Banished
Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church
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Narrated by:
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Lauren Drain
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By:
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Lauren Drain
About this listen
Banished is an eye-opening, deeply personal account of life inside the cult known as the Westboro Baptist Church, as well as a fascinating story of adaptation and perseverance.
You've likely heard of the Westboro Baptist Church. Perhaps you've seen their pickets on the news, the members holding signs with messages that are too offensive to copy here, protesting at events such as the funerals of soldiers, the 9-year old victim of the recent Tucson shooting, and Elizabeth Edwards, all in front of their grieving families. The WBC is fervently anti-gay, anti-Semitic, and anti-practically everything and everyone. And they aren't going anywhere: In March, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the WBC's right to picket funerals.
Since no organized religion will claim affiliation with the WBC, it's perhaps more accurate to think of them as a cult. Lauren Drain was thrust into that cult at the age of 15, and then spat back out again seven years later.
Lauren spent her early years enjoying a normal life with her family in Florida. But when her formerly liberal and secular father set out to produce a documentary about the WBC, his detached interest gradually evolved into fascination, and he moved the entire family to Kansas to join the church and live on their compound. Over the next seven years, Lauren fully assimilated their extreme beliefs, and became a member of the church and an active and vocal picketer. But as she matured and began to challenge some of the church's tenets, she was unceremoniously cast out from the church and permanently cut off from her family and from everyone else she knew and loved.
Banished is the story of Lauren's fight to find herself amidst dramatic changes in a world of extremists and a life in exile.
©2013 Lauren Drain (P)2013 Hachette AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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- By: Zach Wahls, Bruce Littlefield
- Narrated by: Kris Koscheski
- Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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On January 31, 2011, Zach Wahls addressed the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in a public forum regarding civil unions. The 19-year-old son of a same-sex couple, Wahls proudly proclaimed, "The sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character." Hours later, his speech was posted on YouTube, where it went viral, quickly receiving more than two million views. By the end of the week, everyone knew his name and wanted to hear more from the boy with two moms.
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You will not regret listening to this.
- By V. Brown on 06-07-12
By: Zach Wahls, and others
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Growing Up Duggar
- It's All About Relationships
- By: Jana Duggar, Jill Duggar, Jessa Duggar, and others
- Narrated by: Jana Duggar, Jill Duggar, Jessa Duggar, and others
- Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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In a rare look inside America’s favorite mega-sized family, the four eldest girls talk about their faith, their dreams for the future, and what it’s like growing up a Duggar. Airing weekly throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, 19 Kids and Counting has made the huge Duggar family into a media phenomenon. Now, the four eldest Duggar girls—Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger—open up about the blessings and advantages of living the Duggar lifestyle.
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Didn't Love It
- By Simone on 03-04-14
By: Jana Duggar, and others
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Why I Didn't Rebel
- A Twenty-Two-Year-Old Explains Why She Stayed on the Straight and Narrow - and How Your Kids Can Too
- By: Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach
- Narrated by: Shannon McManus
- Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Teen rebellion is seen as a cultural norm, but Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach begs to differ. In Why I Didn't Rebel - based on a viral blog post that has been read by more than 750,000 people - Lindenbach shows how rebellion is neither unavoidable nor completely understood. Based on interviews with her peers and combining the latest research in psychology and social science with stories from her own life, she gives parents a new paradigm for raising kids who don't go off the rails.
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As a counselor and a Christian this completely aligns!
- By angcolling on 06-19-22
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Broken on the Back Row
- A Journey Through Grace and Forgiveness
- By: Sandi Patty
- Narrated by: Sandi Patty
- Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Sandi Patty, the most awarded female vocalist in contemporary Christian music, saw her stellar career go into a tailspin. Now she tells the story of her long road to restoration. From the agony of divorce nearly 10 years ago, Sandi has moved from center stage to the back row of the church balcony and back into the spotlight.
