In his latest offering, the author of The Hipster Handbook
brings his brand of sardonic wit and caricature assassination to bear on all things evangelical. Like all great satire, the book is cerebral, irreverent and hilarious, while also edifying in introducing the characters, vocabulary and complex political and social network loosely referred to as the Christian right. Lanham skillfully navigates the "Evangophobe" through the treacherous waters of Colorado Springs ("the Evangelical Vatican"); goes after leaders like Jerry Falwell, whose health, Lanham writes, "has been declining ever since he got shrapnel in his leg from the war on Christmas"; and explains the megachurch phenomenon, where congregations approaching 20,000 people can contribute $6 million annually. Readers familiar with Lanham's style will immediately recognize his self-deprecating irony and indomitably hip sensibility. Despite the sometimes predictable snarkiness and easy targets, Lanham keeps the humor sharp throughout. (Sept. 5)
