On the Road with Joseph Smith – Richard L. Bushman – 2 Stars

On the Road with Joseph Smith – Richard L. Bushman – 2 Stars

Title: On the Road with Joseph Smith: An Author’s Diary

Author: Richard L. Bushman

Publisher: Greg Kofford Books

Year: Softcover 2007

Rating:  2 Stars

Price and Purchasing Options: This book didn’t have wide distribution and wasn’t ever really popular.  I wouldn’t expect it in many second-hand options, but it is pretty affordable directly from Amazon for around $10.

Review: This will be short review.  There is no need to read this book.

The book details some of his thoughts and reflections on writing his masterpiece Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling.  If you are looking for a follow-up with some deeper insights that might not be contained in that book, this book is not where you are going to find them.

The thoughts are not well connected nor drive to any conclusions.  The most interesting thing about the whole book is his reflections on the direction he takes in the book.  He originally intended Rough Stone Rolling to be for more scholars, and was surprised at its reception within the LDS community.  As a result, he regrets a little bit his strong scholarly approach, shadowing his faith a little bit in his work; he reflects that if he has known or had the foresight that his audience would be more believers, he might have been a little more “faithful” throughout the text.

That is interesting to note, but I just gave the best part away, and it is only a paragraph of the whole book.

One thing that I have found unique about Bushman, is that when he writes he is brilliant; and I am assuming because he can take his time, read and re-read, and edit, and get feedback and ensure that his ideas are coming across clearly.  However, when he speaks (I have seen him present a number of times), he often comes across with confusion, unclear, and often says things that are a surprise, or easily interpreted (I am assuming) wrong.  He doesn’t communicate as clearly in a passive discussion, or a prepared presentation as well as a crafted writing.  This book is more of his passive words, and has the same problems.

I would personally not recommend this book for anyone.  If you are really desperate go for it – but you won’t enjoy it as much as you expect. 

Suggestions:  Just skip it… it doesn’t even look good on the shelf.

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Review #38

Tags: 2 Stars, Historical Biography, Church History, Biography, Richard L. Bushman, On the Road with Joseph Smith, LDS Book Review, Ryan Daley