No Ma'am That's Not History

by Hugh Nibley

Response to the book "No Man Knows My History", Fawn Brodie's dubious biography of Joseph Smith, Jr., the Mormon Prophet

Genres: Mormonism, History, Nonfiction, Religion, Lds

Paperback

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

Hugh Winder Nibley was one of Mormonism's most celebrated scholars. Nibley is notable for his extensive research and publication on ancient languages and culture, his vigorous defense of doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for frankly discussing what he saw as the shortcomings of the LDS people and culture.

A prolific author and professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, he was fluent in over ten languages, including Classical Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Egyptian, Coptic, Arabic, German, French, English, and Spanish languages. He also studied Dutch and Russian during World War II.

In addition to his efforts as a scholar, Nibley was well known for writings and lectures on LDS scripture and doctrinal topics, many of which were published in LDS Church magazines. His book “An Approach to the Book of Mormon” was used as a lesson manual for the LDS Church in 1957.

Reviews

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somehow forgot to read this after No Man Knows My History, but it's ok, I did now.

This whole book reads very mean, so mean that I was kind of shocked? Like okay, you don't like Fawn Brodie, I get it, you do not have to keep attacking her so much and in such misogynistic ways too...

Was it worth the read? Eh, I guess, it's short and made me want to reread Brodie's book sooooo Brodie 1, Nibley 0.

[Amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

I expected much more from this book.

Nibley spends most of his time using a sarcastic tone of voice while attacking the author on everything from her character to her gender. I was deeply disappointed with the comparison he makes between her use of "weak sources" to "young women [being] found making vivid, full, circumstantial and sincere accusations against attackers which are found upon investigation to be nothing more than the objects of their own over-wrought desires and imaginings." I imagine that this statement is bred from his own daughters allegations of sexual abuse made against him, but the comment was in bad taste and didn't belong in this book. It is, however, a good example of how the entire essay is based more on emotional response and chauvinistic comments as opposed to scholarly evidence to back him up.

Nibley claims "of all churches in the world only this one has not found it necessary to readjust any part of its doctrine in the last hundred years." This is a blatant falsehood even in his time, considering polygamy and withholding the priesthood from blacks had both been renounced as of this printing. I was hoping for more concrete evidence to be presented in this book.

Very disappointing read considering his reputation. I expected better.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugh Nibley's capable response to Fawn Brodie's careless and unsubstantiated biography of Joseph Smith the prophet. Nibley unveils Brodie for what she was, a proud, unscrupulous charlatan, trying to exalt herself in the world of academia to the status of a rising and credible historian (which she was not). Her methods were shoddy, biased and libelous. Nibley exposed her for what she was: a fraud. A thorough reading of her book brought me to the conclusion that she lived, along with others of her ilk, "high in the air . . . in a great a spacious building."

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this old book (more pamphlet than book) in the lost and found at church.

Disclosure: I haven't read No Man Knows My History. Someday. Reading Nibley's rebuttal actually increased my desire to read the book that inspired it.

This book is a product of its time, and Nibley sounds petty and disdainful. It's not that he's petty and disdainful of Brodie's conclusions as much as he's disdainful of Brodie herself. Mormon apologists would (and do) treat NMKMH differently today.

One more unrelated bit of Nibley trivia. I worked for a time as student janitor in the BYU Lee Library in the late 80s. Nibley still had an office there. A pretty good-sized office too. Maybe larger than any of the other private offices in that building, if I recall correctly. I don't think he spent much time on campus at that point in his life. I'll admit to lingering in his office while dusting and vacuuming at 6am and looking through all the books and papers scattered throughout.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hugh Nibley's famous (infamous?) takedown of Fawn Brodie's problematic biography of Joseph Smith, No Man Knows My History. Nibley make some good points, but his misogynistic outrage that a woman would dare venture into the realm of writing history, as well as some strained exaggerations about Joesph Smith and Mormonism, undercut the effectiveness of his argument. Very dated now, it feels very much like the relic it is, from a time when religious polemic was a visceral, no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners and concede no ground affair.

[Cory · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is hard to believe that this book has anything other than a one-star rating. Nibley's unsubstantial book is little more than an ad hominem attack on Brodie. Her own book No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith still stands as one of the best biographies of the Mormon founder, Joseph Smith.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although sarcastic at times, this is a capable critique of Fawn Brodie's work about Joseph Smith. Quoting what neighbors and enemies of Joseph Smith THOUGHT he was thinking is shoddy scholarship at its worst. This is just one example of the liberties Ms. Brodie takes with historical research in general & this subject in particular. Ms Brodie's summary that Joseph Smith was a well-meaning bumbler is not borne out by historical fact. He was either a prophet of God or an all- out charlatan. You decide.

[Aaron · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weak

[Matthew Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nibley was patently dishonest in his efforts as an apologist