Joseph Smith

Penguin Lives

by Robert V. Remini

Robert Remini's work on the Jacksonian epoch has won him acclaim as well as the National Book Award. In Joseph Smith , he employs his keen insight and rich storytelling gift to explore one of the period's major figures. The most important reformer and innovator in American religious history, Joseph Smith has remained a fascinating enigma to many both inside and outside the Mormon Church he founded. Born in 1805, Smith grew up during the "Second Great Awakening," when secular tumult had spawned radical religious fervor and countless new sects. His contemplative nature and soaring imagination—the first of his many visions occurred at the age of fourteen—were nurtured in the close, loving family created by his deeply devout parents. His need to lead and be recognized was met by his mission as God's vehicle for a new faith and by the hundreds who, magnetized by his charm and charismatic preaching, gave rise to the Mormon Church. Remini brings Smith into unprecedented focus and contextualizes his enduring contribution to American life and culture within the distinctive characteristics of an extraordinary age.

Genres: Biography, Religion, History, American History, Biography Memoir, Mormonism, Nonfiction

190 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

As part of his large selection of writings about Antebellum American history, this book from the Penguins Lives series serves as a thoughtful and mild biography of one of the most fascinating but also problematic American religious figures in history.  Now, anyone who knows my own life story will realize that I have a deep and abiding interest in the fascinating and problematic aspects of American religious history [1], and this book certainly fits that bill.  The author openly admits that he is not a Mormon and thus tips his hand as to how he approaches its subject, but he decides to write his history based on the largely pro-Mormon accounts he has available and lets the reader decide how skeptical they want to be.  I happen to think that he was pretty skeptical himself about Smith's claims and I happen to be as well, but those readers who are inclined to desire a pro-Mormon history will see that there is at least some genuine respect for Smith and his followers as well as considerable and extensive criticism of their views of history and their behavior and the general financial shadiness of Smith's short life.

This short book of less than 200 pages is divided into nine chapters that give a chronological discussion of Joseph's Smith's background and life.  Remini opens with a discussion of the context of Smith's childhood in the Second Great Awakening (1) and in his own parents' high degree of private religious belief as well as considerable recourse to superstition.  After that the author talks about the supposed first vision (2) of Joseph Smith and his enigmatic relationship with the supposed angel Moroni (3), whose name it is difficult not to pun in relation to the credulity of those who followed Smith.  A discussion of the Book of Mormon (4) follows that manages to avoid talking about the plagiarism accusations that have long dogged it and even manages to take "reformed Egyptian" script unironically.  After this the author talks about the difficulties in organizing the Church of Christ (5) in New York before discussing the slow migration of Mormons westward first to Kirkland, Ohio (6) where there was some difficulty involving a failed bank and then the move to Far West, Missiouri (7), and then Nauvoo, Illinois (8), where the movement grew to a large size and eventually faced the opposition that would lead to the assassination of Joseph Smith (9) [2].  

What makes this book most interesting from the point of view of the non-Mormon reader is that the author manages to pinpoint some of the qualities that made Smith's beliefs most appealing to people, including the way that it provided a distinctly American answer to questions of great political importance and also combined a focus on the family with occult ideas, racism, and a high-minded communitarian ideal as well as a strong interest in genealogy.  The author praises the human qualities of Joseph Smith that made him something other than a plaster saint and also comments that many of the pro-Mormon sources that one reads play up the sense of hostility that Joseph Smith inspired among others for all of his life up to his death, providing a sense of dramatic foreshadowing as well as attempting to encourage the sort of immunity to social pressure that comes from musing on one's status as an outcast and a misfit in a dangerous and hostile world.  Overall, despite the unpleasant nature of some of Smith's behavior, including his adoption of the doctrine of plural marriage for LDS elites and the weirdness of magic underwear, the author manages to write about his subject with a surprising degree of respect and regard.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

[2] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

[Kate Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

On vacation recently I visited Nauvoo, IL, pioneer Mormon site with many Joseph Smith associations. When I asked in the Visitor Center bookstore what was the best introductory book about Smith, they recommended this one. Remini is a scholar of the Jacksonian period, so he thoroughly understands the political and religious climate of Smith's time period (1805-1844). In less than 200 pp. Remini renders a complete and accessible account of Smith's larger-than-life life. On controversial points, Remini includes both what Mormons believe and how skeptics interpret the same incident or account. Few figures in American history were as loved and hated as Smith.
I came away feeling that the early 19th century was so different from today--the religious upheaval, the primitive state of medical care, the often lawless Western frontier--that it was hard to relate to American life then as happening in the same country we know today. For example, who among ordinary Americans today would get angry enough to kill over blasphemy? Who regularly goes digging for treasure as a means of providing income? How many women lose more than half their children in infancy, as Smith's wife Emma did? It was a different time, although the constants of human nature--hope, fear, poverty, greed--operate as expected. What is unexpected is the depth of faith and resilience Smith's followers exhibited in continuing to follow this controversial new religion in the face of severe and repeated persecution.

