The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions #219

by Terryl L. Givens

With over 140 million copies in print, and serving as the principal proselytizing tool of one of the world's fastest growing faiths, the Book of Mormon is undoubtedly one of the most influential religious texts produced in the western world. Written by Terryl Givens, a leading authority on Mormonism, this compact volume offers the only concise, accessible introduction to this extraordinary work. Givens examines the Book of Mormon first and foremost in terms of the claims that its narrators make for its historical genesis, its purpose as a sacred text, and its meaning for an audience which shifts over the course of the history it unfolds. The author traces five governing themes in particular--revelation, Christ, Zion, scripture, and covenant--and analyzes the Book's central doctrines and teachings. Some of these resonate with familiar nineteenth-century religious preoccupations; others consist of radical and unexpected takes on topics from the fall of Man to Christ's mortal ministries and the meaning of atonement. Givens also provides samples of a cast of characters that number in the hundreds, and analyzes representative passages from a work that encompasses tragedy, poetry, sermons, visions, family histories and military chronicles. Finally, this introduction surveys the contested origins and production of a work held by millions to be scripture, and reviews the scholarly debates that address questions of the record's historicity. Here then is an accessible guide to what is, by any measure, an indispensable key to understanding Mormonism. But it is also an introduction to a compelling and complex text that is too often overshadowed by the controversies that surround it.About the Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Lds, History, Mormonism, Christianity, Philosophy

153 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2009

About the author

Terryl L. Givens was born in upstate New York, raised in the American southwest, and did his graduate work in Intellectual History (Cornell) and Comparative Literature (Ph.D. UNC Chapel Hill, 1988), working with Greek, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and English languages and literatures. As Professor of Literature and Religion, and the James A. Bostwick Professor of English at the University of Richmond, he teaches courses in Romanticism, nineteenth-century cultural studies, and the Bible and Literature. He has published in literary theory, British and European Romanticism, Mormon studies, and intellectual history.

Dr. Givens has authored several books, including The Viper on the Hearth: Mormons, Myths, and the Construction of Heresy (Oxford 1997); By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion (Oxford 2003); People of Paradox: A History of Mormon Culture (Oxford 2007); The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford 2009); and When Souls had Wings: Pre-Mortal Life in Western Thought (2010). Current projects include a biography of Parley P. Pratt (with Matt Grow, to be published by Oxford in 2011), a sourcebook of Mormonism in America (with Reid Neilson, to be published by Columbia in 2011), an Oxford Handbook to Mormonism (with Phil Barlow), and a two volume history of Mormon theology. He lives in Montpelier, Virginia.

Reviews

[Darwin8u · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Book of Mormon likewise shatters familiar religious paradigms and reconfigures them with a totality that is resistant to compromise."
- Terryl L. Givens, The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction.



Terryl Givens' Very Short Introduction (VSI #219) to The Book of Mormon is my third selection of Oxford's Very Short Introduction series. I read it 1) because I'm a bit obsessed with the series, 2) I've been following Givens for some time and respect the work he has done and the rigor he uses when writing about LDS topics and the Book of Mormon for Oxford and others. I wanted to examine this because it was a topic I was very familiar with having studied the Book of Mormon and much of the literature surrounding it the last couple decades. I wasn't expecting to find much new in the book, and since it WAS written as an introduction to a general audience, I didn't find much new. But that doesn't mean I didn't find anything new. I rather enjoyed Givens' focus on the change of audience throughout the Book of Mormon and appreciated his analysis of the limitations of the Book of Mormon as literature. So, obviously, this is the issue with VSIs. To the reader very familiar with the subject, the books, no matter how carefully written end up being a bit of a disappointment and a retread. So, read this if you aren't familiar with the BOM, read it if you aren't familiar with the origin, narrators, structure, themes, stories, teachings of the BOM. But if you are, you might try some of Givens' more academic pieces that delve deeper.

Reading this reminds me that I still need to finish By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture That Launched a New World Religion and start Givens' other Oxford published books: People of Paradox: A History of Mormon Culture and Wrestling the Angel: The Foundations of Mormon Thought: Cosmos, God, Humanity. I really have neglected my LDS theology shelf the last four or five years.

