Falwell Inc.: Inside a Religious, Political, Educational, and Business Empire

by Dirk Smillie

Spiritual Street Fighter. Radical Educator. Christian Entrepreneur.

The late Reverend Jerry Falwell was a controversial and divisive religious and political figure whose legacy will long outlive him. Falwell Inc. is the first close examination of how he built his conservative empire, from the inner workings of the fund-raising juggernauts behind his church, university, and conservative causes, to the explosive growth of Liberty University, founded by Falwell to mint conservative lawyers, judges, and politicans. Falwell’s religious ventures are now in the hands of his two very different sons. They are expanding their father’s empire beyond what he ever achieved.

Investigative reporter Dirk Smillie reveals the financial rapids Reverend Falwell and son Jerry Jr. hit when business failures piled up $100 million in debt and nearly sank his school and ministry. Smillie uncovers the extraordinary impact Falwell, in saving his spiritual enterprises, has had on Lynchburg, Virginia, and how savvy real estate investments and relentless fund-raising saved the empire. Falwell Inc. details the spreading influence his legacy continues to exert on our country.

Falwell Inc. is above all an astonishing behind-the-curtains look at a powerful but flawed man and his multimillion-dollar business, political, religious, and education enterprises, by a reporter with unprecedented access to the family.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 22, 2008

Reviews

[Tim Chavel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dirk Smillie is a reporter at "Forbes" magazine. He writes this book from someone wanting to learn how Jerry Falwell built his empire. This is a very interesting book. For those who remember one of our favorite chapel speakers from the 70's at Pensacola Christian College, Ron Godwin, will enjoy learning more about him in this book. It is fascinating learning about the many ways money was raised at Liberty. The many friends and business that help to build the ministry. If you want to learn about the ins and outs about the money flow at Liberty this is the book for you. Also, it has much history about the Falwell family.

[John Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a lot that I didn't already know, but I knew a lot about Jerry Falwell already.

[Lane D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally interesting, but probably a bit longer than I would like. I also would have preferred a larger focus on the political implications of his rise. The last 20 to 25 percent felt a bit repetitive. I actually took a break in the middle of the book, in part because I had two books that I couldn't renew at the library and just because I wasn't as excited to read as I should have been.

Additionally, I caught quite a few grammatical errors and typos at the end (including "athiest" and "growth sport"), which I found extremely distracting. In general, a decent and relatively unbiased look into a person who, for better or worse, has had a large influence on our political structure.

[Bobby Bonser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book for anyone living in Lynchburg to read, as it contains a thorough history of the area while intertwining stories of the key players in shaping the area from it's founding in the 18th century. The end of the book was a bit drawn out. Other than that, it was pretty well written, not terribly biased, and most information was straight from the source. It read like a Lynchburg history book, for better or worse.

[Mel Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. This is not necessarily a pro-Falwell book. Smillie tells the truth and had done his homework in preparation for telling the story of Jerry Falwell. He dives into the psyche of Falwell and nails it. I recommend this book to anyone interested in how Falwell went from being a small town pastor to the leader of a national movement.

[Madam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having grown up between the empires of Pat Robertson in Virginia Beach and Jerry Falwell in Lynchburg, I can testify that no Virginian is neutral about either evangelist. However, as an outside observer with a solid background in financial reporting, Dirk Smillie has written a remarkably fair assessment of Falwell's fiscal and religious realm, including a family history that explains many of his motives and actions. All the warts are on display, but so are the merits, resulting in a riveting narrative that will not only interest chroniclers of the Religious Right, but every resident of the Commonwealth who watched the spectacle unfold.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book simply was not very good. It read like a hastily assembled college term paper.

The book just didn't talk about the empire as a while. It just discussed the various parts of it, and seemed to emphasize some like the University, and de-emphasize others.

Seems like Falwell was a fascinating man, and his empire was fascinating-but this book just didn't deliver a good grip on it.

I did however learn the meaning of fundamentalism, though, and also how public appeals on TV, we're direct decendents of those of evangelical churches.

[StarRichardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the definitive account of Falwell as a religious businessman and political kingmaker, probably one of the most influential figures in American life at the end of the 20th century. The author got astonishing access to the family, from the murder of Falwell's uncle by his father to the rollercoaster ride of bringing his religious empire to the financial brink over and over. Donald Trump's salesmanship and power of persuasion is nothing compared to Falwell's.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scary.