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Touching
- By Nick Alexander on 07-19-05
By: Sandi Patty
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Crazy for God
- By: Frank Schaeffer
- Narrated by: Frank Schaeffer
- Length: 10 hrs
- Unabridged
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By the time he was 19, Frank Schaeffer’s parents had achieved global fame as best-selling evangelical authors and speakers, and Frank had joined his father on the evangelical circuit. He would go on to speak before thousands and publish his own best seller. But while coming of age as a rising evangelical star, Schaeffer felt increasingly alienated, and as a result, he experienced a crisis of faith that would ultimately lead to his journey out of the fold - even if it meant losing everything.
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Recommended!
- By Catherine Heard on 10-29-10
By: Frank Schaeffer
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The Wrong End of the Table
- A Mostly Comic Memoir of a Muslim Arab American Woman Just Trying to Fit In
- By: Ayser Salman, Reza Aslan - foreword
- Narrated by: Ayser Salman, Assaf Cohen
- Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Part memoir and part how-not-to guide, The Wrong End of the Table is everything you wanted to know about Arabs but were afraid to ask, with chapters such as “Tattoos and Other National Security Risks,” “You Can’t Blame Everything on Your Period; Sometimes You’re Going to Be a Crazy Bitch: and Other Advice from Mom,” and even an open letter to Trump. This is the story of every American outsider on a path to find themselves in a country of beautiful diversity.
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Not what I was looking for
- By Amazon Customer on 09-01-22
By: Ayser Salman, and others
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Have a New Teenager by Friday
- From Mouthy and Moody to Respectful and Responsible in 5 Days
- By: Kevin Leman
- Narrated by: Kirby Heybourne
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Congratulations! You have a teenager in your home. Life will never quite be the same again (of course, you already know that). But it can be better than you’ve ever dreamed. In fact, you’re just five days away from your teenager asking, “What can I do to help?” Guaranteed! With his signature wit and commonsense psychology, internationally recognized family expert and New York Times best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman will help you. your teenager’s life. With Dr. Leman’s instinct and insight, plus an index with gutsy advice on 75 hot-button issues that keep parents up at night.
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Listen with a Critical Mind
- By Stephanie on 03-25-13
By: Kevin Leman
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Here's the Story
- Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice
- By: Maureen McCormick
- Narrated by: Maureen McCormick
- Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins
- Abridged
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Marcia Brady, eldest daughter on television's The Brady Bunch, had it all. But what viewers didn't know about the always sunny, perfect Marcia was that offscreen, her real-life counterpart, Maureen McCormick was living a very different - and not so wonderful - life. Maureen tells the shocking and inspirational true story of the beloved teen and the woman she became.
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Gripping
- By Chris on 08-12-14
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The Girls Who Went Away
- The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade
- By: Ann Fessler
- Narrated by: Coleen Marlo
- Length: 12 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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In this deeply moving and myth-shattering work, Ann Fessler brings out into the open for the first time the astonishing untold history of the million and a half women who surrendered children for adoption due to enormous family and social pressure in the decades before Roe v. Wade.
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Sad but True ... and Helpful
- By Kim Kavanagh on 01-05-17
By: Ann Fessler
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Not Afraid of Life
- My Journey So Far
- By: Bristol Palin, Nancy French
- Narrated by: Bristol Palin
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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In this personal memoir, Bristol Palin opens up for the first time ever. She takes listeners behind the scenes, from growing up in Alaska to coming of age amid the media and political frenzy surrounding her mother's political rise; from becoming a single mother while still a teenager to coping as her relationship with the baby's father crumbled publicly. Through all of these ups and downs, Bristol learned how to face her challenges head-on, with courage and grace.
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Forgiveness
- By Dennis on 01-16-16
By: Bristol Palin, and others
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Pure
- Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free
- By: Linda Kay Klein
- Narrated by: Linda Kay Klein
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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In the 1990s, a “purity industry” emerged out of the white evangelical Christian culture. Purity rings, purity pledges, and purity balls came with a dangerous message: girls are potential sexual “stumbling blocks” for boys and men, and any expression of a girl’s sexuality could reflect the corruption of her character. This message traumatized many girls - resulting in anxiety, fear, and experiences that mimicked the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder - and trapped them in a cycle of shame.
