Joseph Smith

By: Richard Lyman Bushman

Narrated by: James Anderson Foster

Length: 28 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

Founder of the largest indigenous Christian church in American history, Joseph Smith published the 584-page Book of Mormon when he was 23 and went on to organize a church, found cities, and attract thousands of followers before his violent death at age 38. Richard Bushman, an esteemed cultural historian and a practicing Mormon, moves beyond the popular stereotype of Smith as a colorful fraud to explore his personality, his relationships with others, and how he received revelations.

An arresting narrative of the birth of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling also brilliantly evaluates the prophet's bold contributions to Christian theology and his cultural place in the modern world.

©2005 Richard Lyman Bushman (P)2018 Tantor

Polarizing...in a great way

What did you love best about Joseph Smith?

A few months after this book was originally published in print in 2005, it was recommended to me by 2 people independently of each other. I was struck by the polar opposite point-of-view these 2 people came from. One of these recommenders was a firm believer in Mormonism and in the divine origin of Joseph Smith's calling, while the other was an ex-mormon seeking to use it to tear down the church. While the one was recommending Rough Stone Rolling in order to promote and bolster Joseph Smith's claims, the other was recommending it as evidence that, in his eyes, Joseph was a charlatan. My attention is piqued by any book that can make contenders for both sides of a controversial topic believe it supports their respective claims, particularly when that topic is one I care passionately about.

62 people found this helpful

A reasonable history and a excellent audio performance

Some now dated material such as concerning polyandry.

LDS will find the constant and seemingly unnecessary downplaying of treasured miraculous events more than a little vexing. On the other hand, while those who, a priori, consider Joseph’s claims impossible will not be swayed regardless of the way the story is told, to consistently undercut and hide from the miraculous when discussing the life of one who claimed to be a prophet is to inadequately inform. Readers may well wonder why the Joseph portrayed in these pages continues to be a source of fascination, much less inspiration.

One may also wonder what the purpose of this book is, if it is not to irritate believers and mystify the rest!

Audio recording: on the whole, superb. One gets the sense that the reader felt more passionately about the material than the author. Of minor importance, mispronunciation of a variety of specifically Mormon words will make it more difficult for listeners to recognize them in other contexts.

11 people found this helpful

An Excellent Biography

What made the experience of listening to Joseph Smith the most enjoyable?

I read this book a couple times about ten years ago. I looked forward to an audio version - so I'm happy it's finally here. It's well narrated.
More important, I've never found a more even-handed treatment of Joseph Smith. Bushman hides nothing and presents Smith in all his complexity. Five stars for sure.

24 people found this helpful

enjoying it.

more than half way through. I am enjoying it. however, would have thought audio reader would have done his home work on proper pronunciation of names and places. prevented me from hearing Richard's voice and recognizing his authorship in the book because of the pronunciation highjacking...

11 people found this helpful

Joseph Smith a Rough stone rolling

The story was great I’m sorry But I don’t believe the narrator was familiar With many words within this religion. His pronunciation of many words I found to be quite odd

9 people found this helpful

Repetitive

The flow of time is difficult to follow in this book. It backtracks at times and seems to repeat some parts verbatim. I keep checking to be sure I’ve not accidentally opened a previous chapter. It feels as if it was compiled from a series of articles where readers might have forgotten points in previous installments. The story is interesting.

3 people found this helpful

Very educational. Not spiritual in nature. But historically accurate.

Very educational. Not spiritual in nature. But historically accurate. Read with the understanding that you need a strong foundation first.

3 people found this helpful

Great Biography

So hard to review this and do it any justice. It truly captures Joseph Smith and the history of Mormonism in a way that gets anyone member or nonmember alike to delve into and seriously consider the story. The author gives a very fair angle with an inside advantage but an outside perspective. The Mormon history is displayed in a way that examines the critics and the traditions. I’m a Mormon and find it very faith promoting, but I’m not convinced my wife would feel the same way. So well done. Read or listened to it twice.

7 people found this helpful

First, I’m going to listen again!

Then I may even listen again. I love bushman’s no holds barred and unbiased treatment of so many difficult aspects of Joseph Smith’s complicated life. There is no irritating, prejudiced or sympathetic tone of someone who believes or does not believe in Joseph smith’s validity as a prophet of God. I recommend this book to anyone interested in a neutral telling ofJoseph Smith’s story.

2 people found this helpful

Remarkable in Every Way

The fairest and most complete account of Joseph Smith’s life I’ve encountered, and by far the best researched. It is an astonishing story of an astonishing man and an astonishing era. Well done.

2 people found this helpful