[David S. T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should start by saying that I'm not a Mormon so that biases my opinion. I picked this book up shortly after reading Bushman's excellent very short introduction to Mormonism, that book addressed many of the questions / problems people have with the Mormon church, didn't try to hide the worst stuff and then in an apologetic fashion presented his views on them.

I'm in the process of reading the Book of Mormon now, and I find that because of my lack of familiarity with the plethora of characters and event shifts, the book is a little confusing. I also find that parts are a little unusual. The thing I would most like addressed is the way that God curses one tribe with dark skin while the tribe he loves he gives exceeding whiteness (whiter than the whitest snow). I'd also like a discussion about why each prophet sounds (to me) the exact same and uses the same “and it came to pass” every two or three verses. Since I enjoyed and learned so much from Bushman's book, I assumed this one would be just as beneficial and would perhaps make the book of Mormon easier to read.

I was pretty wrong, this reads much more like some official LDS whitewashed apologetic with many sleight of hands, it seems to present a few problems that someone might have with the book of Mormon, but only if they can be easily refuted and the more pressing issues are just skipped completely. I guess this is to give the illusion of the book not being biased. From this book you'd think that Mormon theology is very similar to orthodox Christianity and that scholars have found many native American facts pertaining to the tribe of Nephi.

According to the author the first readers of the book of Mormon became Mormon because they could find nothing in the book of Mormon which contradicted protestant Christianity. Of course in the areas where he thinks the Mormon theology is better (the fall of Adam and the atonement of Christ), he readily presents the differences. The areas that many orthodox Christians would find bizarre, such as the cosmology where God resides on Kolob and was once a man but became God, are completely absent. I also don't remember one mention of darkening of skin issue, which is the entire reason why I read the book.

As for an introduction to the book of Mormon, I guess this is okay. I walk away from this book not really knowing much more than I knew starting it. I would have preferred a better summary of the book and to have some of the more major issues at least mentioned, I also thought he spent way too much time focusing on the first two books of Nephi and glossed over the rest (which is about 90% of the BoM). For a long time I've been planning to read By Hand of Mormon from the same author, thankfully this short book saved me from wasting my time on the much longer one.

[Jacob Lines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book. Givens is a gifted researcher, reader, and writer, and I have loved his work for years, especially By the Hand of Mormon, which I have also reviewed here. This is an academic introduction to the Book of Mormon written by a faithful Mormon. It is not about whether the book is true, but about the contents of the book. Givens explains the structure of the book, explores several main themes that run through it, and mentions some of the stories and people found in it. He also discusses some of the literary forms found in the book and what the book teaches. The second half of this book discusses the reception of the Book of Mormon and the purposes it has served since its publication. He makes the point that the doctrines of the Book of Mormon aren’t that different from the Bible, but the book serves a very important other purpose of being a sign of God restoring his true church to the earth. In fact, most of the doctrines that have made Mormons so distinct from other Christian churches came from revelation to Joseph Smith and his predecessor church presidents, not from the Book of Mormon. Overall, this book is a very good discussion of the Book of Mormon.

With that being said, it is important to understand the limitations of this book. It is indeed just a short introduction. I enjoyed it, but still found it unsatisfying compared to the real thing. Reading this book without reading the Book of Mormon would be like reading a scholarly work about the Psalms without ever diving into their actual poetry, or like reading essays about Shakespeare without ever seeing Hamlet on stage. Now, reading about those things will help you understand and appreciate and enjoy the actual works more, but anyone can tell you that only reading about them is totally insufficient. The same here – reading about the Book of Mormon can help you better understand and appreciate it. But don’t think that it is anything like actually reading the book. This book gives several short tastes of the Book of Mormon, but you need more to actually start to understand what the book is about. So here’s my suggestion. Look it up – it’s online at lds.org under the Scriptures tab – and read some of it. Here are a few of the chapters that I really love that give a good flavor of the book: 1 Nephi 8 and 11 (Tree of Life visions), Alma 32-34, 36, and 41-42 (I love these sermons about the Atonement), 3 Nephi 10-11, 17-18, and 27 (part of Christ’s visit to the Americas), and Moroni 10 (the last chapter – a grand summation). You could read all those chapters in a day, so if you really want to understand it, spend another several days with it. I’ve read it dozens of times and I still learn new things when I read it.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

~4.6 hours

Fab series this, just right for a quick refresh or a peek into a subject that one is curious about. All are unbiased erudite, and entirely objective essays.

