A review by andizor
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

challenging dark informative slow-paced

3.25

Krakauer dives into the history of Mormonism, prompted by the brutal slaying of a young mother and child at the hands of fundamentalist Mormons. I admittedly didn't know much about Mormonism before reading this book - just the magic underwear, the giant temple, weird stuff about planets (which didn't come up here btw), and some polygamy. The origins of Mormonism are fascinating and Krakauer does a good job of presenting the information objectively. This book is almost twenty years old, but the themes still ring true. It's especially interesting to look at these white Mormon men who all think they're the "one mighty and strong" in our current cultural climate where white men are disillusioned with the way things are - feeling that they are no longer (but were they ever really?) exceptional and worthy of special treatment. Contrast the incel movement with these men who take plural wives, some of them their own step daughters, some as young as 13. The very idea that a religion could develop in the 19th century and still be alive and kicking today is fascinating, especially when there is a lot of information out there about Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and their semi-sordid lives. 
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