31% of Americans believe that the Bible is the literal word of God, according to a Gallup poll, and if you're looking for insights into what makes that 31% tick, there are two new must-read books for you. Brett Grainger, who was raised as a member of a tiny sect called the Plymouth Brethren, details the history of fundamentalism and his own family's wacky life in 'In The World But Not Of It,' while Daniel Radosh looks at the lighter side of extreme Christianity in 'Rapture Ready,' an in-depth analysis of the alternate universe of Christian pop culture. In an excerpt on Radar, Radosh talks about the challenges confronting Christian comedians (such as: Being at all funny). Grainger's book is a more straightforward history, but it does have its lighter moments -- like the long description of the day his grandparents spent waiting, dressed in their best clothes, to be Raptured up. Luckily, his grandmother had the foresight to defrost a roast, just in case.