As Romney stands up for the presidency of USA within the next few days, I found this an enlightening look into the mindset of a cult built on badly-written fanfic.


“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” ― Aristotle, Metaphysics





3* Ancient Egypt
3* Paul
4* Witchcraft
CR The Book of Mormon

[Kenneth Bohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book as a crash course because I have a Mormon friend and I wanted to get a little glimpse into his world. This book was very helpful as a high level overview. I would recommend it to any outsiders wanting to gain insight.

[Daniel Wright · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author complains that much attention is paid to the Book of Mormon without much attention being paid to its contents, and in doing so misses that this is the big problem with the way LDS treat it. It does not come as a surprise that its use was all but discouraged by the for most of a century and a half, before taking on enormous significance only in the last thirty or so years.

Part I: The Book of Mormon speaks for itself
Chapter 1: Origins, narrators and structure
Chapter 2: Themes
Chapter 3: Stories and characters
Chapter 4: The Book of Mormon as literature
Chapter 5: Teachings
Part II: The coming forth of the Book of Mormon
Chapter 6: The Book of Mormon and its audiences
Chapter 7: Joseph Smith and the angel
Part III: The life and reception of the Book of Mormon
Chapter 8: The Book of Mormon in LDS faith and worship
Chapter 9: Book of Mormon wars
Chapter 10: Conclusion: The Book of Mormon in the twenty-first century
Appendix: Manuscripts, editions and translations

[Felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Public discourse surrounding the Book of Mormon is rarely delicate. It is frequently brash, and just as frequently ill-informed. This book by Terryl L. Givens presents a refreshingly grown up discussion of the Book of Mormon, and succeeds in taking the controversial text seriously.

I recorded a few brief notes as I read it - mostly concerning theology and doctrine. I suppose they could serve as a (somewhat incomplete) summary of the book's contents.

Part One - The key takeaways here seem to be that the Book of Mormon presents a reorientation of Biblical values. Instead of focusing on the tribe or on the community, it shifts focus on to the family. It also reorientates that which in terms of time period, would be a part of the Old Testament, to a much greater messianic focus. Jesus is at the centre of the Book of Mormon. It is also highlights the portability of Zion. Rather than Jerusalem being the centre of the religious world, for the pre-Christian Jews of the Book of Mormon, Zion can be anywhere, whenever its current location is corrupted. In Chapter Three, a very remarkable element is the focus placed in the Mormon scriptures on the protection of liberty.

... he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying: Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them. And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant. (Alma 46:19–21)

I can't help but see this as very symptomatic of its American cultural origins. I don't doubt that this American cultural backdrop is also an element in the dark skin / light skin moral duality that has played such a controversial role in Mormon theology.

One other thing to note is that the Book of Mormon recasts the fall as an act of mercy, and Eve as a figure of bravery.

Behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end. And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. (2 Ne. 2:22–24)

Part Two - Mostly historical background on the authorship of the Book of Mormon itself including the process of translation and the famous affidavits pertaining to the existence of the gold plates.

Part Three - The third and final part of this book emphasizes the theological orthodoxy of the Book of Mormon. The author posits that although it has a few areas of substantial departure from mainstream Protestant Christianity, the Book of Mormon is generally orthodox. It is in the writings of Joseph Smith Jr. that some of the more unusual material is contained.

By the time Smith’s life was over, the key doctrines of Mormonism, above and beyond the “doctrine of Christ” found in the New Testament and echoed in the Book of Mormon, would be drawn fromn two additional books of scripture, consisting almost entirely of revelations recorded by Joseph Smith. It is in the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants, that Mormons largely turn for doctrinal distinctives. Belief in a human pre-mortality, in temples and temple worship, the eternity of the marriage covenant, the distinctive code of health (the Word of Wisdom), the law of tithing, the three-tiered heaven of the afterlife, church offices and organization—these and more besides are to be found in scriptures that add detail and specificity to that restoration of which the Book of Mormon serves mainly as portal and witness.

