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

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.

Fascinating true crime and theological history

Although I don’t subscribe to a specific religious doctrine/faith, I’ve always been somewhat fascinated by theology. Religion has undoubtedly shaped the development of mankind and societies throughout the ages. I don’t know if it’s because I live in a heavily Mormon community or if it’s simply a function of my general enthrallment with theism. Either way, this book has got to be one of the most fascinating non-fiction reads I’ve ever come across. I was initially drawn to this story because of my interest in true crime, but this is so much more. This book does a great job outlining the history of the origins of Mormonism and the eventual split into two distinct sects. Today there are the Latter Day Saints (LDS) and the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS). They are both technically of the Mormon faith, but the FLDS are the folks who practice polygamy. One thing I also find interesting, is Mormons are Christians, but they seem to distance themselves from the emphasis on Christ as a deity. Their devotion to service and brotherhood is awe inspiring. Anyway, if you don’t want to try and listen to or read the book, Hulu did a fantastic series based on this book. Andrew Garfield plays the lead detective on the show. The series focuses more on the true crime and the book dives deeper into the history of the Mormon’s westward expansion, expulsion from various states, and eventual settlement in Utah.

Excellent

Everything he writes is so well researched and simply told. He is quite a gifted author.

Excellent

Everything about this was excellent. well written, well read, completely held the listeners attention from start to finish. Completely eye opening story and makes you want to ask your own questions and find out more.

Very insightful and well told

I found this book to be both written, and read in a way that presented facts without pretence or malice.

Disturbing

Great job of intertwining seriously messed up stories about radical Mormons and LDS history. Eye opening

Interesting

Interesting but long. It was difficult to hold my attention at times. Narration was good.

Interesting

Learned a lot about a religion I didn’t know much about. Very shocking and alarming history.

It was an eye opener on how Mormons wanted to control

The horrible issues with Norman’s, in my opinion they are not people who live like a Christens & how awful they wanted to control the USA. They did horrible things. the author did a great job in describing how things were at that time.

What now?

Now, I’ll read it again. (ten more words ten more words ten more words ten)