Joseph Smith, Rough Stone Rolling (Richard Lyman Bushman) ***

It took me 2 years to read this book, but I'm glad I read it. I'm sure most of you have heard of it, and maybe already read it. The book is written by a Columbia history professor who is LDS and goes into lots of details on the life of Joseph Smith. Several parts are eyebrow raising, but I liked learning about Joseph Smith's strengths and weaknesses. Joseph Smith was an ordinary person with challenges like any of us, but who did some extraordinary things, all the time completely believing in the cause. Overall I'd say it strengthened my faith in his prophetic calling. I particularly liked the historic parts of the book. Sometimes the author's commentary on the doctrine could be a little long-winded -- hence the 2 years it took me to finish.