Title: Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith Author: Jon Krakauer type of book: Nonfiction call number: 289.33/KRA

This book is strong in story and language.

Summary:
Krakauer shifts his focus from extreme physical adventure (Into Thin Air) to the extremes of religious belief. The heart of the story is a murder of a young woman and her baby by two of her fundamentalist Mormon brothers-in-law, who still maintain (from prison) their moral justification that God told them to commit the act. But Krakauer puts these extreme beliefs into a broader picture, giving a thorough history of Mormonism that led to this point, and comparing fundamentalist beliefs of other religions, such as those of the 9/11 terrorists and the kidnappers of Elizabeth Smart.

I would recommend this book!

Why?
The phrase is overused, but this book is absolutely impossible to put down. From the lurid details of the murder, you think this will be a run of the mill true-crime book, but you will be required to use much more thinking. The culture and history of Mormonism is central, but the thought-provoking aspect of the book lies more in its comments on religious extremism of all kinds.

Employee Initials: SB Review Date: November 2003

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