Understanding Hubert Selby, Jr. Book

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. I'll confess to a not-so-subtle literary "bromance" I've developed with Givens. He couples wit with wisdom and isn't afraid to bring Mormon doctrine into the full light of day to facilitate a thoughtful and academically rigorous discussion. Well-played (and well-written) Mr. Givens.

"This is the first full explanation of why Mormons have been demonized by a nation that prides itself on open toleration of all faiths. Givens carefully appraises every past explanation for the printed attacks and physical persecutions that occurred from the 1830s onward, as newspapers, novels, and satires convinced a 'tolerant' public that Mormons should not be tolerated. He then makes a convincing argument that the primary affront the Mormons offered was theological: their anthropomorphic picture of God and of his continuing personal revelations to the one true church. The book is thus an impressive achievement that should interest not just Mormons or other religious believers but anyone who cares about how 'freedom-loving,' 'tolerant' Americans turned 'heretics' into subhuman monsters deserving destruction."--Wayne Booth, University of Chicago (Emeritus)