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I expected a different ending I suppose
- By Military Dad on 12-12-18
By: Linda Kay Klein
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Coming Home to Myself
- A Memoir
- By: Wynonna Judd, Patsi Bale Cox
- Narrated by: Ellen Archer
- Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Coming Home to Myself is the result of that emotional journey, a song of personal discovery that taught Wynonna Judd to love not just what she does, but who she is. From a truly exceptional woman comes an unexpected memoir of survival, strength, hope, and forgiveness, filled with an exultant and empowering message certain to resonate with those who have dreamed of finding themselves, and who only needed the courage and inspiration to begin their own journey.
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Not an Interesting Memoir
- By Marcos on 03-14-09
By: Wynonna Judd, and others
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First Things First
- The Rules of Being a Warner
- By: Kurt Warner, Brenda Warner, Jennifer Schuchmann - contributor
- Narrated by: Todd Busteed, Rebecca Gallagher, Abigail Seward
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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First Things First is an honest, insightful, and entertaining look at life inside the Warner household. Kurt and Brenda speak candidly about their marriage, the values they are working to instill in their kids, things they've done right, mistakes they've made, the importance of giving back, and the legacy they hope to leave behind.
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A must read!!
- By Amazon Customer on 04-18-18
By: Kurt Warner, and others
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What listeners say about Banished
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Allauna
- 05-08-13
True to herself
Where does Banished rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
This story was so true to how we think and end up in certain situations. Her ability to understand herself, her father, and the people around her is amazing. You can tell that she is still in pain but looks forward to a lifetime of healing.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Michael
- 05-01-15
Wow!
It's amazing to hear the story of a life and region completely driven and dependent on hate by someone who lived it, believed it and got through it. I cannot imagine taunting the parents of dead children and yelling that God is happy they're dead, and hopefully, most people on earth couldn't either. It's interesting to hear how a book built on love could be twisted so far out of it's tracks to read like a manual for hate. Very early in the book though, Lauren actually gives us the kryptonite to use on these monsters: telling them they don't matter. Ignoring them and paying them no attention. THATS the thing....the only thing....that hurts them. Well, that and a 9mm to the face, but that's just emotion talking. No, making them invisible.... That's the path to victory. Not a fun read, but a good one.
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4 people found this helpful
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- J. Simonton
- 11-18-13
Fanaticism Gone Wild!
Would you listen to Banished again? Why?
Yes, I thought the story was haunting and the creepiest part is that the people in the Westboro Baptist Church are educated and somewhat contributing to society but still blinded by hate.
I have often read of things like this happening in other countries, but it's just appalling that this type of hate is being taught in the suburban MidWest. The WBC uses fear to control it's members. Anyone who has experienced emotional abuse, will sympathize with this young woman.
What other book might you compare Banished to and why?
It seemed very similar to the books written from escapees from the FLDS, people who have fled North Korea and the Princess Sultana books.
I found it striking how alike extremist groups are, regardless of their message or creed, they are all based on feeling superior to others, cutting contact with the outside world and constantly claiming that they are being discriminated against.
What three words best describe Lauren Drain’s voice?
Youthful, Soothing, Resilient
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Cast Out of Hell: My Expulsion from the Westboro Baptist Church.
Any additional comments?
Once I started listening, it was hard to turn off this audiobook. I was fascinated and this story just sucked me right in.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Jessa
- 05-25-18
amazing
loved it. Although I don't agree with what WBC believes, I can now understand them better. What Lauren survived isn't as horrific as some others who have escaped extremed religions but something about the subtle abuse is almost more disturbing. Everyone knows physical & sexual abuse is wrong but what Lauren suffered was very manipulative verbal, mental, & emotional torture. This is the kind of abuse that doesn't leave a visible mark for us to become outraged by. Nevertheless it is damaging. Lauren isn't exactly someone you would think you would root for but you gain a new understanding of her & the world she lived in as she describes the horrific things she did & said to others in honest detail all the while cringing at the real villains: the WBC elders & even her parents. The only critique I have is the end is somewhat rushed. I would have loved more info & details about her life post-WBC & it would have been great if she had more comments on the other defectors. She heavily mentions Megan Phelps-Roper who did end up leaving in 2012, I would love her thoughts on that & I wonder whether they reconnected.