[Ian Clary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to the life of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. This was such an easy read, which is a testimony to Remini's ability to write good history. As an expert in Jacksonian America, Remini did a phenomenal job at setting Smith and the growth of Mormonism in its distinctly American context. I thoroughly enjoyed this and learned a lot. Remini is remarkably balanced in his portrayal of Smith's tumultuous and fascinating life. Were I a Mormon, I don't think I'd be offended by his take on Smith. Yet Remini also leveled criticisms, not sacrificing the historian's quest for objectivity. This work put Smith in a much more interesting life than some of the standard works of Christian apologetics (as necessary as those are too). I highly recommend this book as an introduction to Mormonism.

[Gil Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remini is a Jacksonian-era scholar (possibly THE Jacksonian era scholar) who examines Joseph Smith using his expertise by placing him in the broader context of Jacksonian America. He is accurate in his account and acknowledges the impact of Joseph Smith on America's religious landscape. He is not a believer of Smith or Mormonism but he is quite objective and not at all critical of Mormonism. He simply presents facts. If anything, he is quite sympathetic to Mormonism.

He believes that Joseph Smith is largely a product of his era. He points to the religious fervor of the time, the visions and manifestations that were "commonplace" among people, even among young children in the Jacksonian era. He points to several similar emerging churches and prophets or divines who were contemporaries of Smith. Remini points to Smith's use of seer stones and divining rods, as well as other incredible practices that make Smith seem sort of an erratic marketer of Christianity. He also points out the fact that Smith is certainly not unique as seer stones and divining rods were commonplace.

As a believer, I appreciate putting Joseph Smith's life in context. I also don't have an issue with Smith's similarity with other prophets because I believe that Joseph Smith couldn't have been created in a vacuum--he only could have emerged in a time period that fostered and accepted his behavior. I believe Remini's arguments, that Smith was a product of his time, yet I don't see why that is incompatible with Joseph Smith actually being called as a prophet. As far as seer stones and divining rods, I believe that Smith needed to learn to stretch his visionary and spiritual legs in order to prepare himself to become a prophet. This makes me sound far-fetched, I realize, but that's what I believe (and I've thought about this extensively). If anything, placing Smith in context has strengthened my belief in him as a prophet.

He also believes the book to be largely a work of fiction by pointing to certain themes contained in the Book of Mormon that he believes Joseph Smith included because these themes were deeply-rooted in the Jacksonian Era. For example, secret societies and secret combinations. He contrasts this with the Jacksonian era fear of Freemasonry and the Book of Mormon's denunciation of such secret societies.

Again, as a believer, I am not troubled at all about the Book of Mormon's Jacksonian era themes. I think that many of these ideas are still relevant today and are timeless.

Finally, as a believer, I seek to understand viewpoints counter to my own to help myself grow and expand intellectually. I don't believe that members of the church should stay ignorant of counterarguments against the Church.

[Anson Cassel Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

Considering the academic accomplishments of Robert Remini (1921-2013), this short (and index-less) biography of Joseph Smith is a disappointment—unevenly written, uncritical, even naïve. Remini seems out of his element when discussing nineteenth-century religion, and his several attempts to relate Smith to his specialty, the Jacksonian era, are strained. Laudable gestures of human kindness performed by a number of LDS scholars, noted in the preface, seem to have paid remarkable dividends in the tender treatment that the Mormon prophet received from the aging scholar. A reader would not even learn that Smith’s major grievance against the Nauvoo Expositor (which Smith had destroyed) was that it revealed his practice of polygamy, a practice he had publicly denied only a few days previous.

