On the Road with Joseph Smith

[pelagius]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I am saying that perhaps the reason RSR is lukewarmly received is because it leaves JS as much an enigma as before the book was written.

I can get behind this but that is a very different statement than you made earlier. Bushman situates Joseph Smith in the 19th century like no one previously has done. He brings to bear things like the visionary culture of Joseph Smith upbringing and the culture of honor. The book is full of fresh insights about Joseph Smith and particularly about the influences around him and how they shaped his thinking. All of that was new and fresh.

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

It seems that this is not the definitive biography. Maybe one will never be written.

Oh, I agree with this except I would argue for non-members the definitive Biography is still "No Man Knows My History."