Brad Igou

Brad Igou collected writings from Amish publications on such topics as Amish history, marriage and family, work, church, discipline (especially church discipline), clothing, aging and death, and war and peace. While many people think they know what Amish believe, this book shares their beliefs in their own words. While I enjoyed the book, coverage was uneven. Some topics such as rumspringa which interest the "English" barely received treatment. I would have enjoyed more perspectives from nineteenth century Amish life, but I really do not know if the same type periodical literature or even diaries and letters survive that would allow the Amish to share their story from that era. I received an advance copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.… (mer)

“Amish Voices” is a compilation of articles from the publication Family Life. This publication is intended for Amish and Mennonite families; the article are written by members of those communities. The author’s intent is to publish information for non-Amish readers, to help them understand more fully and accurately the basic ideas of the Amish traditions, culture, history, and religion.

I read a lot of books about Amish people, and have lived in communities with them, and yet I was able to learn new information from this book. It is quite informative for those who are not acquainted with the Amish people. I liked hearing about these people “in their own words.”

I can appreciate that they want to retain their own traditions and remain committed to their beliefs and way of life, just as we all do. However, I found some of the perceptions of non-Amish people, as expressed in these writings, to be judgmental and stereotypical. Not all non-Amish people hold the same views, nor do we all behave in the same ways, yet we are all painted with the same brush of negativism, materialism, and inappropriate behavior. This is a disappointing aspect of this book. I wish the book included a more balanced viewpoint. Surely there were some other articles in the 25 years of archives for this publication, in which non-Amish people were portrayed in a more positive light. However, this is still worth reading for the information and answers to some questions about the Amish, and as a foil to the “Amish reality” shows on TV.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.… (mer)