[John Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remini, a non-Mormon historian, does a good job providing an objective view of Smith's life. Mormonism is a truly American religion and no other American religious figure has attracted such a large following (there are 17 million members worldwide today).
Smith's parents eschewed joining any conventional church during Joseph's childhood, which occurred in the midst of the spiritual fervor of the Second Great Awakening. Joseph's father, Joseph Sr., regularly used divining rods and seerstones to decipher the future and claimed to have seven visions from God during the 1810s. The father introduced his son to the occult at age 12.
At the age of 14, Joseph Jr. claimed God and Jesus appeared to him as twin personages. Furthermore, God told Joseph not to join any existing denominational church because they were all "an abomination" in His sight and all preachers were corrupt. Unsurprisingly, pastors and congregants in the vicinity didn't cotton to Smith's vision, starting the beginning of persecution complex.
At 17, Smith claimed an angel named Moroni appeared to him, explaining that God had an assignment for him: to unearth buried golden plates near Smith's New York home that provided an account of Jesus visiting the ancient inhabitants of America. The angel said Smith must wait four more years before digging up the plates.
In 1827, with the help of "urim and thummin" seerstones, Smith began translating the plates, which he said were written in "reformed Egyptian." No one else was allowed to see the plates under penalty of death.
In 1829, Smith claimed John the Baptist appeared to him and conferred the "priesthood of Melchizedek" upon him. Then the apostles Peter, James, and John ordained him in that priesthood.
Unsurprisingly, hostilities of local residents forced the growing contingent of the new religion to uproot from New York to Ohio, to Missouri, to Illinois, and eventually to Utah, where church headquarters remain. Along the way, Smith escaped being tarred and feathered by a mob and sentenced to death. Announcement of a revelation that God approved of plural marriage further rankled non-Mormon opposition.
In Nauvoo, Illinois, Smith oversaw 15,000 residents as not only leader of the Latter-day Saints Church, but also mayor, head of the militia, and registrar of deeds. In 1844, after he announced his intention to run for the U.S. presidency, Smith ordered the smashing of a printing press of an non-supportive newspaper. An angry mob stormed a jailed Smith, making him a martyr at age 38.
Remini explains the core reason Smith aroused such hostilities: "The Mormon religion seemed to make a mockery of fundamental Christian beliefs, with such teachings as polygamy, eternal matter, baptism for the dead, a plurality of gods, men and women becoming gods themselves, god the Father being once a man who passed through a stage of mortality before becoming God, and other such 'ludicrous' doctrines."
Certainly such declarations en route to belief in being the one true church are a lot to swallow. Yet somehow in two centuries Mormonism has continued to consistently attract followers and gained more than a modicum of respectability.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Penguin Lives series is/was a series of short biographies published about famous people written by respected authors. The late American Historian Robert V. Remini’s short biography of Joseph Smith fits the mission of The Penguin Lives series well. It is worth noting that Remini is not a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints (“Preface”). Remini is aware of the problem of writing a religious figure when the biographer is not a member of that religion (“Preface”). I am not a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, but I think Remini is aware of the problems involved in writing this kind of biography as an outsider and tries to be respectful. Remini was a leading historian of the United States in the era of Andrew Jackson. I read the book on Kindle. The book was published in 2002. This book includes a “selected bibliography” and a section on “sources.” I am not a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, so Joseph Smith is a historical and religious I do not know much about. I found Remini’s biography to be an excellent introduction to the life of Joseph Smith for beginners. Considering how compact Remini’s biography of Smith is, Remini tries to capture the times in the United States when Joseph Smith lived. Once again, I am not a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints, but I found Robert V. Remini’s short biography to be an informative introduction to the life of Joseph Smith.
Work Cited:
Remini, Robert V.. 2002. John Quincy Adams. New York: Henry Holt and Company. [2014 Kindle edition].

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

After watching Under the Banner of Heaven, I wanted to learn more about Joseph Smith. This biography is an excellent introduction. Succinct, balanced and very readable without sensationalizing his life. Remini is a historian of the Jacksonian period and the book is exceptional at placing Joseph Smith into context. His revelations, the seer stones and other magic elements he used and the questions Mormonism addressed are closely related to the period in which he lived. In many ways, Smith was a product of his times and Remini does a great job of explaining that. I found the book weakens a little when it comes to describing the later years of his life. Focusing too much on the various organizational layers he was creating and not enough on the evolution of his ideas, his reactions to hostile non-mormons and his interactions with other Mormon leaders. Regardless, it was an excellent introduction to the topic.

