Strength for the Journey: An Autobiography

Falwell, born in 1933 to an affluent Lynchburg, Va., family, disarmingly describes his life. Revealing scandals and tragedies that made his family notorious but nevertheless admired citizens in his hometown, Falwell writes that he grew up with no interest in religion, a fun-loving and raffish youth, until he joined the Baptist church at age 19. But not until he was married and a father did he begin his career as a minister, TV preacher and head of the Moral Majority. Falwell proudly discusses the group's influence on voters, but the book is more about faith and religion than about politics as he emphasizes prayer as the power that helped him overcome his racism and other lapses from grace. About his role as rescuer in the scandal over the PTL ministry, Falwell charitably comments that it was his ""unfortunate task to hold Jim and Tammy Bakker accountable at last.'' Photos not seen by PW. Paperback rights to Pocket Books; Conservative Book Club alternate; author tour. (November 25)