# 2nd Great Awakening - book recommendation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2nd-great-awakening-book-recommendation/535518 "2010-04-09T13:15:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2nd-great-awakening-book-recommendation/535518/1 "2010-04-09T13:15:04Z")
I’m in a book club that is reading [Mormon America](http://www.amazon.com/Mormon-America-Revised-Updated-Promise/dp/0061432954/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270818421&sr=1-1). It was co-written by the _Time_ magazine religion writer, so it has a very journalistic style and is a fairly easy read. The discussion about the book sparked some interest in the Second Great Awakening, the period of religious revivalism in 19th century America. I’d like to bring some titles to our next meeting to see if the group is interested in reading something on that topic. I’m wondering if any of you could recommend a book about that period. The less textbook-y the better! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2nd-great-awakening-book-recommendation/535518/2 "2010-04-09T23:28:15Z")
The classic on the region that gave rise to Mormonism, and much other interesting stuff, is Whitney Cross’s _[Burned-Over District.](http://www.amazon.com/Burned-over-District-Intellectual-Enthusiastic-1800-1850/dp/0801492327)_ Very readable. A little outdated, but good for a lay (sic) audience. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2nd-great-awakening-book-recommendation/535518/3 "2010-04-10T01:07:12Z")
Great…thanks! The comments on that book had some interesting suggestions, too.