Your memory's slipping a bit, Vicki. Don't you recall when I quoted (overly) extensive portions of that book here? Don't you recall the interesting discussion Craig C. (and another great poster (sansfoy?); I guess my memory's slipping too!) and I had about the book?I only found one reference in the archives (because it's such an unsearchable pile of excrement (although the price -- free -- can't be beat, I guess)). Here it is: Lib. Jrnl. Review of Abanes' One Nation Under Gods
To re-state my opinion of the book, it's by far the most illuminating, direct, and fact-packed book of LDS history out there. Sure, it isn't particularly "balanced"; which means it focuses much more on the truly shocking dark side of that history than do the happier-faced, more "faith-promoting" quasi-hagiographies posing as histories of the Mormon Church, and you certainly don't want to base your entire view of LDS history on what Abanes has to say alone, but you definitely don't want to form an opinion of that history without reading it! It's an unflinching, unflattering, but truthful and accurate book and contains more relevant facts per page than any other history of any sort I've ever read.
It's a fairly long (600+ pages), well-footnoted and referenced book, but it's so compellingly and directly written you'll get through it fairly quickly anyway (but of course you really must follow all of the footnotes as you read it; it's well worth it).
Craig and I talked also about Grant H. Palmer's Insider's View of Mormon Origins, which is a much warmer and more sympathetic look at some parts of Mormon history and is perhaps a perfect complement to "Under Gods". It's very sincere and well written, and I'd say it's about 75% as honest as Abanes' book (which I offer as a heartfelt and sincere compliment). The fact that the LDS Church didn't excommunicate the author speaks very well of the growing maturity of the LDS hierarchy (or at least it's improved PR department). However, reading it is a fairly schizophrenic experience: Palmer, whose candor is truly exemplary -- especially for someone who so genuinely loves the Church very deeply -- will at one moment lay bare parts of the soft, dark underbelly of LDS history and the next argue that it's really not so bad after all and offer a benign interpretation. It really made me ache for this sublimely sweet and loving man who is clearly struggling with his deep respect for the truth -and- for the Church, and apparently finding them less compatible than he will let himself quite accept. It's heart-breaking. I put down the book with a profound desire to find the man and offer some kind words of friendly encouragement -- you can't help feeling he was holding back tears at times as he wrote this book.
You won't feel that way about Abanes, I promise you.
But Abanes speaks the truth, and that truth has to be more widely known.
- Martin
