About the Book

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.

Product Details

Media: Paperback Book, 432 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Anchor Books (Jun. 30th, 2004)

ISBN-10: 1400032806

ISBN-13: 9781400032808

Dimensions: 5.22 x 8.01 x 0.94 inches

Shipping Weight: 0.71 lbs

• Categories: 20th Century United States History Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Books; Mormon Books General Murder