Under the Banner of Heaven

A Story of Violent Faith

By: Jon Krakauer

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the author of Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, this extraordinary work of investigative journalism takes readers inside America’s isolated Mormon Fundamentalist communities. • Now an acclaimed FX limited series streaming on HULU.

“Fantastic.... Right up there with In Cold Blood and The Executioner’s Song.” —San Francisco Chronicle

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; some 40,000 people still practice polygamy in these communities.

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.

©2003 Jon Krakauer (P)2003 Books on Tape, Inc., Published by arrangement with Random House Audio Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Scrupulously reported and written with Krakauer’s usual exacting flair, Under the Banner of Heaven is both illuminating and thrilling. It is also the creepiest book anyone has written in a long time—and that’s meant as the highest possible praise.” —Newsweek

“Powerfully illuminating. . . . Almost every section of the book is fascinating in its own right, and together the chapters make a rich picture. . . . An arresting portrait of depravity.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Illuminating . . . provocative. . . . Krakauer is an adept chronicler of extremists [and] the tour guide of choice for secular quests.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review

Interesting history

The historical information in this book is extremely interesting. There is a lot of information but it is worth it in the end. If you are looking for a book version of the new tv show this will not be quite what you are expecting. But nonetheless an amazing read

Scott Brick can turn a good book into dead wood

I have read other books by Jon Krakauer. He is a good and competent author. But I have not been able to finish this book due to the horrible narration by Scott Brick. I have listened to other novels and stories red by Scott Brick, and I find them equally awful to listen to. This one I just can’t get through. I will read it in print.

Church History

I used to be an active member of The Church of Latter-Day Saints, but due to everyday life, I haven't attended Sacrament in a long time. As a convert, I still try to follow the Word of Wisdom, and somewhere in my heart, I know the Church is true because I still feel the Holy Spirit as I drive by my ​H​ome Ward ​every time.

Reading "Under the Banner of Heaven" hasn't brought me doubts about the church because I know that I have a strong testimony, but I didn't know the history of LDS. This book is supposed to be a true crime about Lafferty's murders, but it is more about the church history that no one ever talks about.
​​
​Every religion has its doubts and secrets. ​ ​It's just the way how someone interprets the message and history. I joined the Church over 20 years ago and this book wouldn't have made a difference because taking the lessons is what I needed and if I didn't follow the Holy Ghost, I wouldn't be the person that I'm now. I wasn't too alarmed reading what I read about LDS because I've researched a lot of the history of the Church, but you should be warned because there were some parts of the book where I needed to stop and dwell over it.

​In some ways, reading this book lifted up my testimony because I could relate to the doubts.

kind of a scary story

The Mormons are another cult. This book confirms that they are liars, thieves, and pedos.

Interesting at times; mostly discombobulated

The core story of the Lafferty’s is fascinating and gruesome. As others have lamented, the flip flopping between plots is frustrating at times. The story of the Mormon church is drawn out and belabored. Most importantly, the narrator is just awful. Such a disservice to an otherwise enjoyable book. Please do away with Scott Brick; his inflected drawl is grating on the ears.

If you watched the TV series...

If you downloaded the book because you watched the TV series, as I did, you'll be treated to a completely different (and much better) telling of the story. True crime + history lesson!

Incredible

People have told me I should read this book for years. I’m already skeptical of religion and didn’t think I needed a drawn-out story about how the dysfunction of the Lds church led to the murder of a young woman. I was still amazed by the story woven here, the story of a religion, fundamentalism, America, and one family. I had very high expectations and I was still impressed. This is a book every American should read.

Very well researched

This book is great because it provides references for the material that is used. As I read the book I went and found scriptures and articles that were referenced

A good look into the LDS religion

Mind opener, great look into the religion and its short violent past. The history is short and violent a good look into this.

True crime, meets history, meets religious education…

True crime, meets history, meets religious education… ALL my favorite topics, so I really enjoyed this. Not knowing much on the history of Mormonism probably made it more interesting for me than others.