Rating: 
Summary: fascinating--the best book on the subject
Review: You can be sure that your Mormon neighbor will not want you to read this book, even though it is the most even-handed 'outsider' treatment of the subject available. That's because the Ostlings are not afraid to discuss LDS history and practice--which is not as lily-white as Church members and outsiders are led to believe. Mormon behavior is reviewed as well--in particular, the tendency throughout LDS history to resort to 'casuistry'--as it is politely phrased--when it comes to touchy topics, such as polygamy (e.g., Joseph Smith's public denial that he was practicing it while privately enjoying multiple plural marriages; also post-Manifesto deceit to cover up the practice), and, most recently, Gordon B. Hinckley's dissembling when asked during his interview with Richard Ostling (for Time magazine) about the Mormon belief that God was once a man, etc. That said, one has to read the book to fully appreciate the Ostling's mature admiration for the many good things they encountered within Mormonism. This is a must have book.
Rating: 
Summary: Journalism that fails to meet the covers claims
Review: I was hoping that this would be the book that was a truely unbias work on Mormonism without a hidden agenda. Unfortunately the book does not fulfill its claims of being non-polemical and in fact contains a great number of misleading stories and dissertations. I have the luxury to either know personally or know of several individuals quoted and discussed in the book. In several cases the people who appear to be answering questions posed by the author personally did not even know of the existance of the book, such as W.Sheffield ch.22. And other stories are journalistically altered to deliver a negative spin on the story. Specically, in the section 'Dissenters and Exiles', David Wright is shown to have gone against the church doctine and become excommunicated for no valid reason. Yet if one were to research his life one would find that there truely is a good reason he was dismissed, but they left out his return to the church in good standing. The book seems to have researched every other anti-Mormon book, combined the contents in one book, and leads the reader to think the Mormon church endorsed this final work as non-bias. I believe the only thing great about the book are the profits the authors will make off innocent investigators through passive hype-jounalism.
Rating: 
Summary: Clever in the appearance of objectivity
Review: Non-Mormon and non-practicing Mormon reviewers have noted the "objectivity" of Mormon America. Indeed, the book is cleverly written to promote that impression. By focusing on controversial issues of doctrine and practice and by interviewing the same small set of critics that are always the focus of works like this (e.g., Excommunicated Mormon Michael Quinn is cited as many times in the index as current church President Gordon B. Hinckley. One wonders if Quinn actually was a ghost writer for the book.), the authors are able to create the feeling that the church does not have answers to the difficult questions raised. Responses by LDS scholars are given short shrift. For example, criticisms of the the Book of Mormon are dealt with in great detail, but supporting evidence from LDS scholars is only mentioned (e.g., word print analysis and Chaismus). More importantly, there is no discussion on the doctrinal contributions of the Book of Mormon and the reader is left hanging as to how the virtually illerate Joseph could have produced the book in such a short time span.In most cases, the authors do a competent job in getting their facts straight. One glaring error is their understanding of the role of Christ in the LDS church. They portray his sacrifice as a great example, but not an actual atoning for sins. Nothing could be further from the truth. A closer reading of the Book of Mormon or virtually any other church publications on the topic would make the belief in an actual atonement crystal clear. An interesting book, but just a bit more suble in its bias than the standard stuff written about the Church for years
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, thoughtful and well-written
Review: I came to this book wholly ignorant about its subject, but curious, and finished it with my curiosity satisfied and then some. It seemed to me to be a balanced and comprehensive examination of this fascinating and most American of religions. One finishes the book a bit skeptical of the authrenticity of the Mormon holy scriptures (too many anachronisms and internal inconsistencies in Joseph Smith's "revelations") but very positively impressed with the strong family bonds and community that this church has established and maintained. I have a lot of respect for the LDS Church as a result of reading this book. If you're new to the subject as I was, you'll find it fascinating.
Rating:
Summary: Not as balanced as it pretends to be
Review: Don't let the jacket text fool you. This is not the unbiased, balanced work it purports to be. To cite just one of several examples: when a chapter on the Book of Mormon consists almost exclusively in a detailed recitation of the arguments of Book of Mormon critics, and only provides one (vague) paragraph describing the pro-Book of Mormon scholarship done by authors like Nibley and Welch, you know the author has his own agenda, even if the publisher won't admit it. This book is anti-mormonism with a (falsely) friendly face.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to a complex subject
Review: Mormon America is a comprehensive overview of Mormon history,culture, religion, economics and politics. It is well written and easy to read. It is for the general reader, but the more serious reader will also appreciate it. Since moving to Salt Lake City, I have invested a lot in reading some of the scholarly source materials upon which this book was based. I wish I'd had this book to begin with. I wish I'd been able to write it. If you are curious about Mormonism, this is the place to start. I felt it was like the Cliff notes (in the best sense of that analogy) of Mormonism, a very fine condensation of a mountain of information and detail. The book is neither "faith promoting" nor "hysterical anti-Mormon". While it is not a heavy scholarly tome, it gives plenty of references for those who want to dig deeper. It also gives one of the most important Mormon theological documents, the King Follet Discourse, in an appendix. This was Joseph Smiths last public sermon, and lays out some of the key beliefs upon which the LDS Church is based.
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting look at an amazing church
Review: Mormon America is a powerfully written book about the LDS Church and it's people. Most books about the Church are either written by Church Members proclaming the greatness of their Church or they are written by anti-mormons whose goals are to tear down the Church. Mormon America written by non-mormons, presents a very "balanced" view of the Church. Anyone interested in learning more about why the LDS Church is becoming a force on the world stage would do well to purchase this book.
Rating:
Summary: the book is a reliable resource on the Mormon church's activ
Review: The book is intended to be a high profile, reliable, and objective resource on the Mormon church's activities. It accomplishes this task with more accuracy than any other "gentile" authors have to date. Mormon America outlines the statistics, trends, and goals of the church in nearly every major facet, appropriately emphasizing how and why they are unique. It is NOT meant to capture the beauty and breadth of personality, history, and theology that is the church's fabric and backbone. Show me the book that can.
Rating:
Summary: misses the real day-to-day Mormon culture
Review: Mormon America is a gathering of facts that are already known. What is hoped for - an insight into the real culture - is sadly lacking. The Ostlings have chosen to speak with the "in" and "out" Mormons who are obvious choices. A much truer picture would emerge from in-depth interviews with members of the rank and file. Much has already been written and said about the heroes and pariahs of this denomination. Of much greater interest would be the insights of the real people who are the fabric of the church and have earned very strong opinions in favor of or against its policies. Lastly, the book is extremely repetitive and in need of substantial editing. Shame on Harper San Francsico!
Rating:
Summary: A well-done worthwhile read.
Review: The Ostling's have created a well-done work that does a great job with the difficult task of compiling information and presenting it in a fashion that is easy to grasp and interesting to read. I find their tone to be polite overall, though some of their own bias does peek out subtly at times through the adjectives they use. However, compared to other acerbic books I have read by non-LDS authors about the LDS faith/history, this book is quite pleasant in tone. If you are only interested in reading one thorough book on the LDS faith/establishment, this is the one I would recommend.
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