List of important, controversial Mormon history titles
 

and what company published them:

1. David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism - Univ. of Utah Press

2. Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling - Vintage

3. In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith - Signature Books

4. The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power - Signature Books

5. Early Mormonism and the Magic World View - Signature Books

6. No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith - Vintage

7. Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith - University of Illinois Press

8. Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball - Shadow Mountain

People, help me add to this list.

Is it really important who published them?

Hugely. It speaks volumes.

It is somewhat interesting that none are published by Deseret Book.

Mormon Doctrine -- Bookcraft?

I know someone who told me about the book he had written, that Signature was willing to publish it, but Deseret Book was not. He wanted Deseret to publish it because the sales would be MUCH higher as it would have the apparent "kiss" of approval, and more members would buy it.

My point is that this list is not a coincidence.

The mormon church and its businesses and even its university don't lead the way in Mormon history. How sad is that?

Vintage is an enormously prestigious press with a worldwide reputation.

Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith - Crown
Breaking the Mormon Code - Matt Paulson
Kiss Me Mate - LaVar Goatnapper - Cougarguard Press

Deseret Book is not a reputable press.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vintage_(publisher)