Under the Banner of Heaven- A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer
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Web ID: 15624535Worth reading, but time is sometimes choppy.
Despite being well-researched, Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer does not deserve a five-star rating. There is too much jumping around the timeline. As described on its cover, Under the Banner of Heaven focuses on the murder of a young woman and her young child. The murder takes place against the backdrop of modern Mormon fundamentalism and the practice of polygamy. Krakauer traces the history of Mormons and its initial leaders’ endorsement of polygamy. Some of that history is not pretty, and Krakauer doesn’t pull any punches.” Like accurately detailing incidents of police brutality doesn’t make one, per se, “anti-police” accurately depicting some ugly truths about Mormon history doesn’t make one “anti-Mormon.” Still, a Mormon might get uncomfortable reading Under the Banner of Heaven. While, for Barnes and Noble, I identify as a “non-fiction buff,” I don’t usually read true crime. However, despite an occasionally choppy timeline, Under the Banner of Heaven was well worth reading.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Absolutely terrible and flawed
Under the Banner of Heaven takes the most basic elements of “Islamaphobia” and applies them to Mormonism, the one religion most Americans agree it’s okay to hate. The author decontextualizes the book by engaging in pop-psychology and attempting to paint the Lafferty Brothers as representative of the LDS faith, rather than mentally Ill deviates who failed to uphold basic tenants of Mormonism. I would only recommend this book if you needed an example of how hate speech is crafted and public prejudice is promoted. Otherwise, it’s garbage.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com