The Puzzles of Amish Life

People's Place #10

by Donald B. Kraybill

Revised edition!

A sociologist provides a way to understand the Amish people's intentional way of living in a world far different from their own. Fun to read. How do the Amish thrive in the midst of modern life? Why do the Amish separate themselves from the modern world? Why do a religious people spurn religious symbols and church buildings? Why is humility a cherished value? Why do a gentle people shun disobedient members? How do the Amish regulate social change? Why is ownership of cars objectionable, but not their use? Why are some modes of transportation acceptable and other forbidden? Why are tractors permitted around barns but not in fields? Why are horses used to pull modern farm machinery? Why are telephones banned from Amish homes? Why are some forms of electricity acceptable while others are rejected? How is modern machinery operated without electricity? Why are some occupations acceptable and others taboo? Why do the Amish use the services of professionals -- lawyers, doctors, and dentists -- but oppose higher education? Why do Amish youth rebel in their teenage years? Are the Amish freeloading on American life? Are the Amish behind or ahead of the modern world?

Genres: Amish, Nonfiction

126 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Sasha Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and very interesting read, going through eighteen features of Amish life that may seem puzzling or contradictory to outsiders and explaining how they make sense in their own context. It manages a lot more depth than I was expecting in 112 pages.

[Amanda Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy short read. Gives a great overview of many Amish traditions.

[Bridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short read but really informative! I generally love niche books like this so this one was a good read. a bit slow sometimes but worth a read if the amish interest you

[Katrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very informative, but really boring. I skimmed the last half of the book just to finish it. I don’t know what I expected though hahaha

2/5 stars

[Matthew]

A nice, relatively quick read, discussing the reasoning and, to a lesser extent, the historical justifications behind several details of modern Amish life, a phrase I use with more than a little irony.

The big useful take-away for me was the epiphany that the Amish are NOT anti-technology. Nor are they claiming certain banned technologies are SINS. They are asserting that ANY technology that threatens the family unity, the community of the Amish, is a technology to be avoided at all costs.

So a telephone is not bad. Gossip and separation of people by remote communications...rather than face to face...is what's bad.

Having felt varying degrees of burnout living near DC, I gotta admit there's something very compelling about the Amish example. I'm not planning to grow a mustache-less beard or raise a barn with 30 other people, but I sure think these guys have their head screwed on way better than a massive chunk of the rest of this nation.

[Jennifer Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so glad I was not born into the Amish cult! Loads of hard work, ridiculous rules and really ugly clothes. They do bake up some fine pies, there would be good eats all the time, but unfortunately as one of the "women folk" it would involve hours of me slaving over a hot stove. Wait, I do that now, cooking for the hoards of teenagers that are here. At least I get to wear hot fashions. Seriously, the Amish who are so determined to be not proud are awfully presumptuous if they think they are so important that God is going to notice if they have buttons or drive a car. If that were really the criterea for admission into heaven all the hobos at the library would be ushered right in. There are no buttons on sweat pants and they don't own cars so HA!

[Gaile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amish beliefs are based strongly on family and community ties. Having escaped persecution in Europe, they have strive in North America largely by compromising as new technology developed. They will borrow parts of it while largely keeping out those that might threaten their way of life. They see phones, T.V. and air travel as interfering in family interaction so they are banned.
This book explains all the puzzles of Amish life as to why they put phone booths down the lane well away from their homes, mount modern tractors on mowers or hay rakes so they can still be drawn by horses, use gas or battery run engines and so on.
This is interesting reading and takes only a few hours to go through.

[Tanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a high school student, I wrote a paper on the Amish and have always admired them and their way of life.
Recently we meet some Amish families and it rekindled my interest.
This is a very short and simple book. It does an excellent joy of explaining what can seem to outsiders as dichotomies: they use batteries but not 110 current from power lines as an example.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

We live near some Amish farms and I have been very curious about them as a lot of what I thought they believed in has turned out to be wrong. This book has set me straight on a lot of things about these curious people.

[Marsha Ronquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting reading

I live in southwest lower Michigan about sixty miles from the Indiana border. There is a large Amish community there. A very large flea market and many things to see and do.

[Kati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting. I didn't read this word for word, but rather skimmed through, reading the parts that interested me.

[Laurie Furness · Rating 3 out of 5]

very interesting answers alot of questions regarding Amish life and their life choices

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fast read full of basic information on the Amish lifestyle. I liked it well enough, but I found it to be a bit repetitive.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This didactic book was not particularly interesting but it was informative. I thought it was worth the read.