The Mormon People

With two Mormons among recent GOP presidential hopefuls, interest in Mormonism is at a new high. For readers looking for a historical introduction, there is no better book than this. Bowman (religion, Hampden-Sydney Coll.) manages the nearly impossible—he is both fair and objective. He clarifies that his book is a work of considered synthesis of other scholarship. He doesn't overlook the heroic or the tawdry. He covers the famous trek west and such controversial topics as the origin of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith's polygamous relationships, and Mormon ideas on race, all with appropriate detachment. He also covers contemporary topics of the modern Mormon church with riveting prose. Appendixes explain the structure of the church and offer brief biographies of the cast of characters. The bibliographic essay is a great starting place for further pursuing the topic and could serve as a syllabus for a Mormon history course.