Rating: 
Summary: Joe Smith - A Rockefeller of Faith
Review: I will keep this review brief, as plenty of other people have exhaustively discussed this book. Besides, the Lord has commanded me to go get some nachos. . .Krakauer casts a wide net in this book, covering everything from the origins of Mormonism (Joseph Smith was basically a John Rockefeller of faith) to the vigilante wars of the 1840s to the abduction of Elizabeth Smart to the double-murder that forms the crux of this book. Sometimes it is difficult to keep all the players straight, particularly the various tribes of fundamentalists in their enclaves throughout the West. Krakauer doesn't Mormon bash here - if anything, I have a newfound appreciation for the religion and its adherents. Nor do I see the LDS being indicted for the violent crimes in the book anymore than I see the Christian community getting blamed for David Koresh and Jim Jones. As for the fabulous beliefs held by the Mormons - what makes an angel giving gold pages to Joe Smith any less ridiculous than old Noah cramming two of everything into his homemade lifeboat? All religion is nothing more than shared mythology. Well-researched and not particularly biased, the book does begin to lose a bit of steam and focus in the last 40 pages. A parallel the author draws between the murderous Lafferty boys and Bush / Ashcroft seems like a bit of a simple-minded reach. And Krakauer descends occasionally into lurid prose (ex ". . . and let her life drain across the floor of the kitchen in a viscous crimson flood.") But overall a worthy examination of a peculiarly American faith and those who find themselves estranged from its current incarnation.
Rating: 
Summary: A Violent Religion
Review: The history of the Mormon church is one of violence, perpetrated both against and by members of the church. This book focuses on four aspects of that violence. 1. The persecution of the church in its early days, culminating in the murder of its founder, Joseph Smith; 2. The Mountain Meadow Massacre, the most disgraceful incident in the short history of the church, in which Mormons disguised themselves as Indians and acting upon the orders of Brigham Young, attacked and murdered 150 immigrants crossing southern Utah in a wagon train on their way to California; 3. The ongoing assaults and rapes perpetrated upon 12 to 14-year-old girls by men twice their age or more, often their own fathers, to perpetuate polygamy among fundamentalist Mormon sects (while the main LDS church does not officially condone bigamy, the state of Utah does little to discourage it); and 4. The brutal knife murders of an innocent woman and her innocent child by her brothers-in-law, Ron and Dan Lafferty, both fundamentalist Mormons. Mr. Krakauer writes well and pulls no punches in writing about these events. Perhaps the most serious question that the reader comes away with is whether, given the unique background of the Mormons and their religion, they can ever be fully assimilated into American culture. It is a book that you will remember. Note: Mormon readers, like other religious enthusiasts, have an unfortunate habit of filling websites with recommendations for books that are little more than church propaganda, which makes it difficult to sort out the wheat from the chaff. Readers desiring more objective views of the church and its history should consider any of the following:: 1. "Mormon America: The Power and the Promise" by Richard and Joan K. Ostling. 2. "No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith: The Mormon Prophet" by Fawn M. Brody. 3. "The Mountain Meadow Massacre" by Juanita Brooks. 4. "Early Mormonism and the Magic World View," "The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power," and "The Mormon Hierarchy; Extensions of Power," all by D. Michael Quinn.
Rating: 
Summary: Full of egregious errors
Review: Mr. Krakauer, in this error ridden diatribe against religion, makes so many errors of fact and logic that serious questions are raised regarding his competence and sincerity.
As Prof T. Givens noted, "To blame Judaism for Son of Sam would be anti-Semitic. To blame Mormonism for Dan Lafferty is no less an act of naked bigotry masquerading as journalistic investigation."
As Jane Lampman has noted in the The Christian Science Monitor, Krakauer's book "delivers a skewed and misleading picture of a faith now practiced by 11 million people worldwide."
Naomi Schaefer, in her review for the The Wall Street Journal, wrote that Krakauer's book "is all quite misleading."
Neurophysiologists may note that Mr. Krakauer's best excuse for producing this incompetently researched, deceptive and misleading book is that he spent so many weeks at high altitude with insufficient oxygen. One can only hope he beats a hasty retreat from subjects like history and religion -- subjects apparently far beyond his abilities.
