"Brigham Young: American Moses" is a bloodless and pro-Mormon biography of Brigham Young, written by Leonard Arrington, who once had the reputation of being a critical and free-thinking Mormon historian. A better description would be that Arrington is The Living Prophet's Loyal Opposition. If you absolutely must read one of his books, try "The Mormon Experience". That book at least covers all of Mormon history, from the inception in the 1820's to the modern situation. "Brigham Young: American Moses" only covers brother Brigham.
If you want to read more meaty, controversial stuff (a.k.a. the truth) about Brigham Young and the 19th century Utah Mormons, spend some money on D. Michael Quinn's "The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power" (see my review elsewhere). Quinn was expelled from the Mormon Church for being too critical, but still sees himself as a "DNA Mormon". No loyal opposition there. Quinn's book, incidentally, also contain revealing facts about modern Mormonism, including their campaigns against gender equality and relations with the John Birch Society.
Forget about the American Moses.
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