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 enlarge | Manufacturer: Anchor
Category: EBooks
List Price: $9.95
Buy New: $7.96
You Save: $1.99 (20%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  730 reviews
Sales Rank: 384
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 432
Dewey Decimal Number: 289.33
ASIN: B000FC1R2S
Publication Date: June 8, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good, but beware the political and anti-religious agenda August 11, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
Full disclosure up front: I'm a conservative Christian. Krakauer, on the other hand, does not disclose that he's an agnostic until the very end of the book. It seems likely that he is a liberal as well, but he does not disclose that at all.
Conservative Christians have reason to be upset with some of Krakauer's narrative. In an early section where he's describing Mormons, he points out that the overwhelming majority are "obviously" Republican, and he continues mentioning it throughout the book. This is analogous to writing a book about African Americans living on welfare in Baltimore's crack houses and noting that they are "obviously" mostly Democrats. Both statements are "obviously" true, but Krakauer's use of this non sequitur reveals something about his agenda. Dr. Bruce Ivins, the anthrax killer, was a registered Democrat, but does that really help explain the mindset that motivated him to mail those poisoned letters?
Krakauer also repeatedly makes the point that belief in God is irrational. On this I would strenuously disagree, as would the likes of respected physicist Dr. John Polkinghorne and DNA scientist Dr. Francis Collins. Unlike Krakauer, whose degree is in environmental studies from a liberal arts college, I have a very extensive education and background in science and engineering. I find it difficult to believe that the vast complexity of the universe (see "anthropic fine-tuning"), and the complexity of life itself, could happen by random chance, fighting the second law of thermodynamics (entropy) the entire way. For many other engineers and scientists I know, believing in a creator seems statistically more likely than believing in the arguments supporting creation through random events. In fact, a recent study showed that two-thirds of scientists believe in God and seventy six percent of doctors believe in God.
Krakauer rightfully points out that all religions have spilled blood. What he doesn't point out is that some religions, historically, have spilled much more than others. He also fails to point out that, in the past century, fervent belief in non-religious ideologies has led to the killing of far more people. (See Fascism/Nazism with its ties to Darwinism/Eugenics, as well as Communism.)
Near the end of the book, Krakauer takes a moment to connect the Christian beliefs of George W. Bush and John Ashcroft to the insanity defense. I see no reason to do this other than to score a cheap political point. He could have just as easily drawn the parallel with any famous scientist who believes in God, or even a well-respected evangelist such as Billy Graham.
With all of these caveats, I would still highly recommend the book. Conservative Christians are accustomed to being bashed by the news and entertainment industries anyway - far worse than what Krakauer deals out.
This is the fourth book I've read by Krakauer. Like the others, it was well-researched and fascinating. It should be a cautionary tale for anyone who dives too deeply into any belief, religious or otherwise, without maintaining a critical eye.
 An enthralling narrative that non-fiction seldom offers August 11, 2008
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
Although I have to admit that I haven't finished the book yet (at page 240), I would highly recommend this to anyone who has the slightest interest in history or religion. Although this book tells a very engaging story about the history of the Mormon religion and some of the low lights that were present through its founding and the violence which fundamentalist Mormons have practice as there is a view that it is divinely required to 'spill the blood' of the guilty... this is a very telling view of general religion and fundamentalism. I believe that we see this same type of fanatacism in the violence of Muslim fundamentalism and we also saw the same thing centuries ago in the purges of non-Catholics by the Inquisition.
In short, this is a very well written book that draws you in and casts a not-so-flattering light on the history of the LDS church. It is not a biased hack job, but a peek behind the covers at the history of the fastest growing religion in North America. It is a good read and very highly recommended!
Everything you always wanted to know about Mormonism, but were afraid to ask... August 9, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
I wrapped up Jon Krakauer's 2003 book, Under the Banner of Heaven, earlier this year, and whole-heartedly recommend it. Krakauer's read is incredibly interesting, well-written, and paces really well. It reminds me of those long, absorbing pieces in the Sunday New York Times; the ones you phone your mom halfway through to tell her to read it.
There are two interweaving plot lines in Under the Banner of Heaven: the first is the story of the Mormon-raised Lafferty brothers who end up murdering their younger brother's wife and daughter (claiming that a revelation told them to carry out these killings); and the second is the history of Mormonism and how Joseph Smith cultivated and developed this religion from the 1830's on.
Krakauer does an awesome job putting the reader in both the minds of the Lafferty brothers, as well as Joseph Smith and other influential Mormons. You really feel like you're along for the ride in both the murder story, and the history of Mormonism, and you find yourself tearing through the chapters to uncover the next significant event.
I also enjoyed how Krakauer detailed the drive and determination by Joseph Smith to create a new religion in more modern times. Smith's creation was a miracle in itself, and the fact that Mormonism is alive and thriving today is a real testament to Smith and the early believers of this religion.
While Krakauer does mention both positive and negative tenets to Mormonism, it's pretty clear his slant is more negative. Though I sense some people may be upset by Krakauer's imbalance (i.e., Mormons who may read this book), I kind of wished he would have taken an ever harder line to put down some of Mormonism's (alleged) practices of racism, polygamy and statutory rape -- especially in the wake of the recent raid on a West Texas Church of Latter Day Saints' ranch, where over 400 children were seized by the authorities.
I'm embarrassed to say I haven't yet read Krakuer's Into Thin Air or Into the Wild. But after reading Under the Banner of Heaven, I'll certainly need to dive into these predecessors sooner rather than later.
GREAT BUSINESS EXPERIENCE August 3, 2008
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
I received the book in just a few days and it was in great shape! I would definitely do business with this seller again!
Interesting read August 2, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
This was a very easy and very informative read. I know there is always two sides to every story but I have been always curious about the Mormon religion. I felt this book would give more information on the controversial side of plural marriage. This book was almost like reading a long article from a newspaper. I felt that the writer used a lot of facts, tried to give as many sides to the same story and gave complete backgrounds so, the reader felt well educated on the information given. Very well done.
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