Thursday, March 11, 2010

Recommended Reads: Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

Recommended Reads: Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer (289.33 KRA)

Under the Banner of Heaven is an intriguing blend of true crime narrative and religious history. The book opens with the murder of Brenda Lafferty and her baby daughter by two of her brothers-in-law who claim that they were following a commandment from God. Krakauer then traces the founding of Mormonism by Joseph Smith and the contemporary practice of Mormon fundamentalism. The fascinating page turner explores the boundaries between faith and insanity in contemporary America while explaining the influence of the past.