DiscussMormonism.com

I just read a review of a new Brigham Young biography coming out soon (by John Turner, a Religious Studies professor at George Mason). Julie Smith reviewed it at T&S (http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2012/09/book-review-brigham-young-pioneer-prophet-by-john-g-turner/).

I recommend reading the whole review, but here is Julie's "Readers' Digest" version:

Julie M. Smith wrote:This book is a real treat, but it might completely destroy your testimony if you can’t handle a fallible, bawdy, often mistaken, sometimes mean, and generally weird prophet.

I am very excited to read this book. I have tremendous respect for the late Leonard Arrington, but "American Moses" is a difficult book to read unless you really love economics. Don't get me started on any biography written by Susan Easton Black . . .

I just started reading it and it seems to be pretty well done. It's hard for me to judge it though since I've only known the correlated church version of him.

I love me some Leonard Arrington, but I don't like American Moses very much at all. I am anxious to read this new bio and I just better put in my Amazon cart right now.

Outstanding. Thank you for the heads up, Cicero.

Stormy Waters wrote:It's hard for me to judge it though since I've only known the correlated church version of him.

a.k.a. the Susan Easton Black version of him

I was never a big fan of Brother Brigham. I doubt this will help improve my regard for him.

I bought the book last Friday. Barnes & Noble in my area didn't have it but Deseret Book did. It is $35. Haven't had a chance to do more than flip through and read excerpts, but it seems to be very well written. The writing style seems less dry and academic and easier to read than what I might expect from a book published by Harvard University Press. It has a few B&W photos at different spots throughout the book. Looks like a very nice book and an enjoyable read.

kamenraider wrote:I bought the book last Friday. Barnes & Noble in my area didn't have it but Deseret Book did. It is $35. Haven't had a chance to do more than flip through and read excerpts, but it seems to be very well written.

What! Deseret Book had the book? Wow! I can't believe that the 'cult's' bookstore had this book for members to read. Amazing.

I found Julie M. Smith's review to be quite accurate. She covers John's strengths and weaknesses quite well. I personally find the book to be an outstanding biography on one of the most important historical figures of the American West.

I found John's writing style to be excellent and enjoyable. How often do we say such a thing for an academic?

I am a bit confused by Julie's comment "I have serious reservations about recommending it to the average church member"

I keep going back to Juanita Brooks and Leonard Arrington's ideal that only the truth of our past is good enough to be taught and read. to Church members. Is Julia suggesting that Church members are incapable of handing the truth of our past and its leaders?

Joe Geisner wrote:I am a bit confused by Julie's comment "I have serious reservations about recommending it to the average church member"

I keep going back to Juanita Brooks and Leonard Arrington's ideal that only the truth of our past is good enough to be taught and read. to Church members. Is Julia suggesting that Church members are incapable of handing the truth of our past and its leaders?

My guess, Joe, is that FARMS set the standard for appropriate disapproval of non-panegyrical writing about Mormonism. If anyone could be challenged by the book, then one is practically obliged to hedge in order to avoid the appearance of approving of a potential criticism of the Church or its leaders.