Best Mormon History Books (45 books)

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This list is for non-fiction works of objective history that examine all aspects of Mormonism and Mormon history. This is not a list for theological texts, such as the Book of Mormon.

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1	Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling by Richard L. Bushman 4.10 avg rating — 9,448 ratings score: 2,193, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Mormon Experience: A History of the Latter-day Saints by Leonard J. Arrington 3.69 avg rating — 209 ratings score: 982, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism by Gregory A. Prince 4.36 avg rating — 1,234 ratings score: 978, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith by Fawn M. Brodie 4.17 avg rating — 3,466 ratings score: 795, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Brigham Young: American Moses by Leonard J. Arrington really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 551 ratings score: 776, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	The Mountain Meadows Massacre by Juanita Brooks 3.96 avg rating — 800 ratings score: 686, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet by John G. Turner 4.03 avg rating — 1,454 ratings score: 582, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother by Lucy Mack Smith 4.27 avg rating — 5,229 ratings score: 578, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Massacre at Mountain Meadows by Ronald W. Walker 4.01 avg rating — 1,325 ratings score: 480, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	More Wives Than One: Transformation of the Mormon Marriage System, 1840-1910 by Kathryn M. Daynes 3.86 avg rating — 66 ratings score: 476, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	American Crucifixion: The Murder of Joseph Smith and the Fate of the Mormon Church by Alex Beam (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 1,177 ratings score: 393, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith by Matthew Bowman 3.86 avg rating — 1,123 ratings score: 388, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Gathering of Zion: The Story of the Mormon Trail by Wallace Stegner 3.97 avg rating — 598 ratings score: 382, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Early Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn 4.13 avg rating — 527 ratings score: 377, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Heaven Up Here by John K. Williams (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 62 ratings score: 300, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Mormon Country by Wallace Stegner 3.95 avg rating — 749 ratings score: 290, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition by Jan Shipps 3.75 avg rating — 120 ratings score: 289, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Our Heritage: A Brief History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4.30 avg rating — 3,721 ratings score: 287, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Mormonism in Transition: A History of the Latter-day Saints, 1890-1930 by Thomas G. Alexander 4.02 avg rating — 111 ratings score: 287, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Truth Restored by Gordon B. Hinckley 4.34 avg rating — 4,289 ratings score: 284, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Great Basin Kingdom: An Economic History of the Latter-day Saints, 1830-1900 by Leonard J. Arrington 4.08 avg rating — 137 ratings score: 283, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 231,565 ratings score: 198, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Mormon Convert, Mormon Defector: A Scottish Immigrant in the American West, 1848–1861 by Polly Aird 4.38 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 192, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Church History in the Fullness of Times: Religion 341-343: the History of the Church of Jesus Christ by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sai (2000-05-03) by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4.39 avg rating — 780 ratings score: 188, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations by Mark Lyman Staker 4.23 avg rating — 35 ratings score: 183, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Historical Atlas of Mormonism by S. Kent Brown 4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings score: 179, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power by D. Michael Quinn 4.18 avg rating — 325 ratings score: 175, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Leonard Arrington and the Writing of Mormon History by Gregory A. Prince 4.46 avg rating — 199 ratings score: 174, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball by Edward L. Kimball 4.37 avg rating — 402 ratings score: 174, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn 4.07 avg rating — 220 ratings score: 173, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Blood Doctrine by Ross Poore 2.91 avg rating — 11 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Mormons (The Complete Heretic's Guide to Western Religion, #1) by David Fitzgerald 4.27 avg rating — 493 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows, September 1857 by Sally Denton (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 707 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Race and the Making of the Mormon People by Max Perry Mueller really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 32 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Bear River Massacre: A Shoshone History by Darren Parry 4.12 avg rating — 300 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows by Will Bagley really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 485 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet by Dan Vogel 4.04 avg rating — 112 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Refiner's Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844 by John L. Brooke 3.94 avg rating — 122 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Life of David W. Patten by Lycurgus Arnold Wilson 3.63 avg rating — 19 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration by Cheryl L. Bruno (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 43 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	The Standard of Truth: 1815–1846 (Saints, #1) by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Contributor) 4.56 avg rating — 9,986 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon by William L. Davis (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 51 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Divine Rite of Kings: Land, Race, Same Sex, and Empire in Mormonism and the Esoteric Tradition by Clyde R. Forsberg Jr. 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth-Century America by Sarah Barringer Gordon 3.89 avg rating — 136 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Heavens Resound, A History of the Latter-day Saints in Ohio 1830-1838 by Milton V. Backman Jr. 3.85 avg rating — 13 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars