Comments on: On the Road with Richard Bushman

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:28:07 +0000

I missed this book. Thanks for the review. I am going to order it and then put it away for some summer reading.

A couple of years ago I read the History of the Church and everything else that I could find on Joseph Smith. After I while I got to the point where every new book that I had bought was a rehash of something that I had previously read. I pretty much gave up on Joseph Smith literature for a time. In this period of time Rough Stone Rolling had come out but didn’t take much more than a look. Then one of the few people that I value their opinion on Mormon literature strongly recommended it. In my opinion it is by far the best book of Joseph Smith ever written.

By: Blair Hodges

Blair Hodges — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 01:16:29 +0000

On the Road was a fascinating and rare look into the mind of a unique writer. Bushman is candid in relating his self-criticism and doubt, as well as things that made him proud. Anecdotes involving people ranging from critics to general authorities are especially interesting. This was a great book about a book.

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 19:56:52 +0000

Yep. Now if Signature would only do the same with their Significant Mormon Diaries series (or better yet, offer them in digital format).

By: John Mansfield

John Mansfield — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 19:46:54 +0000

I think that’s a bit of what I mean. You were stoked not only because of your interest in the material, but also because you were able to obtain it without spending $150. You seriously considered buying the expensive edition, so that set a marker of how valuable it would be if you could obtain it at a modest price. Valid description?

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:57:48 +0000

I think that the paperback was the result from the great interest in the limited volume. I almost bought it, but then I thought how many other books I could get for it and my pragmatism won out. I was stoked to pick it up at MHA for $8.

By: John Mansfield

John Mansfield — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:01:11 +0000

I wonder how much the expensive limited edition whet the appetite for the cheap paperback. I like how the cover of Rough Stone Rolling is reproduced within the cover of One the Road: a book about bringing out a book.

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:46:38 +0000

Well said, Mark.

By: Mark Ashurst-McGee

Mark Ashurst-McGee — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:41:33 +0000

I would like to jump in and second the recommendation. I found _On the Road_ a page-turner. It is a beautiful work, filled with academic politics, cultural and religious politics, theological exploration and ethical searching of one of the greatest Mormon minds. When I finished I was most touched by Bushman’s manifest love for the Latter-day Saints.

By: Nick Literski

Nick Literski — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:49:54 +0000

I recently finished reading this book, and was very thankful that Bushman opened his heart and mind in this way. I had attended one of the conferences recorded therein by Bushman, and was frankly quite surprised to see that his reaction to his performance there. I thought he gave very good answers, yet he was quite critical of himself. As an author-in-progress, I found Bushman’s narrative encouraging and inspiring.

My only “complaint,” if any, was Bushman’s opinion that only a believer could “take Joseph Smith seriously” or “take The Book of Mormon seriously.” This wasn’t just an observation from his experience. It was his own view of things. I found that problematic. My own views are complex, but most would characterize me as an “unbeliever” these days. Nonetheless, I’d say I certainly take Joseph and his writings seriously. In most cases, Bushman’s thought seems more liberal than this, and I found this position frustrating.

By: Guy Murray

Guy Murray — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:06:28 +0000

Thanks for this update. I was hoping they’d come up with the poor man’s version of this at some point. Great news!