Emotional fervor and naked bias are not substitutes for responsible scholarship.
R. Chris Barden, Ph.D., J.D
Rating:
Summary: Jumpin' Smokin' Joeseph Smith!
Review: First of all, this is my first Jon K. book, however, this is the second book I have read dealing with the Church of Latter Day Saints. I have also read 150+ of the 260+ reviews that was written on this book. I am an agnostic and I find this whole book well thought out and well written. Interleaved between the events that led up to the killing of Brenda Lefferty and her infant child, is the history of the Mormon church. Starting with founding by Joseph Smith in the state of New York to their moving to Missouri, to Illinois, to Utah. This gives the readers a sense of the changes and the evolution of the believes of the church. From the vision and the translation of the gold plates to the tar and feather of Joseph Smith to his death by vigilanties and the division within the church over polygamy after Joseph's death. Jon K. made it clear that the events that happened in the book are by fundamentalists of the LDS, the church have excommunicated these people, but yet they claim to follow the true words of Joseph Smith and the Peace Maker document. I highly recommend Sally Denton's 'American Massacre, tragedy at Mountain Meadows' as a follow up reading to this book. (If you have not already heard about or read it. It was published about 5 months ago.) And the Sally Denton's book is a wonderful companion to 'Under the Banner of Heaven'.
Rating:
Summary: What an eye opener!
Review: I have been aware of a few of the Mormon Fundamentalists trials and had a general idea about the Mormon faith. I've even been to Beaver Island and knew about King Stang. This book was so well written and researched it was like living history! It is a must read for anyone who loves history.I live in the midwest in the Bible Belt/Klan Central. When you compare how close Pat Robertson and the like are with and in our present goverment and then see the Mormon Fundamentalists it is scarier then anything written by Steven King. It is still happening and too many just don't understand how narcissistic,subversive and dangerous these religious fanatics are.
Rating:
Summary: Another good JK read
Review: I don't know what worries me more; the fundamentalist movements described in this book, how much our tax dollars are paying to support some of them, or the fact that these fundamentalists have sprung forth from one of the most fanciful, ill-conceived, misguided religions ever. As described by this very well written book, by this very reptubable author, the popularity of Mormonism stands in stark contrast to its wobbly framework of obvious fictions. How so many people could find sincere gospel in a veritable comic book, (the Book of Mormon) conceived by an adulterous, convicted fraud using black-magic-like means, should rank as one of history's greatest mysteries. I came away from "Under the Banner of Heaven" somehow less concerned about the LDS fundamentalists, and more concerned about its confused, survival-obsessed, cancerous mother, the mainstream Mormon church. I would side with critics of this book who point out that Krakauer is not an objective author. Indeed, this book begs one to further educate himself or herself about the Mormon church, as I fully intend to do. But something tells me that no matter how much more I read on the subject, I won't likely be swayed in my general assessment that Krakauer has again written an important, accurate book. - an Agnostic
Rating: 
Summary: Say What?
Review: Several reviewers have made the observation that the only harsh critics of this book are Mormons. Implied in the suggestion is that Mormons are too biased to offer analysis. Does this mean that Krakauer's agnostic worldview make him objective? Well does it? Does his admission that his failure to interview one representative of the LDS faith because, "I knew what they would say," make his thesis more or less biased? My biased or unbiased view depending on the above (I am a Mormon) tells me upon my completion of Under the Banner of Heaven, that you could drive a truck through the holes in his thesis.