[Susan Liston · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 I read this mainly to refresh my facts about Joseph when arguing with my Mormon cousin. (who also voted for Trump, it's not like we don't already have a lot to argue about, but...) The author made it clear that he himself was not Mormon but often I felt him tiptoeing around as to not offend someone who was. What I actually found most interesting here was his stage-setting with the era in general.

[Jackson T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remini is a master at historically-contextualized biography: he situates Smith within the various social, political, and economic conditions of his time without long-winded digressions.

Smith's life has wrought dozens of massive tomes - scholarly and polemical - but this small, 190-page volume is easily the most succinct and clearest of any biography on the "Prophet."

[Miles Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remini's short biography of Smith is the second I've read, and its one of the best in the series. Remini does his best to be truly even-handed and I think he succeeds.

[Michael Cawley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting biography of the complex Joseph Smith Jr.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short biography of the man now considered "My Joseph" by author Robert Remini, covering the life and death of the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith, is a well-researched, even-handed and concise examination of the life of a unique and great American. Drawing from sources as far apart as Joseph Smith's Personal Writings and John C. Bennett's Expose of Joe Smith and Mormonism, from scholars across the spectrum such as Fawn Brodie, Richard Bushman and Donna Hill, Remini has synthesized the important historical, biographical and often controversial information to be found about the life of Joseph Smith. The work is brief, as necessitated by the series, and can easily be read in one sitting.

Divided into nine chapters, Remini first introduces the reader to the American political and cultural context of the early 19th century, as the extent, fanaticism and individual, similar occurences to those of Smith during the Second Great Awakening are not a well-known part of his story. Indeed, Mormon readers well versed in the subject matter may find these interjections scattered throughout the book some of the most interesting and challenging material. Here and throughout the rest of the work Remini casually implies that Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon and much of what has become the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a product of timing, a product of the unique American environment during the nation's infancy. Tracing and lightly touching Smith's ancestry, the author mentions episodes from Smith's adolescence he believes helped shape the character and disposition of later years. Smith's angelic and divine visitations are covered, along with the origins of the Book of Mormon and the beginnings of the Church. The reader is present during the fantastic events of the Church in Kirtland and its near subsequent collapse, for the wars with the old settlers of Missouri and during the flourishing, while controversial, period of Nauvoo and polygamy. The biography closes examining and ultimately denouncing the assassination of Joseph Smith, not as a slain prophet, consistent with the author's non-partisan stance, but as a great American, a victim of a society that bordered on the fringe of lawlessness.

As already mentioned, the book is even-handed and mostly accurate, the occasional detail, a misquotation from the Book of Mormon, for example, excusable for a reputable scholar undertaking this kind of endeavor. Mormons will disagree with some observations while non-Mormons will others. Not uncommon verbage found throughout the book often reads, "Mormons support or agree...while critics point out..." and vice-versa. All readers will find an entreating and page-turning presentation of Joseph Smith the man, innovator, prophet, politician, leader, family man, military leader and American.

"Smith admitted that some accused him of 'pretending to be a Savior, a worker of miracles, etc. All this is false...He is but a man, he said; a plain, untutored man, seeking what he should do to be saved.'"

To readers interested in a similarly unbiased, scholarly appraisal of the Book of Mormon, I would suggest the recent book By the Hand of Mormon by Terry Givens, a professor of English at the University of Virginia. While Joseph Smith reads like an artistic biography, By the Hand of Mormon scrutinizes the possible origins of the Book of Mormon, internal and external evidences of its veracity, arguments on both sides of the divide and other topics.

[Maughn Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1821 my 3rd great grandfather John Porter Rollins (b. 1792) drowned on a cattle ship that went down on lake Ontario. His wife, Keziah Keturah van Benthuysen sent their son James Henry Rollins (b. 1816) to live with her sister Elizabeth, who was married to Algernon Sidney Gilbert, the co-owner of a mercantile store in Kirtland, Ohio.

In 1830 U.S. President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act, which brought about the forced removal of Native Americans from their eastern lands to an area in western Missouri. That year the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith had a revelation to send the first Mormon missionaries to preach to the Native Americans in Missouri, and to other communities along the way. The biggest success of these missionaries was the branch of the new church they began in Kirtland, Ohio, and the biggest factor in that success was the conversion of the city's Campbellite minister, Sidney Rigdon, who became one of Smith's most ardent supporters and faithful companions.

