Comments (36)

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Aug 08, 2022jasnadzinic rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Definitely not my cup of tea. 🫤
Jul 23, 2022airplanejayne rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I've read a few other books by Krakauer, and got into the topic of people escaping from cults, which led me here. I had no idea the history of Mormonism was so bonkers! It's like a scam that went off the rails and everyone was in too deep…
Jun 03, 2022RebelBelle13 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I'm convinced at this point that Krakauer could write about anything at all and make it interesting. As an atheist, I would never have picked up a book about the Mormon faith, but given my love of Krakauer's narrative style and deft…
May 14, 2022dreamydress rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This is totally readable, but I feel like the the title is misleading. It’s more like the “history” of a violent faith. I’m a history buff, but theology is not an area that I care about at all. I was shaken to the core about all of the…
May 09, 2022dricco rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
“I was doing God’s will, which is not a crime.” This book is part history of the Mormon church and part murder investigation. The first part was interesting, and really revealing about the origins of the LDS church. The second part, the…
Apr 17, 2022Walter724 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
In so many facets, this is an excellent book: it is well researched, and very detailed. It was sometimes a real page-turner, especially the parts that described the true crime event that took place. I learned lots about the Mormon…
Apr 08, 2022moraggunn rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This book ultimately tells 2 stories at once, and for my money therein lies the problem: as soon as one narrative gains momentum, the focus flips to the other—often without obvious connection. Those narratives are 1) the whole preposterous…
Feb 21, 2020JoyfulDancer107 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
If you want to take an in depth, well-researched look into the origins of Mormonism, this book is a good source. The author adequately and masterfully shows the disturbing undercurrents of violence of the early Mormons flowing directly…
Oct 09, 2019tapestry rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Chose this book because I had read and loved the author's previous books and also because I had just read Educated. Excellent research; fascinating reporting; sad and repugnant events. Well worth reading. Jessie May Keller
Feb 16, 2019kmobuckeye rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Examined every disturbing piece.
Jul 04, 2018SprinkelReads rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
One of the finest true crime--if not nonfiction--books ever written, period.
Jun 14, 2018ryner rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Ostensibly an account of a 1984 grisly murder in a Utah community, by alternating chapters of the present with those of the past Krakauer also provides a detailed history of the Mormon faith and its connection to the crime. This book is…
Apr 23, 20181tarheel rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Yikes.
Apr 05, 2018
If you liked Education, by Tamara Westover, read this for a deeper understanding of religious fanaticism. The modern day fanatics in this book demand absolute obedience from their followers. Their out-of-control narcissism knows no bounds,…
Feb 24, 2018mclarjh rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Good journalistic writing, but too long.
Feb 21, 2018
Two fundamentalist Mormon brothers claimed that they committed murder under direct orders from God.
Aug 01, 2017salgeogal rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Terrifying look into how religion and belief can be twisted and used. In a religious belief system where everyone can and does talk directly to God and God can and does talk back, what happens when one person gets a message from God to…
Jul 17, 2017JCLBrentW rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
A gripping tale. Eye-opening background on the Mormon church.
Sep 08, 2016swheeler89 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A name intensive book - as usual Krakauer has done his homework and taught the reader loads on a religion that has surpassed Judaism by number of people. If you live in the US, and faith maintains an active role in your life, I would…
Aug 13, 2016bpatenaude1930 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Provides history of the mormon church set against a backdrop of a gruesome murder. Found this book to be very entertaining and informative. It has opened my eyes to mormonism and the cult that it is...
Aug 12, 2016aliciamarie rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I admit it was a struggle to write this review due to the fact I have so many Mormon friends. In no way do I want to offend them. Who am I to judge or criticize someone's beliefs? I mean, I grew up with teachings of God speaking through…
Oct 06, 2015Elaine212 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Krakauer uses the murders by two brothers of a woman and her daughter as the focal point to explore the religious precepts of Mormon founder Joseph Smith and whose credo is practiced by FLDS Leader Warren Jeffs. Krakauer contrasts the…
Nov 17, 2014Persnickety77 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
You will get an excellent history of the Mormon faith, plus creepy polygamist tales. and a murder mystery. this book is riveting, and informative! excellent non-fiction.
Jul 03, 2014Madreley rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Very interesting book on the Mormon Cult, author gives good solid history facts and does delve into his own opinions. Reading this should convince anyone that Mormonism is truely a man made cult, that is why they are so secrative about…
Jun 05, 2014elbayless rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I am a big fan of Krakauer's prior books, especially Into Thin Air, and I am interested in the topic he setas forth in "Under the Banner of Heaven." While well written, this book failed to draw me in as much as his other books have. It was…