📖 Overview
Jana Riess is an American scholar, author, and editor known for her work on American religious movements, particularly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With a PhD from Columbia University in American Religious Studies, she has established herself as an authority on religion in literature and contemporary religious practices.
As the religion book editor for Publishers Weekly from 1999 to 2008, Riess shaped discourse around religious publishing and literature. She currently serves as a Religion and American Studies professor at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she continues her academic research and writing.
Her academic credentials include degrees from prestigious institutions: a Bachelor's from Wellesley College, a Master's in theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a PhD from Columbia University. Riess's work frequently examines the intersection of faith, modern culture, and religious movements in America.
Riess has contributed significantly to the understanding of Mormon studies and American religious movements through her research, publications, and academic work. Her expertise spans multiple religious traditions, though she is particularly recognized for her insights into LDS Church culture and practices.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Riess's balanced approach to analyzing Mormon culture and religious topics. Her book "The Next Mormons" receives attention for its data-driven examination of generational changes in the LDS Church, with readers noting her neutral tone on controversial subjects.
What readers liked:
- Clear writing style that makes complex religious topics accessible
- Research-based arguments supported by statistics and surveys
- Honest examination of faith challenges while maintaining respect
- Blending of personal experience with scholarly analysis
What readers disliked:
- Some find her critiques of religious institutions too gentle
- Academic tone can be dry in certain sections
- Conservative readers sometimes object to progressive interpretations
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: "The Next Mormons" - 4.1/5 (300+ ratings)
Amazon: "Flunking Sainthood" - 4.4/5 (100+ reviews)
"Book of Mormon: A Reader's Edition" - 4.7/5 (50+ reviews)
Reader quote: "Riess manages to be both scholarly and deeply personal, critiquing while showing compassion." - Goodreads reviewer
📚 Books by Jana Riess
What Would Buffy Do? - A scholarly analysis of religious and moral themes in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, examining how the show addresses questions of good, evil, and sacrifice.
The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church - A sociological study based on survey data exploring how younger generations of Latter-day Saints differ from their predecessors in beliefs and practices.
Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray, and Still Loving My Neighbor - A memoir chronicling the author's year-long experiment with twelve different spiritual practices and her struggles with each.
Mormonism for Dummies - A comprehensive overview of Mormon history, beliefs, and practices written in an accessible format.
The Prayer Wheel: A Daily Guide to Renewing Your Faith with a Rediscovered Spiritual Practice - An examination of medieval Christian prayer practices and their potential application in modern spiritual life.
Book of Mormon: Selections Annotated & Explained - A scholarly annotation of key passages from the Book of Mormon with historical and theological context.
The Twible: All the Chapters of the Bible in 140 Characters or Less - A modern interpretation of every chapter of the Bible condensed into tweet-length segments.
The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church - A sociological study based on survey data exploring how younger generations of Latter-day Saints differ from their predecessors in beliefs and practices.
Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray, and Still Loving My Neighbor - A memoir chronicling the author's year-long experiment with twelve different spiritual practices and her struggles with each.
Mormonism for Dummies - A comprehensive overview of Mormon history, beliefs, and practices written in an accessible format.
The Prayer Wheel: A Daily Guide to Renewing Your Faith with a Rediscovered Spiritual Practice - An examination of medieval Christian prayer practices and their potential application in modern spiritual life.
Book of Mormon: Selections Annotated & Explained - A scholarly annotation of key passages from the Book of Mormon with historical and theological context.
The Twible: All the Chapters of the Bible in 140 Characters or Less - A modern interpretation of every chapter of the Bible condensed into tweet-length segments.
👥 Similar authors
Leonard Arrington - As a pioneering Mormon historian and former LDS Church Historian, Arrington wrote extensively about Mormon history and institutional development. His work combines academic rigor with insider knowledge of LDS Church operations and culture.
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich - A Harvard historian who writes about Mormon women's history and early American religious life. Her work examines religious practice through social history and women's experiences.
Richard Bushman - His scholarly work focuses on Mormon origins and early American religious history through historical and cultural analysis. He brings academic depth to Mormon studies while maintaining connection to faith perspectives.
Kathleen Flake - Her research centers on American religious history with emphasis on church-state relations and Mormon studies. She examines how religious groups navigate cultural change and institutional authority.
Terryl Givens - His work explores Mormon theology and intellectual history within broader Christian traditions. He analyzes religious thought through literary and cultural frameworks similar to Riess's approach.
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich - A Harvard historian who writes about Mormon women's history and early American religious life. Her work examines religious practice through social history and women's experiences.
Richard Bushman - His scholarly work focuses on Mormon origins and early American religious history through historical and cultural analysis. He brings academic depth to Mormon studies while maintaining connection to faith perspectives.
Kathleen Flake - Her research centers on American religious history with emphasis on church-state relations and Mormon studies. She examines how religious groups navigate cultural change and institutional authority.
Terryl Givens - His work explores Mormon theology and intellectual history within broader Christian traditions. He analyzes religious thought through literary and cultural frameworks similar to Riess's approach.