Most of Rigdon's congregation converted with him, including the family of Sidney Gilbert. My great-great grandfather James Henry Rollins was 14 years old at the time and did not convert with the Gilberts, but later had a vision of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum and recognized them some time later when they visited Gilbert's store. He converted, became friends with Smith's children and followed the Mormons when they relocated in Missouri, Illinois, and eventually in the Utah territory. From there he was sent by the church to settle San Bernardino, California, where he opened a store and lived until the U.S. army threatened the Mormon settlement, when he returned to Utah, becoming a lead miner in Minersville. He retired in Lyman, Wyoming, where my great-great grandfather and grandfather were born, where my father was raised, and where I attended many annual Rollins Reunions.

In this brief biography of Joseph Smith, Remini is careful not to take issue with the supernatural meaning that Mormons attribute to Smith's life and to the events of early LDS church history, but he situates that life and those events in the context of U.S. history in a way that is neither critical nor honorific.

[Tony Almquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written, concise biography of the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is neither a valentine nor hatchet job, but it is fairly well balanced, putting Smith's deeds in context of the time, that is The Second Great Awakening in the early 19th century in which the nation of the United States was beginning to come into its own with technological advances and expansion beyond the Appalachians and Mississippi. People were searching for meaning and comfort, so a charismatic, self assured man who may have been sincerely convinced that he had a restored vision of revelation from God could attract a massive following. In classic Greek tragic tradition, hubris proves to be Smith's tragic flaw and results in his downfall and murder by an "anonymous mob". Remini does not explore deeply the composition of the "mob", but certainly there was dissatisfaction among some Mormons with Smith's interest in plural marriage and his absolute power. Remini describes the large armed Mormon defense legion of which Smith had made himself commanding general. With this large defense force, how could Smith have been so easily assassinated? Some unanswered questions as is the case when one studies Mormon history but nevertheless, the story of the Latter Day Saints is undeniably fascinating as history, and the Mormons are an increasingly important part of America, not only religiously, but socially and politically as well.

[Keith Akers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent biography of Joseph Smith. It is critical and factual, but also sympathetic to its subject. I have been very interested in the history of religious movements. This book gives us a lot to think about in terms of how movements form, how they overcome obstacles, and how they evolve. Most interestingly, it gives us insight into how humans handle the question of divine revelation -- how they react to the belief that they have it, and how they react to the belief that others might have it.

The author is not Mormon, but Mormons could read it, I think, without feeling that their faith was being ridiculed. Non-Mormons will get a clear account of highly controversial events in Smith's life (like the discovery of the golden plates) without any sermonizing one way or the other. In the controversial parts, Remini will say something like "Mormons believe this was a divine inspiration, but some skeptics say that he made it up, while others say that he sincerely felt that truth was being revealed."

[Lelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy these Penguin Lives books, and I was curious about Joseph Smith, so I thought I'd give this book a try. It is interesting - I don't know much about this era, so I appreciated getting some insights into the Second Great Awakening, the tendency to mob violence and the rise of the Cult of Domesticity. But I didn't find the book particularly engaging, maybe because Robert Remini is trying to be as impartial as possible in his account of a controversial figure. Young Joseph Smith's sincerity was apparent in Remini's depiction. His energy and perseverance were obvious, as were his inconsistencies and the self-serving tendencies of his revelations as he matured. Remini also conveys the inevitability of a clash with non-mormons and a violent death. But what I didn't get a feel for was Smith's charisma - whatever it was that made thousands of people follow him, enduring persecution, relocation and constant effort for the sake of this one man.

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to a wise sage (Maureen O'Hara), "Faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to." The story of Joseph Smith certainly requires a leap of faith. I thought Remini did a pretty good job of remaining neutral about some of Joseph Smith's more questionable revelations and actions. Regardless of whether you believe Smith pulled off one of the greatest scams of all time or was indeed a prophet of God (I guess this all depends on who you ask), you have to admit that he was a mover and shaker of men and ideas. I guess religions are generally based on those kinds of men.

I appreciated Remini providing the backdrop of Jacksonian America to Smith's story. The rabid passions of both pro and anti-Smith factions made more sense in the context of the Second Great Awakening and the political birth of the United States.

