Staff Pick
Any new release by Krakauer is bound to be controversial, but with Missoula, a look at campus rape across America, he's created a lightning rod for vigorous debate. Well-written and incredibly thought-provoking, Missoula assesses the campus rape problem and explores the troubling mechanics of our justice system. Recommended By Rhianna W., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Missoula, Montana, is a typical college
town, home to a highly regarded state university whose beloved football
team inspires a passionately loyal fan base. Between January 2008 and
May 2012, hundreds of students reported sexual assaults to the local
police. Few of the cases were properly handled by either the university
or local authorities. In this, Missoula is also typical.
In
these pages, acclaimed journalist Jon Krakauer investigates a spate of
campus rapes that occurred in Missoula over a four-year period. Taking
the town as a case study for a crime that is sadly prevalent throughout
the nation, Krakauer documents the experiences of five victims: their
fear and self-doubt in the aftermath; the skepticism directed at them by
police, prosecutors, and the public; their bravery in pushing forward
and what it cost them. These stories cut through abstract ideological
debate about acquaintance rape to demonstrate that it does not happen
because women are sending mixed signals or seeking attention. They are
victims of a terrible crime, deserving of fairness from our justice
system. Rigorously researched, rendered in incisive prose, Missoula stands as an essential call to action.
Review
"A clear and undeniable picture of a broken system. . . . Krakauer's straightforward writing resists sensationalism. . . . This is a book we all needed." Missoula Independent
Review
“Riveting. . . . A raw and difficult but necessary read.” Kirkus Reviews
Review
“Krakauer’s evocative reporting, honed to a fine edge of anger, vividly
conveys the ordeal of victims and their ongoing psychological
dislocations. . . . A hard-hitting true-crime exposé that looks
underneath the he-said-she-said to get at the sexist assumptions that
help cover up and enable these crimes.” Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Review
“Compelling. . . . Meticulous. . . . Krakauer is a writer committed
above all else to asking difficult questions. . . . [A] timely and
important book.” Los Angeles Times
Review
“Excellent. . . . Krakauer doesn’t just tell the story of these crimes.
As he has done so brilliantly in his other books . . . he sets the story
firmly in the context of social history.” The Boston Globe
About the Author
Jon Krakauer is the author of eight books and has received an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. According to the award citation, "Krakauer combines the tenacity and courage of the finest tradition of investigative journalism with the stylish subtlety and profound insight of the born writer."
www.jonkrakauer.com