The author also presents a brief analysis of the stylistic choices of the Book of Mormon. Later, he presents many of the arguments for and against the historical credibility of the book.

[Vishal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book of Mormon (BoM) occupies a unique place as a piece of sacred scripture in the American religious milieu since it was published in 1830. To its critics and detractors, it is at best a piece of dull fiction ("chloroform in print", according to Mark Twain), and at worst, a blasphemous religious text that guarantees to put anyone believing in it on the sure road to perdition. But, to those that staunchly affirm the biblical truths contained and expounded in it, it contains the inspired Word of God. As such, to provide an introduction - "a very short introduction", as a matter of fact - and a fair synopsis of such a piece of religious text is a daunting task, to say the least.

Givens has done an admirable job in summarizing the essentials of the BoM to both its believers and non-believers. His book contains in all ten chapters, the last one being the conclusion, that introduce the reader to themes, narratives, contexts, authors, as well as a few of the central characters responsible for bringing the BoM to its inception. For instance, chapter 2 titled 'Themes', contains brief expositions of five core themes around which the the BoM is structured, thus providing the reader with a useful map for navigating through the text. These five themes, viz. personal revelation, focus on Christ, varieties of Zion, new configurations of scripture, and the centrality of family "constitute the backbone of five distinct narratives that comprise the sacred record" (p20). This is a quite valuable bird's eye view for anyone reading the BoM. In other chapters, we briefly meet some of the characters responsible for getting the BoM to print. It is hard not to mention Joseph Smith when writing about the BoM, but Givens also introduces other personalities, such as Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris and David Whitmer, that played significant roles in the book's publication.

Then, there is a chapter on the BoM's many family stories and the characters contained therein that bring to light some of the profound theological doctrines of the LDS Church, along with their far-reaching ramifications, which highlight both the commonalities and the dissimilarities of Mormon doctrines with those of other current-day mainstream Christian churches.

Another chapter on BoM teachings highlights, among other things, how surprisingly similar most of the BoM doctrines are to those of the Bible. For instance, faith, repentance, baptism, Christ and the Holy Ghost are recurring salvifying themes that pervade the BoM and the Bible, even more so in the former. At the same time, some novel doctrines, such as "The Fortunate Fall", wherein "the Fall [of Adam and Eve] is not a catastrophe to be fixed and rectified, [but]... the necessary and glorious pathway to humanity's eternal advancement" (p76), are quite dissimilar to those of other Christian churches. This sentiment is perhaps best described in Nephi 2, chapter 2, verse 25: "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."

There are plenty of other passages in Givens' book that bring out the essentials of the BoM, providing any non-LDS person with the necessary tools to understand not only the sacred text but also provide a window to the minds and religious aspirations of the text's adherents.

In conclusion, Givens' introduction to the Book of Mormon is a well-written book that I would highly recommend to anyone with even a modicum of interest in the Book of Mormon or in Mormonism in general.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Worth buying and reading for chapters on the themes of the Book of Mormon alone. He highlights some themes and make arguments that even long-time readers of the Book will find interesting, new and worthwhile. I really enjoyed it.

[Don Siegrist · Rating 1 out of 5]

Years ago I attempted to read the actual Book of Mormon but I just didn't get it. After reading "A Very Short Introduction" I still don't get it.

[Annie Morphew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really what I was hoping for. I was looking for a critical, analytical, and honest approach to the Book of Mormon and this was not it.

[Christopher Angulo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice condensed version of By the Hand of Mormon.