[Katherine Crabtree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I've ever read about Joseph Smith that I could completely trust. Historically accurate and written by a non-mormon professor as a biography as part of the penguin lives series. It was very interesting to see areas of Joseph Smith's life that the church doesn't talk about (probably because they make people uncomfortable/not believe it as much) and also see the way anti-mormons have twisted small details. It's also interesting to read about the formation of the LDS church in the context of their historical time. I would recommend it to anyone who's genuinely interested in separating fact from fiction, but not to someone who wants to read a book that will only make them feel happy things about Joseph Smith. It's not exactly faith affirming.

[Godlarvae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brother Remini did a masterful work condensing the life of Joseph into this smallish tome. While it would be quite appropriate for "non-members" to read, "members" could find it more or less boring . . . only because there is such a historical legend surrounding Joseph's life within the Church. I did find it interesting on the several occasions when the author referenced data not usually cited by the church and it's "bona-fide" historical department. These rare citations allow the reader to understand, perhaps, more of the milieu that Joseph was born and raised in. Things that may have embarrassed us as members were treated with a matter-of-fact narrative, showing that there were, perhaps, other stimuli at work in his formation.
Not a bad read . . .

[Shea Mastison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an seemingly brief and unbiased look at the life of Latter-Day Saints prophet, Joseph Smith. Robert V. Remini examines his life in context of Jacksonian America, and the tumultuous period of American republicanism morphing into American democracy.

Along with Scientology and Satanism, the Latter-Day Saints are distinctly American in their sensibilities. That's not to imply that these belief systems have no attractiveness for people who are not American; but the focus on industry, community, and productiveness seems profoundly American in essence.

If history, or biographies are your thing, check this out if you happen to come across it.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting companion to read with Rough Stone Rolling. Remini is not a believer trying in-essence to figure out this miraculous man, while Bushman is a believer showing just how incredibly miraculous the details all fit together. I've learned so much. It's obvious what Remini's stance is through out the book, but it's hard to explain away so many miraculous events and the culmination of what the church is now. I think he could have been a little more positive, but he was for the most part very fair in the history and descriptions of people and events.

[Cliff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A neutral documentary on the life of the American prophet Joseph Smith. As a member of the Mormon faith, there wasn't too much in here that I didn't already know. The style of the book and the recounting of J.S. history weren't offensive for this believer and it did not relish in any "lore" that many anti-Mormons espouse as “truth”. For ammunition like that you’ll have to turn elsewhere. An even handed approach which will give anyone a primer on the life of this very amazing, yet controversial person.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good introduction to Joseph Smith...nothing too controversial for arguably the most controversial figure in teh series...

As with the Penguin Lives book on John XXIII by Thomas Cahill, I wish that Remini used more of the book to explain the background and impact of Joseph Smith on American history....a slight disappointment, becuase Remini usually does that so well with his books on Andrew Jackson and other early 19th century figures...

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, Robert Remini, won the National Book Award for his biography of Andrew Jackson. Now he applies his talent to Joseph Smith, founder of America's only homegrown religion. He does an excellent job of presenting an unbiased account of
Joseph Smith's life, from childhood to his eventual death at the hands of an angry mob. Worth reading to all those interested in the beginnings of the Mormon religion.

[Nitanews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent, short biography of Joseph Smith by a leading historian of the Jacksonian era. Remini is not a member of the LDS church, and I think that makes this book even more impressive. It reminded me of Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling--but much shorter and much more pallatable for the casual reader. Remini is even-handed and the result is an insightful biography of a controversial figure.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

By far the best book on Joseph Smith I have read. It presented the life of Joseph Smith in a clear unbiased way. Many new facts learned about Joseph. It was the kind of book one get tied up in. Well written. Not the most complete book available, but one of the best. If you want a clear easy to understand book you should look here.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, basic introduction to Smith's life. I would have appreciated some harder analysis, but I can understand why Remini avoided doing that; once you start analyzing a prophet, the sub-200 page overview probably balloons into over 500. I did get an answer to my question about when Mormon missionaries first went to Europe, so that was nice.

[Marty Overly · Rating 4 out of 5]

joseph smith is one of the most interesting characters that has ever lived. this is a biography that takes a very neutral position. it is neither pro nor anti-mormon. This dudes a trip! Loved this book.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, easy to read primer on the life of Joseph Smith. Remini tip-toes too much around some of the more controversial parts of Smith's life, but there's still plenty of good information here. Recommended if you're interested in the subject but don't want to devote a lot of time.