Leonard J. Arrington (1917–1999)

Leonard Arrington, Who Died In 1999, is Considered by Most, If Not All, Serious Scholars of Mormon and Western History As the Single Most Important Figure to Write On LDS History. Great Basin Kingdom is Perhaps His Greatest Work. A Classic In Mormon Studies and Western History, Great Basin Kingdom Offers Insights Into the ‘Underdeveloped' American Economy, A Comprehensive Treatment of One of The Few Native American Religious Movements, and Detailed, Exciting Stories from Little-Known Phases of Mormon and American History.… (meer)

Okay. I'm going to try and be positive first. First, there are aspects of this information that are wildly fascinating (I think). Attempts to live the "United Order," the Utah War, Brigham Young's unique viewpoints,* Eliza Snow being touted as a feminist for the first time (that I ever heard)-- These are all interesting topics and worth exploring. Especially the latter.

It had its dry humor too. If you've read it, you'd know about the DMC. And there were several times when I laughed out loud because of the humor that the saints, not the writer, brought to the tales.

It also brings a bit of realism to the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints** It wasn't all rose gardens when they arrived in Utah and food wasn't always plenteous after the seagulls. Neither was the Kirtland Safety Society the first time the church weathered financial crises.

But the tone is SOOOOO dry. And Arrington, economist that he is, had not yet read Freakonomics or anything by Arthur Brooks. So he didn't know how economics could be presented to be interesting. Perhaps he bit off more than he could chew?


* Let the record show: I love Brigham Young. He is an inhabitant of a foreign country. And Arrington does little here to make him more explicable, but I firmly believe (in spite of his foibles and, perhaps because of, his humanity) that he was a prophet.

** Perhaps what rankled the most was his unending use of the nickname. But BY and others used it. So I'm overreacting.… (meer)

I absolutely loved the quality content of this book. Many of these men were raised by tough women who were far from "complacent and docile."

However, after taking a history class and quite a few writing classes, I'm rather appalled by the amount of conjecture in a couple of chapters. So we don't know anything about Agnes Taylor. The best writing will admit that and move on to what we do know. Similarly, an editor who could streamline trains of thought would tighten up logic and storylines that jump around a bit.

The research was impressive. And many of the stories fascinating-- Read Mary Fielding Smith's chapter for a taste. But the technical areas could use a little changing. Presentation helps the case and I, personally, have found very little to be wrong with professionalism in scholarship.… (meer)