''Arrington gives readers as good a picture as they are likely to get of the man who assumed leadership of the major part of the Mormon church when Joseph Smith was assassinated in 1844, led its members west, and built a church empire in Utah.''--R. Laurence Moore, New York Times Book Review ''A considerable achievement that will doubtless stand for many years as the most objective and authoritative biography of Young.''--David Brion Davis, New York Review of Books ''Arrington pulls no punches. He writes of the successes as well as the failures, the conflicts as well as the compassion. The Mountain Meadows Massacre, polygamy, the United Order and other controversial parts of the story are all discussed, neither underplayed nor sensationalized.''--Carma Wadley, Deseret News ''Represents a significant turning point in Mormon historical scholarship for both Mormons and non-Mormons alike.''--Howard R. Lamar, History Book Club Reivew ''Should bring new understanding and compassion for one of the most misunderstood giants in American history.''--Don Keown, San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle
