Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
by Jon Krakauer
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer holds a well received rating of 3.98 out of 5, based on 112.2K reader ratings. First published in 2003. The book spans 400 pages.
About Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
A Story of Violent FaithA multilayered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, savage violence, polygamy, and unyielding faith. This is vintage Krakauer, an utterly compelling work of nonfiction that illuminates an otherwise confounding realm of human behavior.Jon Krakauer’s literary reputation rests on insightful chronicles of lives conducted at the outer limits. In Under The Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, he shifts his focus from extremes of physical adventure to extremes of religious belief within our own borders. At the core of his book is an appalling double murder committed by two Mormon Fundamentalist brothers, Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a revelation from God commanding them to kill their blameless victims. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this "divinely inspired" crime, Krakauer constructs a multilayered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, savage violence, polygamy, and unyielding faith. Along the way, he uncovers a shadowy offshoot of America’s fastest-growing religion, and raises provocative questions about the nature of religious belief.Krakauer takes readers inside isolated communities in the American West, Canada, and Mexico, where some forty-thousand Mormon Fundamentalists believe the mainstream Mormon Church went unforgivably astray when it renounced polygamy. Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the leaders of these outlaw sects are zealots who answer only to God. Marrying prodigiously and with virtual impunity (the leader of the largest fundamentalist church took seventy-five "plural wives," several of whom were wed to him when they were fourteen or fifteen and he was in his eighties), fundamentalist prophets exercise absolute control over the lives of their followers, and preach that any day now the world will be swept clean in a hurricane of fire, sparing only their most obedient adherents.Weaving the story of the Lafferty brothers and their fanatical brethren with a clear-eyed look at Mormonism’s violent past, Krakauer examines the underbelly of the most successful homegrown faith in the United States, and finds a distinctly American brand of religious extremism. The result is vintage Krakauer, an utterly compelling work of nonfiction that illuminates an otherwise confounding realm of human behavior.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Jon Krakauer |
| Published | 2003 |
| Pages | 400 |
| Kindle Price | $14.99 |
| Genres | Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, History, Mystery & Thriller, Biography & Memoir |
| Average Rating | 3.98 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 112,167 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith?
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith is categorized as Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, History, Mystery & Thriller. Its primary genre classification is Biography & Memoir.
Is Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith worth reading?
Based on 112.2K reader ratings, Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith has an average score of 3.98 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received." Its large number of reviews suggests broad reader appeal.
How many pages is Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith?
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith has 400 pages.
Who wrote Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith?
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith was written by Jon Krakauer. It was first published in 2003.
What is the ISBN for Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith?
The ISBN-13 for Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith is 9780330419120.0.
How much does Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith cost on Kindle?
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith is available on Kindle for $14.99. Pricing may vary by region and promotional offers.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
