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Books by and about 2020 presidential candidates
Crippled America,
by Donald J. Trump (2015)
United,
by Cory Booker (2016)
The Truths We Hold,
by Kamala Harris (2019)
Smart on Crime,
by Kamala Harris (2010)
Guide to Political Revolution,
by Bernie Sanders (2017)
Where We Go From Here,
by Bernie Sanders (2018)
Promise Me, Dad ,
by Joe Biden (2017)
Conscience of a Conservative,
by Jeff Flake (2017)
Two Paths,
by Gov. John Kasich (2017)
Every Other Monday,
by Rep. John Kasich (2010)
Courage is Contagious,
by John Kasich (1998)
Shortest Way Home,
by Pete Buttigieg (2019)
The Book of Joe ,
by Jeff Wilser (2019; biography of Joe Biden)
Becoming,
by Michelle Obama (2018)
Our Revolution,
by Bernie Sanders (2016)
This Fight Is Our Fight,
by Elizabeth Warren (2017)
Higher Loyalty,
by James Comey (2018)
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2017)
Books by and about the 2016 presidential election
What Happened ,
by Hillary Clinton (2017)
Higher Loyalty ,
by James Comey (2018)
Trump vs. Hillary On The Issues ,
by Jesse Gordon (2016)
Hard Choices,
by Hillary Clinton (2014)
Becoming ,
by Michelle Obama (2018)
Outsider in the White House,
by Bernie Sanders (2015)

Book Reviews

(from Amazon.com)

(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com)

The Mormon Faith of Mitt Romney
What Latter-day Saints Teach and Practice,
by Andrew Jackson



(Click for Amazon book review)

Click here for 11 full quotes from Mitt Romney in the book Mormon Faith of Mitt Romney, by Andrew Jackson.
OR click on an issue category below for a subset.

BOOK REVIEW by OnTheIssues.org:

This book is about Mormonism, even though Mitt Romney is on the cover. Mormonism is relevant this year because of Mitt Romney, but Romney is only the side-subject of this book. Mostly it explains about the Mormon religion, and then tells how Romney has applied the principles explained.

The author is a Presbyterian minister and a professor of theology (which means he studies religion, and is also religious himself, but not in the Mormon religion). He wrote this book because he believes that understanding Mormonism is the key to understanding Mitt Romney (p. 198). And he regrets that "his political handlers have calculated that he must conceal his Mormon identity", because "as a result, the heart of Mitt Romney does not shine through the robotic political maneuvering." (p. 199). We'll get back to Romney after an outline of what the author details about Mormonism, in an attempt to address some of the common myths:

  • Mormons accept the Bible as gospel, but consider it flawed due to centuries of imperfect transcription.
  • Mormons in the past considered the Christian church to be "apostasy" (invalid) in the sense that the Mormon church is the one true church (but every church says something like that).
  • Mormonism could strictly be considered non-monotheistic because all men can become God by devout faith.
  • In Mormonism's past, dark-skinned people could not become Mormon ministers, but non-whites were always welcomed in the Mormon church.
  • Mormon history (including polygamy) and Mormon "secret" rituals are detailed in several chapters.
  • The author's bottom line: Mormonism defines a straight-and-narrow path for its adherents, and Mormons are good Christians.
This isn't really a political book, but it targets politically-interested people who want to understand Romney's religion. Mostly, the author wrote this book because he sincerely wonders if Romney were to "speak from his heart and argue that it is in fact the values of his Mormon faith that inform and enrich his political and social positions." (p. 199) The author suggests that Romney would benefit from that approach -- this book makes an interesting read for anyone interested in that question.

-- Jesse Gordon, jesse@OnTheIssues.org, May 2012
 OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)
Families & Children
    Polygamy violates marriage covenant.
Principles & Values
    OpEd: Faith informs his political and social positions.
    One of four children; two brothers got divorced.
    Parents-in-law not allowed to attend Mitt's Mormon marriage.
    Led charge for building Boston Mormon Temple.
    2002 Winter Olympics often identified as "The Mormon Games".
    Serve no one religion; serve only the people.
    FactCheck: Constitution ok on voters questioning religion.
    Fully ordained in Melchizedek Priesthood (Mormon pastor).
    As LDS Bishop, decided who was "temple-worthy".
    Dismisses former Mormon polygamy as awful and abhorrent.


    Click for quotations from other sources by:
  • Mitt Romney

The above quotations are from The Mormon Faith of Mitt Romney
What Latter-day Saints Teach and Practice,
by Andrew Jackson.

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