This autobiographical tale is the author's account of his trip to, through, and away from religious fundamentalism. Porteous writes in a chatty style, which will win no awards, but he manages to keep the reader's interest. His story is rather unremarkable - that of a person whose weak character is helped by fundamentalism which later holds him back when he grows beyond the religion's boundaries. He moves on to secular humanism and takes a public stance against his old allies. Porteous is now a strong defender of the First Amendment and of the separation of church and state. His book is an important one, if only because it reflects a common intellectual journey with contemporary relevance.