative of evangelical education, combining historical background, close observation and skeptical wit…an illuminating, accessible guide to the beliefs, aspirations and ongoing challenges of [the evangelical movement’s] next generation.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Bernadette Dunne is a perfect match for this text. She has a resonant tenor voice that is dispassionate in tone but appropriately expressive. Quotations are adequately differentiated from the narrative through a nuanced voice for each person.”
— Audiofile -
“A captivating look at struggles within the conservative movement.”
— Booklist -
“Rosin…is the perfect writer and researcher for this project; her style is factual and objective. The book is…an entertaining and enlightening read. More important[ly], it’s an eyewitness account of the evangelical movement and subculture. Recommended without reservation.”
— Library Journal -
“[A] compelling examination…Rosin does not set out to write an exposé or to push an agenda of her own, and she succeeds admirably in allowing the reader to experience this place and its people first-hand…[An] accomplished study of today’s most gifted evangelical Christians coming of age.”
— Kirkus Reviews
God’s Harvard Listener Reviews
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" This is a excellent piece of sociology that let's us in on a puzzling and (to some) threatening trend in education. I am fascinated by the people in this book -- college students who actively seek to avoid exploration -- people who want to stay on the track laid out for them. It becomes understandable when we hear from them, but no less troubling. "
— Pipgargery, 2/17/2014 -
" Enjoyed the narratives, but seemed to like much analysis or summation of the author's opinions on the college and the movement. "
— Sam, 1/16/2014 -
" This read like a long magazine article, and I mean that in a good way. It was a fascinating look at the Christian fundamentalist subculture in America and particularly at Patrick Henry College in Virginia. The author gives us glimpses of the lives of the super-zealous, well-disciplined students of Patrick Henry, a school where a glimpse of a bra strap or hint of midriff is enough to land a girl in the dean's office. At least there are a few students who rebel. Yikes. "
— Abbey, 1/14/2014 -
" Very quick review of the drive, and often lunacy, of extreme Christian students. The author shows a bit of bias against them throughout, but I'm not sure anyone could stick with most these kids. Much of their behavior is shocking, though some have redeeming qualities. There's an incongruous subplot about a popular rogue teacher; it doesn't quite connect with the main narrative. But overall I learned a lot in just a few pages. "
— Brian, 1/12/2014 -
" An interesting look at the culture of a new, evangelical, and very conservative school outside DC (Patrick Henry) thats top administrator sees as a major front in the culture war. At times, the book was insightful, and yet as I read it, I couldn't help but think about how the book could have been better. My feeling, I guess, is that I it felt like too much of a "my life among the apes," the author making it very clear how she viewed much of the evangelical culture. I may not agree with their take on culture, either; and I may also agree that the way of life at Patrick Henry, as Rosin describes it, is on the far side of ridiculous. Even so, I'm not sure that's the best approach for a narrator to take. "
— Michael, 12/31/2013 -
" Fascinating. I finally started this one that's been sitting by my bed for weeks. I think it's a must read for anyone on the outside of the evangelical movement. This book is well researched (despite misspelling Loudoun County) and even-handed. "
— Jessica, 12/22/2013 -
" Well researched and well written, but the author seemed to have an opinion written into every page that distracted from the potential value of the book. "
— Jennifer, 12/4/2013 -
" interesting book about a college for homeschooled kids. the kids are the product of fundamentalist christian families and the tone of the book is about how thry are going to take back the world from the hands of the devil. "
— Jeannine, 11/13/2013 -
" This book is supposed to be written by a journalist. From the first chapter you can easily tell her leanings and biases. Not sure the book would even serve as a good coaster. I believe it would make my drink slide considering how much it's tilted to the left. "
— Brett, 10/10/2011 -
" What happens when a subculture narrows. Thought provoking for the evangelical. "
— Linda, 6/21/2011 -
" This is a book almost everyone should read. As a Democrat, I found it equally intriguing and disturbing. "
— Elizabeth, 5/17/2011 -
" Interesting book - I found the writing style a little difficult to follow at times. It was however, quite an insightful (and scary) look at the Christian Right and the Moral Majority. "
— Liz, 2/27/2011 -
" This book was OK; not fabulous. "
— Erin, 5/11/2010 -
" fascinating...originally picked this up b/c i lived in the northern virginia area when patrick henry college was being built and accredited...the idea of trying to "stack" washington, dc and politics with right wing christians is scary and fascinating all at once. "
— Christy, 11/29/2008 -
" I found this book to be a quick read and very insightful. I love books that expose two sides of the fence. You can make your own decision, without feeling forced to see it one way. While the meaning of this college has a good ideal, it seems mostly scary and hypocritical to me. "
— Kimberly, 4/22/2008 -
" Very interesting tales from Patrick Henry College and the challenges faced by the Christian right. I thought it did a good job trying to be balanced and fair. "
— Karen, 9/27/2007
About Hanna Rosin
Hanna Rosin has covered religion and politics for the Washington Post. She has also written for the New Yorker, New Republic, GQ, and the New York Times. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, Slate deputy editor David Plotz, and their two children.
About Bernadette Dunne
Bernadette Dunne is the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Audie Award. She studied at the Royal National Theatre in London and the Studio Theater in Washington, DC, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center and off Broadway.