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- Lord
- 03-07-13
Judging from Wacko The Troll...
What did you love best about Banished?
...if this book is half as lurid as that paranoid freak-out wall of text review says it is...looks like I'm in for a treat! Hi-dee-ho!
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9 people found this helpful
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- Ryan
- 04-13-14
Inside the Wesboro cult
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
If you're interested in the story behind the Westboro headlines, this is one of the few sources of insider information. "Banished" was comprehensive and reasonably well written, and was an enjoyable (if shocking) read. This book is a good companion to Louis Theroux's documentary "The Most Hated Family in America" and its follow up "America's Most Hated Family in Crisis".
What was one of the most memorable moments of Banished?
Leaving Westboro. Her expulsion from the church was swift and harsh. I'm sure this was ultimately a double edged sword for Drain - on the one hand, she is out of the cult and free to live her life as she pleases, but on the other she lost almost everything she had known, including siblings to whom she was close.
Did the narration match the pace of the story?
Yes. Drain is certainly not a professional narrator, but her narration wasn't too distracting either.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
"Puts your parents' faults into perspective!"
Any additional comments?
Lauren Drain's story of living in the Westboro cult was, without question, an important one to tell. She is an imperfect but sympathetic character, and she does a good job of explaining the psychology behind her family joining the church (in particular Steve Drain's narcissism).
One aspect of the book let it down slightly. It is an autobiography of a young person, therefore contained more than its fair share of minutiae about being a teenager (e.g. complaining about punishments and the unfair nature of the group's restrictions).
All in all, though, I have a lot of sympathy for Lauren and the losses she's suffered at the hands of an intolerant belief system.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mia
- 04-11-13
The last third is great
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Yes: The book proves individuals are very different. The begining shows how her father abused her BEFORe she came to the WBC. I felt the first part almost promoted what WBC stands for. I had to remind myself in these chapters how Drain was no longer a member. Her comments about others who has left made me think less of this story. I think it would be a more balanced book if Libby,Josh, Becca and Meghan alongside the other Youth leaving had written a book together. After all: They grew up in this and of course their opinions differ.
What did you like best about this story?
The. part where you get to listen to where her opinions lay today.
Would you listen to another book narrated by Lauren Drain?
Yes
What else would you have wanted to know about Lauren Drain’s life?
To me it seems like she never belonged in the WBC. She played her part over and over to get praise from her father. I think even when she got sothe phase where her acting became truth. Members might have seen her for what she was. An outsider movedcby forrce by her dad. He is the one I have the hardest time even trying to understand. I know her motto is peace, however, if she ever get hard facts about him and other females I hope she will take her mother asside asking her:" Do you let dad run the show without knowing what you actually stands for?"
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1 person found this helpful
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- Pamela Plimpton
- 02-16-18
A much wanted education of Westboro
I stumbled across this book as a recommendation of all the FLDS books I have listened to. One of the "you might like these" suggestions. I am so glad I listened. I have always wanted a bit more education on the Westboro church & never understood the picketing. Lauren does a fantastic job of her first-hand account throughout the book. I'm glad she read it herself as I felt it was very poignant coming from the author. While I see some similarities to the FLDS, I was very glad not to read more about polygamy, abuse, incest, etc. At least these children have somewhat more "normal" lives, but are heavily indoctrinated into the belief system. When she was banished so suddenly, it left me confused as to why. I'm glad to see she is a survivor & has a strong faith to believe in today.
Would recommend to anyone who wants to know why this church pickets at military funerals and others. My jaw dropped when I heard some of their reasons!!
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- Joseph G.
- 12-26-15
Very insightful look into religious fanaticism
Excellent book that is captivating, insightful and well-written. This young lady's brave journey is inspirational and harrowing. Highly recommended.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Singing Di
- 04-18-20
Too drawn out
Reader was not the best. Interesting book but the story could have been told in 1/4 of the time. Too repetitive.
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