What are the most essential books for an ex-mormon to read to get a good grasp of the real history of the church?

I think someone should compile an official list. (Maybe there already is one?)

My Favorites:

Grant Palmer's "An Insider's View of Mormon Origins,

Fawn Brodie's "No Man Knows My History"

D. Michael Quinn's "Mormonism and the Magic World View"

Larson's "By his own Hand on Papyrus"

Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven"

Tod Compton's "In Sacred Lonliness"

Oh, I almost forgot

Simon Southerton's "Loosing a Lost Tribe"



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/2012 03:44PM by foundoubt.

I would personally put Mormonism-Shadow or Reality by Jerald & Sandra Tanner at the top. This books hits just about every problem in Mormonism and has got to contain the most exhaustive source of references and quotes than any book out there. I see all other books as supplements to this one.

Their book The Changing World of Mormonism is a slightly more condensed and readable version of this one.

"An Insider's View of Mormon Origins" by Grant Palmer

"No Man Knows My History" - Fawn Brodie

"By his own Hand on Papyrus" by Charles Larson

"Solemn Covenant: THE MORMON POLYGAMOUS PASSAGE" by B. Carmon Hardy

"In Sacred Loneliness" by Todd Compton

"Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith"
by Linda King Newell & Valeen Tippetts Avery

"Mormon Polygamy: A History" by Richard S. Van Wagoner

"The Mountain Meadows Massacre" by Juanita Brooks

"Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows" by Will Bagley


There are a bunch more but that's my starter list.

Mormon Enigma is the one that really hit me hard.

Of course, no list is complete without my book. LOL

What is your book called?

I guess he hasn't ambled around to reply.

http://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Up-Here-John-Williams/dp/1105296946

Adding: the 19th Wife by Ebershoff. Parallel stories of polygamy - present day situations and one of Brigham's wives, Ann Eliza Young.

Those are all great lists, so I'm going to offer one that is a bit different. But all books that have shaped my thinking, or at least informed me about the thinking of others:

Dao De Jing by Lao Tzu

The Art of War by Sun Tzu

The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins

in order to gain new approaches on how to think about Mormonism. A few books I have read lately that influenced my thinking:

The Education of Henry Adams by Henry Adams

The Republic by Plato

History of Madness by Michel Foucault

The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac

Darkness at Noon by Arther Koestler

An American Fraud - One Lawyer's Case Against Mormonism by Kay Burningham.
Has anyone here read this book? I'm currently reading it, and I just wish everyone could or would read it.

Other books mentioned are great, too, most of which I have read.

It has a good summary of the issues, and it's easy to read with many illustrations.

When I was a missionary in Tahiti, I got my hands on the Lucy Mack Smith biography of her son. There was just enough info in that book to make me go, "hmmmm." The beginning of the end?

http://www.amazon.com/History-Joseph-Smith-His-Mother/dp/0929753224/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1350070369&sr=8-4&keywords=lucy+mack+smith

I'd add

Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan

Just get a verified reference on free masonry, compare to temple ordinances,.and viola! You will see the ripoff.
If they say that masonry is inspired, then ask why they don't teach or acknowledge masonry on sunday school.

This is one of the best books I have read on the subject of Mormonism from a fellow exmo, John Hyde written in 1857.

http://thedigitalvoice.com/enigma/hyd1857a.htm#pg012a

Fascinating insights from someone who was there from the early days of Mormonism. Enjoy!

I compiled a list with the idea that ex-Mormons, with a relatively small expenditure, could make books about Mormonism available at their local public library. Depending on how much you want to spend, there's a $50 list, a $100 list, etc.

"Suggested List of Books on Mormonism for Library Donations"
http://packham.n4m.org/list2.htm

that the essential booklist for the exMormon would include all the great books that have absolutely nothing to do with Mormonism.

Wasn't the monoculture monocultural enough while one was still a believing Mormon? Need it be perpetuated into exMormonism?

All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

On Liberty and other Essays by John Stuart Mill

Nostromo and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Sophie's Choice by William Styron.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/2012 07:42PM by ducky333.

... Thomas Paine's "The Age of Reason" will never see the Bible, Christianity, or religion in general in the same light again. Remember that Thomas Paine was one of our founding fathers, who wrote "Common Sense" and "The Crisis".

Raised as a Quaker, Paine offers a devastating critique of the Trinity, the Bible, and the whole concept of God communicating with the world through prophets.

He authored those famous words, "These are the times that try men's souls...." , and "Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered."