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knachknachjoke's review against another edition
4.5
I would have considered myself somewhat knowledgeable on LDS church history before this read, but Krakhauer blew pretty much everything out of the water with how thorough his storytelling was. He discloses at the end his own perspective—that he hadn't intended for this to be anything other than an amicable exploration of Mormon history inspired by an admiration for his childhood friends' faiths—and the resonance I felt to his perspective was really startling.
I think my biggest takeaway from reading this, and I believe Krakhauer's from writing it, is just how frightening the two roads you can take after studying Mormonism's history are: either you discern it is one man's quest for sex and power, or you conclude that everything—polygamy, blood atonement, white supremacy, child abuse—is all true and all imperative to a right way of life.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
balconyblackbird's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
jazzofmine's review against another edition
5.0
The primary aim of the book is to explore these situations that beg us to ask “How could this happen” with substantial history and development of this religion. The author explores history and provides context in order to show how the LDS organization provided a conducive environment for radical, extremists to be bred and thrive.
The example of the Lafferty brothers‘ murder of their sister in law and baby niece is reprehensible, but not isolated. And not an accident.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Colonisation
Very graphic, great read; informative_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
jazzreads's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Mass/school shootings, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
sellnow_hannah's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
sadiejericho's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Murder
_emma_rose_'s review against another edition
4.0
I don't know much about Mormonism, which I think was a deficit walking into this book. Its purpose is to show how Mormon history led to the murders in 1984, so it highlights all of the worst bits of the religion, and I don't have any context for the better parts. I would recommend gathering more information and potentially reading a different Mormon history book before passing judgment on the entire religion, should this book inspire you to do so.
In conclusion: very well-written and informative, but keep in mind the point it is trying to make.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Murder
librarymouse's review against another edition
4.0
In the author's notes at the end of this book, Jon Krakauer addresses the path his writing process took. While his end product was not what he initially intended it to be, it was enriched by the research he'd done on the history of Mormonism. Having grown up in an area with a few Mormons, but not enough for them to be the dominant social group, I'd just lumped them into the group of people from religions I was not a part of. This peek at their storied history, historic and continued racism, historic and continued sexual violence and pedophilia, and the lengths to which the current church goes to hide the past from followers gives a suspicious tilt to the religion's intentions.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
bat11692's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Violence, Xenophobia, and Murder