Amish People: Plain Living in a Complex World

by Carolyn Meyer

Depicts the work, recreation, customs, beliefs, and dreams of young and old in a hypothetical Amish family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Genres: Amish

138 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Carolyn Meyer is as versatile a writer as you will find. Along with historical fiction and realistic novels for young adults she has written nonfiction for young adults and books for younger readers on topics as diverse as the Amish, the Irish, Japanese, Yup'ik Eskimos, a rock band, rock tumbling, bread baking, and coconuts. And ten of her books have been chosen as Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. In her most recent historical novels she has dealt with the young lives of Mary Tudor, Princess Elizabeth, Anastasia, and Isabel of Castilla, Spain.

Reviews

[Sophie Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super interesting book - learnt lots about the Amish way of life

[jimtown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although fictionalized, this journey with Samuel shows us many of the finer, less known customs of Amish living. Samuel dreams of owning a car and going out into the world but the pressures of the ordnung weigh heavily on his mind. We meet his family and neighbors and tag along to learn of the customs and requirements of being Amish.

Most of the book was pretty interesting, there was a bit in the middle where my attention lagged but it gave a more clear look at Amish life. It seemed not all that bad. I liked how their days seemed so filled, even when it was just work, eating, singing and to bed.

Not only do the Amish not want automobiles and electricity, they don't want ties with any 'Englisch' companies or people. They don't want to depend on anyone but themselves for living. The story shows how they have adapted as well as they can to living in the modern world. One of the things that was a surprise was how innovative they have become, finding ways of getting around the no telephone rule and yet still running a business, keeping their milking operations up to standards without using electricity.

We learn of the allowances made for young people before baptism, how much pressure is on the Amish to follow the ordnung and how it is enforced. We see a wedding, a funeral, a barn raising. There are a few photographs throughout the book, nothing really spectacular but just as a part of showing rather than telling in some parts.

I found it interesting to note that the author wrote this book mostly on research reading of two other books. Enjoyable trip, better than the tourist version.