[Shelley Alongi · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read a book like the book of Mormon I first like to read it so that when I read a book about it I have an idea where the other might be going with it. I enjoyed reading short introduction books because I like having overviews of subjects so that I can learn more details. When I first decided to read that book I knew I would read introductions to it and so here we are. I understood and remembered most of the things he was talking about so I am glad that despite not liking the book of Mormon and I remembered it. I did learn about the environment in which it was written. My question is always why do you need another book if you believe in Christ? I guess they were combating universalism. I don’t know. I still don’t like the book but I was happy to see that Mr. Gibbons use some cynicism and recounting the story. The other thing that I liked was learning about the different audience that he was writing to. There were it seems confusing parts of the book where the audience would change. Something that believers like to do is apply what is being written to them. But if the audience in the book changes sometimes it might be more difficult to do that. What I really thought was interesting because I have been thinking about this is that this book the book of Mormon that is was written before archaeology got started so some of the things that are in the book of Mormon itself did not really exist. I would definitely keep this book on hand as a reference if I was interested in researching the subject for either. If you are looking for a place to start learning about Mormons this is a good place to start especially if you doesn’t really want to read the full book it’s self. I would probably read this book again but I wouldn’t read the original book of Mormon and get that would be too tedious. I read my review on it I didn’t like it did I. :-)

[Stu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terryl Givens' gloss on Mormon scripture has its good points, especially in its elucidation of major themes in The Book of Mormon and its relatively late ascension as scripture co-equal to the Bible in LDS religious education. Givens was ultimately disappointing, however, in the tantalizing points that he failed to address.

Though the Short Introduction goes on at length about how central the idea of Christ is in The Book of Mormon, the author does not include Jesus' appearance in the New World in his exposition, which I felt was a fatal error of omission.

Givens spends substantial time describing how the text and modern archaeology find themselves at odds, but then dangles a few examples of discoveries that seem to support the Mormon view of American prehistory. Unfortunately, he does not provide context for these finds, leaving his case ambiguous to the uninitiated. (I will admit that I was ignorant as to the location of "San'a" [sic] mentioned therein. It is the capital of Yemen, usually spelled with two A's.)

Finally, the Short Introduction goes on at some length discussing challenges to The Book of Mormon's authenticity from non-LDS scholars and critics, but fails to mention Joseph Smith's account of how the original, untranslated tablets were taken into heaven by an angel and are thus unable to be examined, a tale that leaves most "gentiles" justifiably incredulous. It would have been very instructive to see how an LDS scholar handles points like this, but Givens does not rise to the occasion here.

In sum, this guide is thoughtful and erudite in places, but does not rise to the standards I would have expected from Oxford, even given its necessary brevity.

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

To those outside the faith, the Book of Mormon is a bit of a mystery. The story of alleged visions and the finding of golden tablets in upstate New York that had to be translated with no one watching strikes many people as somewhat credulous. Those of us trained in the history of religions, however, know that no religion reaches complete rationality. Terryl Givens is a trusted authority on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and is an able guide to the Book of Mormon.

This brief introduction gives the story of how it was written/found/translated, and discusses some of the controversy surrounding it. The literary qualities of the book are described, as are some of the aspects of its reception history. Since the book became available only in the 1830s, there isn't too much in the way of reception, however. The Broadway musical is not discussed.

For anyone who would like a quick primer on the Book of Mormon—what it is about, how it is used, and how it continues to influence the world—this is a reliable and informative guide.

A few more comments may be found here: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.

[Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book to give to my more sophisticated friends in case they wanted to know about the The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Givens' engaging writing shines through once again. He starts with the Book of Mormon's content as opposed to the controversy around the Book, as what is usually done in academic treatments of the book. As a believer who's read the BoM eleven times, I especially enjoyed his breakdown of the Book's major thematic elements.

I think Givens should be the one to write an in-depth literary analysis of the Book of Mormon. Hardy's magnificent volume(Understanding the Book of Mormon) focuses on narrator analysis. Givens should put a book of with more of a thematic approach to the Book of Mormon. What also should be taken into consideration is that Givens's training is in comparative literature, Hardy's in history.

[Karl Nehring · Rating 5 out of 5]

This truly is an amazing little book. Terryl Givens does a fine job of pulling off what seems to be an impossible task -- summarizing the Book of Mormon in a little book of about 130 pages. But he makes it look easy as he identifies themes, highlights key passages, offers sharp little insights, and even finds time to mention some of the criticisms and problems that the Book of Mormon has faced since its inception. Naturally, given the short space allotted him, Givens at times seems to be rushing, and you find yourself wishing he had been able to take more time to expound upon his insights. If you find yourself thinking this, then you might consider reading his more expansive book, "By the Hand of Mormon." As the author of a book about the Book of Mormon Myself ("Pearls from the Plates," published by Cedar Fort), I am humbled but lifted by Givens's achievement. Whether you are a scholar of the Book of Mormon or just someone curious about what it is actually all about, you will find something of interest and edification in this pithy little publication.

