A History of the Amish

Third Edition

By: Steven M. Nolt

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

The Amish, one of America's most intriguingly private, unique, and often misunderstood religious communities, have survived for 300 years! How has that happened? While much has been written on the Amish, little has been revealed about their history. This book brings together in one volume a thorough history of the Amish people. From their beginnings in Europe through their settlement in North America, the Amish have struggled to maintain their beliefs and traditions in often hostile settings.

Now updated, the book gives an in-depth look at how the modern Amish church continues to grow and change. It covers recent developments in new Amish settlements, the community's conflict and negotiation with government, the Nickel Mines school shooting, and the media's constant fascination with this religious people, from reality TV shows to romance novels. Authoritative, thorough, and interestingly written, A History of the Amish presents the deep and rich heritage of the Amish people with updated statistics.

©2015 Good Books, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Great

Easy to listen to and very informative. A must read for anyone seeking a better understanding of the Amish.

Very interesting

A great history book about a fascinating group of people. Great background. I learned a lot.

A Few Dry Spots, but Mostly Attention Keeping

I've been interested in the Amish in a more real sense than many people who get tickled by Amish romance novels or other works of fiction depicting them. I am on the more sociological, and historical interest. This book is a very thorough work of the Amish, without getting lost in the weeds as it were. It is well said, and not just names, dates, locations, and dry depictions of events.

The ending feels abrupt instead of conclusive. The very end was talking about splits and where the Amish are now, but no conclusion outside maybe a quote from an Amish person. That was bizarre, but not all a hurdle that somehow ruins the whole work.

When the 1800s and early 1900s splits are talked about, I do feel like the Amish-Mennonites, and Beachy Amish were given quite the thorough-going over until finally when one hears at the end of a chapter, "the growth and continuation of the Old Order Amish took a different route," one finally realizes they're getting around to this branch which I think is what most people think of when they hear "Amish." Even so, we can't discredit that the author is looking over all the Amish peoples of the day.

I'm really hoping for Kraybill and co.'s work The Amish to come on Audible. But this book, and Kraybill's The Amish Way and Amish Forgiveness make for a good triad of works on Audible to listen to.