Your rating:
Jon Krakauer’s literary reputation rests on insightful chronicles of lives conducted at the outer limits. He now shifts his focus from extremes of physical adventure to extremes of religious belief within our own borders, taking readers inside isolated American communities where some 40,000 Mormon Fundamentalists still practice polygamy. 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. 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. From the Trade Paperback edition.
Publication Year: 2006
No posts yet
Kick off the convo with a theory, question, musing, or update
Your rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jon Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven is a masterful exploration of the darkest aspects of religious extremism, a testament to Krakauer’s exceptional ability to uncover the unsettling truths behind closed doors. In this gripping narrative, Krakauer takes us into the heart of Mormon Fundamentalism, exposing the chilling world of the Lafferty brothers, who committed a gruesome double murder, believing they were acting on a divine command.
Krakauer’s meticulous research and compelling storytelling reveal not only the horrific crime but also the broader, terrifying landscape of extremist beliefs within isolated American communities. The book offers a profound examination of how fervent religious conviction can distort reality and justify unspeakable violence. With his signature investigative prowess, Krakauer dissects the dangerous ideologies that drive such acts, making the reader question the very nature of faith and fanaticism.
For anyone interested in the intersections of religion, violence, and extremism, Under the Banner of Heaven is an indispensable read. Krakauer’s unflinching narrative and insightful analysis make this book both a chilling and enlightening experience, reinforcing his reputation as one of the foremost chroniclers of extreme human experiences.
Get it at…
0⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jon Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven is a masterful exploration of the darkest aspects of religious extremism, a testament to Krakauer’s exceptional ability to uncover the unsettling truths behind closed doors. In this gripping narrative, Krakauer takes us into the heart of Mormon Fundamentalism, exposing the chilling world of the Lafferty brothers, who committed a gruesome double murder, believing they were acting on a divine command.
Krakauer’s meticulous research and compelling storytelling reveal not only the horrific crime but also the broader, terrifying landscape of extremist beliefs within isolated American communities. The book offers a profound examination of how fervent religious conviction can distort reality and justify unspeakable violence. With his signature investigative prowess, Krakauer dissects the dangerous ideologies that drive such acts, making the reader question the very nature of faith and fanaticism.
For anyone interested in the intersections of religion, violence, and extremism, Under the Banner of Heaven is an indispensable read. Krakauer’s unflinching narrative and insightful analysis make this book both a chilling and enlightening experience, reinforcing his reputation as one of the foremost chroniclers of extreme human experiences.
Get it at…
0
© 2024 Pagebound