★★★★★ 5
As Close As You Will Get To Objectivity
Format: Paperback
If you have read "No Man Knows My History," you have to read "Rough Stone Rolling." The former biography was written by Fawn Brodie, a scholar who grew up LDS but left the church disenchanted and not believing that Joseph Smith was what he claimed to be--a prophet. The latter written by Bushman, a practicing LDS scholar who believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet.
In the preface of "Rough Stone Rolling," Bushman makes the legitimate point that there will never be consensus on Joseph Smith's character or achievements. Furthermore, he confesses that as a believing historian, pure objectivity is impossible.
Nonetheless, I think he comes closer to pure objectivity in this history than any other I have read on Joseph Smith. This has to be one of the best biographies I have ever read. The book is well written, loaded with historical fact, and any assumptions that are made are within detailed, historical contexts. Unlike Brodie's biography, it is very difficult to ascertain Bushman's own opinion. If he had not confessed his belief in the preface, you would wonder. Nowhere does Bushman try to convince you that Smith was a prophet and he is not afraid to explore Joseph Smith's weaknesses and shortcomings as a man. I am a believer so I admit that I may just relate to Bushman better than Brodie. Still, I know many practicing Mormons that would not like this book simply because they have to have Joseph Smith on a pedestal, untouchable, and locked in a glass case. I also know many faithful non-Mormons who believe that a prophet is certainly not a god but is definitely something more than human. Such readers will probably not care for this book either. I believe Joseph Smith was a prophet but I also know he was a man with weaknesses, like every other prophet that came before him. In Bushman's own words, "flawless characters are neither attractive or useful." This is a history of a man; it is not scripture. After boldly claiming heavenly visions, Joseph Smith penned a few great books of scripture that are well worth reading if you really want to explore the faith.
Fawn Brodie takes the title for her biography from Joseph Smith's own admission in 1844 that "No Man Knows My History" and paints, in her opinion, the delusion and deceit behind Smith's confession.
Bushman takes the title for his biography from Joseph Smith's own admission in 1843 that he is a "Rough Stone Rolling" and gives you the most real, honest, and fair assessment of his life that I have ever read. He gives you the man Joseph Smith, with his strengths and weaknesses, and leaves the opinions to the reader.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2013
