The Amish of Lancaster County

by Donald B. Kraybill

More than 8.5 million people visit Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, every year to experience the culture of the oldest Amish community in the world. This book by the leading scholar of the Amish explains the uncommon lifestyle of these simple-living people who intrigue so many visitors. Mini essays on all aspects of Amish life, from dress and spirituality to horse-and-buggy transport, are accompanied by beautiful full-color photographs. The author also discusses myths about the Amish, their selective use of technology, the current media attention to Rumspringa, and the tragedy at the Nickel Mines school.

Genres: Amish, Nonfiction, Ebooks

120 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

Reviews

[Warwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having gone over to the US for a wedding in Luray, Virginia, Hannah and I decided to extend our stay by booking a week, almost at random, on a farm in rural Pennsylvania. It turned out to be a beautiful eighteenth-century cottage predating the Declaration of Independence, and lying in the heart of Amish country – low, slightly hilly land, spread with vast fields of corn, yellow wheat, green soybeans, occasional tobacco, grain silos poking up on the horizon, covered wooden bridges and horse-drawn buggies on the backroads, white-tailed deer darting across the highway in nervous groups, turkey vultures circling overhead, chow-chow and shoofly pie chalked up on the wall of every roadside diner we passed.

Having done none of our usual pre-trip research (forward planning nowadays basically doesn't extend much further than working out how to keep two small kids occupied on a nine-hour flight), we were completely taken aback when we realised that not only could we follow overheard conversations in the Pennsylvania German used by Old Order Amish families, but that it sounded exactly like the Swiss German we've been trying to learn at home. This turned out to be for the very good reason that the Amish who originally settled here were Swiss – indeed, in that particular area, many came from the small towns along the south shore of Lake Zurich where we now live. Even the local surnames were the same as those familiar to us at home. It was incredible.

I had somehow not known that the Amish are really Swiss Anabaptists in all but name (a name that is itself taken from Jakob Ammann, who was from near Berne). Along with half of Europe's persecuted religious minorities, the early Amish and other Mennonites headed across the Atlantic when William Penn announced that he'd be allowing complete freedom of religion throughout his territory (monotheists only, terms and conditions may apply).

Although this book warns against the idea that Amish society is a kind of frozen museum, it's hard not to escape the tempting conclusion that when you look at these farmsteads you're seeing a snapshot of Swiss community life from the early 1700s. It's a lifestyle that has managed to preserve its essentials remarkably well, and despite early predictions that it would soon die out, the number of Amish has risen steadily, thanks mainly to the huge birth rate – Kraybill notes that among the Amish, it's not unusual for someone to have more than seventy-five first cousins, and many grandmothers have more than fifty grandchildren. This makes for a very sociable, community-oriented life, and I must say, ill-informed and over-romantic though I am, as I drive around the area the Amish way of life does not seem unappealing. (Now I just have to do some more much-needed reading on the Swiss Reformation….)

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, thorough, and well-organized primer on the Amish community of Lancaster County. Beautiful photographs and helpful information. Even though I have grown up and lived in this area my whole life with Amish neighbors, I learned things from this book. I highly recommend this book as a quick read and thorough introduction to the Amish if you are interested in learning more or visiting Lancaster County. I intend on using this book in my English as a Second Language classes at the high school level with scaffolding from me to make some of the academic language easier for my learners.

[Erica Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely informative. I'm doing research for an upcoming novel and this book proved to be unbelievably helpful

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this on my kindle e-reader. I remember when my parents had a place on a lake in Michigan. It was in Montcalm county.this was my first encounter with the Amish. there was a population of Amish families there. I had read there is a big population of Amish people in Pennsylvania.this was a very interesting and educational book about the Amish and how they live.
It covers many aspects and traditions the Amish follow. there are many different sects of the Amish and each one has it's rules and laws they follow some being more strict than others. I found this very helpful to learn more about this religious group. For example, if a person decides to go against the laws and rules they can be shunned by the other Amish, they can ride in cars but cannot drive them. they still go without electricity and go by battery driven power and other modes such as horses, and other non electricity. the children attend school in one room schools and there are many peppered though out the community. and they only go to school through out eighth grade.
they do not have their pictures taken because it is vain. they do pay taxes but do not pay or participate in social security. they band together and help each other whether it is building a house, barn. funerals etc. I could go on about more facts. but just would like to say I learned some more about the Amish. I had nice memories of the years when we had a lake house and was surrounded by the Amish community one family who lived on a farm house on the lake. remember them riding in their horse drawn carriage, seeing them at flea markets selling their baked goods. I always found them peaceful and interesting people. Glad I got the chance to read more about them.

[Tommy Kiedis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a Lancaster County newbie, having made my way to this beautiful land from the beaches of South Florida. Horse and buggy, demure clothing, sheets and shirts clinging to a clothesline, turning up God's good earth by means of horse-drawn plow are all about as common to me as a lifeguard stand in front of Central Market. So thanks, Donald Kraybill. Your book, The Amash of Lancaster Country was a wonderful primer for better understanding and appreciating my new neighbors, the Amish. You have helped me take a few steps along the path that winds from casual curiosity to cultural competency. I am grateful.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book debunks myths and common misconceptions of the Amish and explains the Amish culture in a factual manner complete with beautiful color photographs.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing, realistic view of the Lancaster Amish.

[library lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a rather in depth look at the Amish people, their culture and their way of living, this book will seem very shallow. Although there is nothing wrong with it beside the fact that it simply doesn't dig deep enough. It also, as the title suggests, focuses on the Amish in Lancaster County specifically and therefore has a rather narrow view.

If you want a heartier read I suggest THE RIDDLE OF AMISH CULTURE by the same author. It is much more thorough and if you are interested enough to put in the time to read a book about the Amish people, why not go all the way?

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good, but it was very basic.

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging look at the Amish, but not a great deal of new information.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read as we will be visiting Lancaster, PA sometime later this year.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

An accessible if somewhat simplistic description of Amish life. A good starting point for delving into more in-depth studies of this religious community.