[Joni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. It gave a clear introduction to the subject of LDS faith. The only thing I didn't like was how the author kept a very critical attitude throughout the book. It was as if he were trying to prove how unbiased he was or something. He took every part of their beliefs and discussed it in an extremely skeptical, almost insensitive, manner. I'm not LDS, but I do think religious tolerance is missing in our society and painting religions in such a negative light is going to have a bad effect on our society eventually. I did like how the writer discussed everything in a very intellectual, developed way, and he was able to compare each belief to the past, present and future. That was the most positive aspect of this book.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title says the book is a very short introduction. That title is just the name for a series of books, a la the Dummies series. This book by Givens seems to follow a format specified by the publisher, but I could be wrong. I thought the type face was too small and the margins too narrow. If the book had received normal publishing layout it wouldn't be so short. That said, I have become a fan of Mr. Givens' writings and hope to read more. His subject, the Book of Mormon, is complex, rich, and certainly not easy to discuss in a short volume. Mr. Givens, however, has a dense writing style that crams much into a few words. He does an excellent job here. I liked his discussion of themes and the controversies attending the book. Good read.

[Mark Nenadov · Rating 2 out of 5]

An sympathetic look at the Book of Mormon. (Note: Mormonism as a religious system is based on a sprawling set of doctrinal and historical falsehoods. I basically see the Book of Mormon as a non-Christian, revisionist look at Biblical and American history from a sect that draws on Christian imagery but completely twists and rejects its Christianity's central teachings-such as monotheism.)

While I cannot recommend this book due to its sometimes overly sympathetic bent to clear falsehoods, I did find it instructive at a few points in terms of better understanding the history and scholarship surrounding the Book of Mormon.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating, scholarly look at the Book of Mormon. The author does a great job of breaking down the actual *structure* and *content* of the religious text--rooting his analysis and commentary on the work as that of literature, not as that of religious doctrine--before moving on to the significance of the text in broader social and political context. I'd recommend this read to anyone who is interested in the Book of Mormon, whether they are LDS or non-LDS. I'd also recommend the "A Very Short Introduction" series to anyone interested in quick-but-thorough overviews of complicated subjects.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an unexpected treasure. I found this book just browsing the library shelves. This is everything I hoped for in Given's By the Hand of Mormon, but sadly that book was not I wanted. Additionally, since this book was just 125 pages, it is a quick read.

Ch 2 "Themes" dragged just a little bit for me, but Ch 3 "Stories" and Ch 5 sections "Fortunate Fall" and "Atonement" had key insights that just wowed me. How is that a book I've read a dozen times just keeps surprising me?

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

For just a few dollars more, you can get Givens' fuller treatment of the Book of Mormon -- "By the Hand of Mormon" -- to which this Very Short Introduction adds nothing new. I'm still giving this book four stars, however, because it does exactly what its title claims; it provides a very short (and good) introduction to a very complex and important book.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction. I've always been skeptical of summary books, and have had less than thrilling experiences with some. But I am very impressed with the 'Very Short Introduction' series. So far, I've read three and all three were about subjects I have more than an 'introductory' knowledge of. I was impressed by all of them. Very highly recommend.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember just *loving* this when I read it. But....I can't remember exactly why anymore (perhaps just because I have a tiny small crush on Terry?) But I guess that just means it's time for me to re-read!

[Vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. As a life long mormon it was interesting to try and view the book from a little different perspective. Had some great insights into what makes this such an interesting powerful witness of Jesus Christ.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a scholarly and detailed exploration of The Book of Mormon that looks at this work as both a religious text and as a work of literature while explaining the historical context in which Joseph Smith lived.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author uses an abundance of scholarly vernacular, but the overall point is well made: the book (of Mormon) is good literature, if not great scripture.

[Mees · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, concise introduction to the Book of Mormon.

[Zack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice introduction.

I preferred the last half to the first. The first had an overview of the contents of the book, which was boring as all get out, though I'm sure it was a fine summary.