andmingmingtoo's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.75

This book sets itself apart from most other "true crime" by going beyond the who+what+where+when to ask why-- instead of just focusing on one tragedy, this book asks how the setting and history surrounding what happened led to it occurring.
(Also bonus points to this book for making me hyperfixate on mormonism. It's so hard to explain to my friends that I'm having a mormon phase but not in a religious way, it's in a learning about neat history way)

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

gwynian's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

oliviamich's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark informative sad slow-paced

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

qog's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jazzreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

Under the Banner of Heaven is a deeply disturbing examination of the history of the Mormon Church. As hard as it is to read, this book is incredibly well written and well researched. If you’re interested in learning about Mormonism, its place in American history, or just cults in general, you’ll get a lot of this book. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

allys_shelf's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging informative slow-paced

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sellnow_hannah's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

A difficult book with themes including murder, rape, and incest. But a fascinating look into religious extremism and the history of Mormon fundamentalism. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and the storyline wasn’t linear which was sometimes confusing, but otherwise love Krakauer’s writing and found it to be a compelling read

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jamiejanae_6's review

Go to review page

challenging dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

laurelmb's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

innae's review against another edition

Go to review page

slow-paced

3.0

This book has a fair share of the history of the Mormon religion, as well as an intriguing look at a murder that occurred due to belief in some of the Mormon tenets.   There were also many places where facts were repeated (some of it is scripture from the Book of Mormon, and some of it is historical), like the author was afraid we wouldn't remember things from chapter to chapter.  Also it bounces back between the past and the present - so stuff about Joseph Smith, and then about Brigyam Young, and also about the Laffertys and the murder.   I was interested in the court room stuff, where religion was put on trial - are all those that believe in religious doctrines insane?  hmmm.    An interesting listen.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings