Author: Jon Krakauer
Narrator: Scott Brick
Unabridged: 12 hr 32 min
Format: Digital Audiobook
Publisher: Random House Audio
Published: 04/10/2003
Genre: True Crime - Murder
This extraordinary work of investigative journalism takes readers inside America’s isolated Mormon Fundamentalist communities, where some 40,000 people still practice polygamy. Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the renegade leaders of these Taliban-like theocracies are zealots who answer only to God.
At the core of Krakauer’s book are brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a commandment from God to kill a blameless woman and her baby girl. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this appalling double murder, Krakauer constructs a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, polygamy, savage violence, and unyielding faith. Along the way he uncovers a shadowy offshoot of America’s fastest growing religion, and raises provocative questions about the nature of religious belief.
very interesting book..
I knew nothing about this book when I selected it. The writing was excellent. As a psuedo true crime, it bothered me that the author's bias toward God and religion permeated the book. But, it really gave insight into Mormonism.
I expect a crime drama, not a hybrid between an atheistic rant and a very slow to develop story. It took effort to finish and wasn't worth the effort. I am not a Mormon, am not insulted by his slams on the religion, but I resent all religous thought being dismissed as violent and negative. It felt like atheistic propoganda, which becomes a religon of sorts itself! Not what I hoped for!