Rating:
Summary: A good look into a New Religion
Review: First of I will talk about the book. Krakauer masterfully explains the history of Mormonism, the fanatical sects that have splintered from it, and the way these religious ideas and beliefs have tainted the minds of the Lafferty boys as well as many others. I was interested from beginning to end. Secondly I will try to disuade some of the negative reviews because from the looks of these reviews either they are Mormons themselves or they actually didn't read the book. In no way does Krakauer say that the murderous Lafferty brothers were affliated with the Church of Latter Day Saints. They were taught the Mormon religion but then abondoned after their beliefs no longer agreed with those of the LDS. They became a fanatical sect of the Mormon religion, similair to the hundred fanatical sects of Islam or of Catholicism for that matter. The reason why Mormonism is so facinating and compelling is because it is only 150 years old and it is bigger the Judiasm. It was founded by a man who had a vision of an Angel and golden plates when he was in his twenties in upstate New York! Amazing! Krakauer explains how through its breif history, Mormon beliefs were changed, manipulated, and misunderstood by many including its leaders which led to murder, polygamy, and some cases the raping of underage woman and incest. It is not a pretty picture, but after 3 years of reasearch and interviews Krakauer explains how these fanatical Mormon fundamentalists came to be. Krakauer is not trying to embarass or put down the Mormons or the Church of Latter Day Saints, he is merely explaining how the history of Mormonism and certain views about being able to communicate with God might have affected the Lafferty brothers to murder their brother's wife and baby daughter. A great book and a intriguing story.
Rating:
Summary: Krakauer returns to pure journalism
Review: Jon Krakauer has always been a journalist first and foremost. However, he was also a first rate climber, which led to his pursuit of rather similar stories. Into the Wild and Into Thin Air were incredible stories, and had they not been consecutive pieces, he might have escaped the label of being an "adventure journalist." With Under the Banner of Heaven, Mr. Krakauer reminds us that he doesn't need the backdrop of extreme adventure sports in order to captivate his audience and weave a marvelous tale. First, a "truth in lending" statement. This work might be too narrowly focused for all readers. There are several reasons not to buy this book. If all that you want is a comprehensive history of the Mormon church, then there are better references. The story of the Lafferty brothers is a horrible, disturbing story, and there are certainly more cheerful subjects out there. And I'm not sure that many would consider the events all that significant in terms of American history or religious doctrine. If you are pressed for time, have a deep-burning desire to research a particular aspect of the LDS church, or are a bit squeamish, you should probably look elsewhere. Because of the subject matter, few will read this book and say that they loved it. Appreciated it -- maybe. Learned from it -- definitely. The bottom line is that this isn't a feel-good story with a clearly and cleanly resolved ending. Having said all that, Mr. Krakauer delivers as promised in telling this chilling story. He simply is the best at laying out the facts surround the case, mixing in the historical context, adding in his personal observations and interviews, and then letting the reader draw his own conclusions. And in this work, he's free to do so without the personal investment that was apparent throughout Into the Wild and Into Thin Air. By this point, I'm sure you are aware that there has been much criticism of this book by the Mormon church. All I can say is that from my vantage point, the book is beyond reproach. Mr. Krakauer makes no broad sweeping accusations and very clearly distinguishes between the current church leadership, the church's founders, and the fundamentalist off-shoots. So, why read this book, if it's a disturbing story with no real ending, let alone a happy one? There are several reasons, and you only need to pick one. Mormonism is a uniquely American religion, but most Americans are surprisingly ignorant of its particulars. In this age of global terrorism and the increasing conflict between religious fundamentalist groups, the subject matter is timely and relevant to us all. But most importantly, in my opinion, is that Mr. Krakauer can just plain write. He obviously pours his heart into his craft, and few do it better.
Rating: 
Summary: Long, meandering, and lacking focus
Review: In "Under the Banner of Heaven," Krakauer is trying to do two things: give the history of the Mormon religion and tell the story of a heinous crime that happened to be committed by Mormons. Taken seperately, the two goals are very intersting. The story of the Mormon religion and its founding only 150 years ago is faciniating. The same is true for the Mormon fundamentalist Lafferty brothers who plan and execute the murder of a woman and her daughter. But then the author tries to draw these two stories together, the result is a rambling book that jumps back in fourth through time without any rhyme or reason. One moment, the author is giving us the testimony of the murderers, the next moment, he is talking about Brigham Young. I found this book very hard to keep track of. However, Krakauer does present some facinating facts about the formation of a relgion and the founding of a faith. Originally, this book was to be a story of the Mormon relgion, and if Krakauer had stuck with that topic, the book would have been much better. If you like Krakauer or are interested in how relgions are formed, read this book. Otherwise, you are justified in skipping it.
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