The Accidental Terrorist : Confessions of a Reluctant Missionary

Nineteen-year-old Bill Shunn is a man on a mission--a Mormon mission, that is, trolling for converts door-to-door a thousand miles from home. This riveting memoir--by turns hilarious, provocative, and thrilling--traces his accidental journey from that humble beginning to hunted fugitive and international terrorist. A seventh-generation Mormon, steeped since birth in the gospel according to Joseph Smith, Shunn yearns to lose himself in the solace of sincere belief. But with his few close friendships, his dreams of writing, and his very life on hold, he can't help resenting the imposition of missionary service and the monastic lifestyle it demands. When conflicts with his fellow "elders" spur him to an ill-fated flight for freedom, the stage is set for the ultimate showdown between obedience and agency. Like the charismatic prophet Smith--whose own incredible story casts eerie echoes through Shunn's--the young missionary will brave arrest and incarceration in a desperate bid to prove his worthiness, not just to those around him but to himself. Now, with hard-won wisdom and compassion for his younger self, Shunn recounts the harrowing pilgrimage--rife with good intentions, noble ideals, and deep-seated insecurities--that pushed him to places stranger than any fiction. A gripping chronicle of slow-motion disaster that unfolds with the inevitability of Greek tragedy, __The Accidental Terrorist__ is also a testament to individual triumph in the face of overwhelming authority. "This just may be my favorite true-life amazing-but-true tale--never has threatening an aircraft been funnier or more thought-provoking." --Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother and HomelandNineteen-year-old Bill Shunn is a man on a mission--a Mormon mission, that is, trolling for converts door-to-door a thousand miles from home. This riveting memoir--by turns hilarious, provocative, and thrilling--traces his accidental journey from that humble beginning to hunted fugitive and international terrorist.A seventh-generation Mormon, steeped since birth in the gospel according to Joseph Smith, Shunn yearns to lose himself in the solace of sincere belief. But with his few close friendships, his dreams of writing, and his very life on hold, he can't help resenting the imposition of missionary service and the monastic lifestyle it demands.When conflicts with his fellow "elders" spur him to an ill-fated flight for freedom, the stage is set for the ultimate showdown between obedience and agency. Like the charismatic prophet Smith--whose own incredible story casts eerie echoes through Shunn's--the young missionary will brave arrest and incarceration in a desperate bid to prove his worthiness, not just to those around him but to himself.Now, with hard-won wisdom and compassion for his younger self, Shunn recounts the harrowing pilgrimage--rife with good intentions, noble ideals, and deep-seated insecurities--that pushed him to places stranger than any fiction. A gripping chronicle of slow-motion disaster that unfolds with the inevitability of Greek tragedy, The Accidental Terrorist is also a testament to individual triumph in the face of overwhelming authority."Believe it. William Shunn lived every word of this book. That he can share it so eloquently is a tribute not just to his writing skill, but his strengths as a human being." --Kristine Kathryn Rusch, USA Today bestselling author "This just may be my favorite true-life amazing-but-true tale?never has threatening an aircraft been funnier or more thought-provoking."?Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother and HomelandNineteen-year-old Bill Shunn is a man on a mission?a Mormon mission, that is, trolling for converts door-to-door a thousand miles from home. This riveting memoir?by turns hilarious, provocative, and thrilling?traces his accidental journey from that humble beginning to hunted fugitive and international terrorist. A seventh-generation Mormon, steeped since birth in the gospel according to Joseph Smith, Shunn yearns to lose himself in the solace of sincere belief. But with his few close friendships, his dreams of writing, and his very life on hold, he can't help resenting the imposition of missionary service and the monastic lifestyle it demands. When conflicts with his fellow "elders" spur him to an ill-fated flight for freedom, the stage is set for the ultimate showdown between obedience and agency. Like the charismatic prophet Smith?whose own incredible story casts eerie echoes through Shunn's?the young missionary will brave arrest and incarceration in a desperate bid to prove his worthiness, not just to those around him but to himself. Now, with hard-won wisdom and compassion for his younger self, Shunn recounts the harrowing pilgrimage?rife with good intentions, noble ideals, and deep-seated insecurities?that pushed him to places stranger than any fiction. A gripping chronicle of slow-motion disaster that unfolds with the inevitability of Greek tragedy, The Accidental Terrorist is also a testament to individual triumph in the face of overwhelming authority."Believe it. William Shunn lived every word of this book. That he can share it so eloquently is a tribute not just to his writing skill, but his strengths as a human being."?Kristine Kathryn Rusch, USA Today bestselling author In 1987, As A Young Mormon Missionary Far From Home, William Shunn Made The Phone Call That Would Change His Life--and Very Nearly Cost Him His Freedom. Homesick, And With The Full Might Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints Arrayed Against Him, He Unwittingly Found Himself On The Path Blazed A Century And A Half Earlier By The Prophet Joseph Smith Himself--a Path That Meant Setting Aside Man-made Laws To Follow A Higher Course . . . Into More Dangerous Places. Mixing Personal Reminiscence With American History, This Richly Ironic Story Of A Reluctant Missionary In Canada Peels Back The Veil Of Secrecy Around The Private Lives And Rituals Of Those Well-scrubbed Men And Women Behind The Black Name Tags, And Shows The Lengths To Which Even The Most Law-abiding Of Americans Can Be Driven To Prove His Devotion To A Demanding God And Religious Community. This Is The First Appearance In Print Of The Story That Enthralled Thousands Of Listeners As A Podcast, And Which Cory Doctorow Praises As Incredible, Hilarious, Sad And Instructive . . . The Whole Thing Is Recounted In Engrossing Detail.--wheelers.co.nz In 1987, as a young Mormon missionary far from home, Bill Shunn made the phone call that would change his life—and very nearly cost him his freedom. Homesick, and with the full might of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrayed against him, he unwittingly found himself on the path blazed a century and a half earlier by the prophet Joseph Smith himself—a path that led to crime, jail, and even darker places.Mixing personal reminiscence with American history, this richly ironic story of a reluctant missionary in Canada peels back the veil of secrecy around the private lives and rituals of those well-scrubbed men and women behind the black name tags, and shows the lengths to which even the most law-abiding of Americans can be driven to prove his devotion to a demanding God and religious community.This is the first appearance in print of the story that enthralled thousands of listeners as a podcast, and of which Cory Doctorow said, "This just may be my favorite true-life... None 2/23/1987 The Missionary Imposition: 9/24/1986 - 12/3/1986 None None None None None None None None None None None None None None None Elder Skelter: 12/4/1986 - 12/31/1986 None None None None None None None None None None None None None The Occidental Terrorist: 12/31/1986 - 3/12/1987 None None None None None None None None None None None None None None None None None None None None 12/13/2003 None None None This is the true story of a reluctant teenage Mormon missionary who gets arrested for making a false bomb threat in Canada in 1987.