I recently read a book I’d been looking forward to for a long time. An Amish Paradox: Diversity and Change in the World’s Largest Amish Community is an in-depth look at the Amish settlement at Holmes County, Ohio, and one of the most interesting books on the Amish I have read. In Ohio last month […]
Continue Reading An interview with “An Amish Paradox” authors Charles Hurst and David McConnell
This sounds like an interesting read!
Great post! The idea of conservatism and liberalism within a religious community that many of us English would consider to be a conservative group is fascinating. It is always interesting to see how the Amish deal with their decisions to embrace or not embrace new technology. If I don’t win a copy of this book, I will definitely have to go shopping for it soon.
That sounds like a good book. They chose a good cover for it.
Interesting interview. I was not aware at all of the scholars attending public schools, I also was under the assumption most attended parochial. I like that the authors are striving to be honest (warts and all) I look forward to reading this book
I have gotten to know many Amish families near my home in central Wisconsin, and I can’t imagine the difficulities they face when working in a culture that only thinks of progress at any cost. We need to embrace their back to the land culture, and strong religious commitment, then I think our families and communities would benifit, and so would our planet!
The book sounds fascinating!
I, too, am looking forward to reading the book. I have many connections, both familial and professional, to Amish of all stripes, and have long realized that placing them all on the same continuum is difficult.
It sounds like the authors were thorough in their research and presentation. I can’t wait to read it!
Sounds like a very interesting book, would love to read it!!
I was born and raised Andy Weaver style in Holmes County. I am reading the book and greatly appreciate the writers for not lifting up nor putting the Amish down a few notches. Nor have I found a single statement that is not true.
I am anxious to buy this book. Sounds great.
Sounds like something I’ll need to add to my Amish library!
Sounds like a very interesting book.
Living in an Amish community, and having an Amish ancestry, this sounds like an intriguing book!
I have read so many books on the Amish and their simple way of life. I am truly looking forward to your book. I know some of the different orders of the Amish and I am anxious to read your views and gain more knowledge on the Amish way of living.
I am very interested in this book, because I have several relatives in Ohio who have driven taxi for the Amish near Huntsburg, Ohio. I also taught with former Amish at a Christian school here in Florida.
Enjoyed the interview and look forward to reading the book!
I am very intrigued by the Amish culture and would love to get a chance to read this book!
I love everything Amish and would love a chance at this book! Thanks!
I would love to read and win this book. We visit Lancaster each fall, from Ontario, and this year are going to expand our visiting of the Amish Communities in Holmes County, Ohio, in July.
My husband and his family are from Holmes County, much of his family still live there. I look forward to visiting them every year.
I love the Amish, such wonderful people, I will purchase this book as soon as I can. If I don’t win it. I love anything to do with the Amish, especially the communities in Holmes County.
love everything Amish….can’t read enough….fast enough
Fascinating stuff! Their divisions are similar to the differences among the Protestant denominations. Please enter me in the drawing for the book.
I really enjoyed your interview. I look forward to reading your book. Please enter me in the drawing.
Having just returned from northern Indiana, I was surprised to learn that many around Shipshewana also attend public schools. Certainly there are many differences between communities, and even within the larger ones.
As a avid Amish reader, I read anything I can get my hands on as well as gather as much information about this culture that I can. I look forward to reading this book. Sounds like a wonderful read for someone like me.
From one who is an admirer of the Amish work ethic, this book sounds very interesting. Thanks for posting the interview.
I am excited about this book. The authors address issues I have pondered related especially to Holmes County for a long time. I look forward to reading what they’ve learned.
Sounds like a good book!
Thank you for sharing this! Interesting and thought provoking, I’ve read about the Amish culture for years and am continually finding new info. Thank you also for the opportunity to win the book. It looks wonderful.
Very good article and the book sounds very interesting. Please enter me in the contest.
I’d like to enter the contest as well. I have entered your blog in my blogroll. As a graduate (1962) of the College of Wooster, I have already read OUR AMISH NEIGHBORS by Dr. Schreiber, a professor of German at the College of Wooster over forty years ago.
Sounds like a very interesting book – I would love to win a copy!
Just entering the contest (and the cover photo is great).
I’m glad they wrote this. Your blog and other recent articles go a long way to changing the perception of the Amish as a tourist attraction into people with deeply held beliefs and practices who are trying very hard to maintain them in an increasingly anonymous world. I look forward to reading it.
Love to win the book!
I would love an opportunity to read this book. Thanks for the enlightening interview. I am going to post something about this on my facebook too.
I wiuld love to read this book, sounds very interesting!
Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Never knew such diversity among the Amish culture! Hope I can win the book—would love to read more. Thanks for sharing through the interview.
Sounds like a great book. I was born in Lancaster County in PA so I have great interest in the Amish. Hope I win the book.
After reading Kraybill’s book, I look forward to adding this one to my collection as well.
Sounds like a great book. I would love to win a copy.
From this interview, it sounds like the authors offer a very nuanced analysis of this particular settlement, which makes it especially interesting to me. Thank you so much for introducing us to them and to the book. Having grown up Mennonite in central Indiana, with Amish relatives in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and beyond, I’d really love to read it!
I so hope to win this book and add it to my bookshelf. I live in upstate New York and we have at least 4 settlements of Amish in the Mohawk Valley area. They are wonderful people.
Put me in on the drawing. 🙂 Saw this book yesterday over at Muddy Creek Farm Library near Hinkletown, Pa. but didnt pay too much attention to it.
I’d be interested in knowing if Charles Hurst and David McConnell have done any sort of social network analysis among the Amish to see if the change from agriculture to capital-intensive entrepreneurship is making the communities less egalitarian and more hierarchical. It is something that has happened throughout history to communities who’ve made that change, going back at least as far as ancient Greece.
If they haven’t done that kind of study themselves, has anyone else?
I find the Amish so intriguing and would love a copy of the book, if not free then it i will definately be purchasing it!
The life of simplicity is definitely attractive. I could use some of their wisdom. Thanks!
I’d love to read this book. The title is so true living among them they are a paradox! I’d love to understand them more. I look forward to the great read this summer!
Sounds like I book I need to read. I look forward to the second part of the interview.