Plain Answers & Topics Cover in the Book
Learning about Amish Life
Bibliography
BUILDING THE BOOK
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Plain Answers
Plain Answers About the Amish Life is available wherever books are sold. Autographed copies are available here.
Topics Covered in the Book
Plain Answers About the Amish Life is presented in a question and answer format and is organized as follows:
Part One: Foundation
Defining the Amish
Beliefs
Community
Separation
Nonresistance
Organization
Leadership
Worship
Rules
Shunning
History
Expansion
Part Two: Lifestyle
Amish Life
Food
Health
Clothing and Grooming
Language
Technology
Transportation
Occupations
Celebrations, Vacations, and Entertainment
Part Three: Passages
Childhood, Family, and Old Age
School
Rumspringa
Baptism
Courtship and Marriage
Death
Part Four: Outside World
Us and Them
Tourism and the Media
Tragedy and Forgiveness
Why Are They Amish?
What Can the Amish Teach Us?
Part Five: Supplemental Material
Myths Versus Facts
Biblical References for Amish Beliefs and Practices
Bibliography
Resources
Index
Learning About Amish Life
Plain Answers About the Amish Life could not exist without the kind Amish folks who welcomed Mindy and her husband John into their homes, answered questions, aided research, helped in countless other ways, and even provided feedback and guidance on the finished manuscript.
Special thanks are also due to...
...Erik Wesner of www.AmishAmerica.com. Erik's input and connections were invaluable on this project. If you enjoy learning about the Amish, you'll simply love his blog! You might also check out his book Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive
Erik Wesner
...Dave Siegrist of the Mennonite Information Center, who provided an enormous amount of information and insight into Amish life.
The Mennonite Information Center
in Lancaster, PA.
Dave Siegrist demonstrates how to open
the front windshield of an Amish buggy
...Steve and Jamie Shane of the Apple Bin Inn, who facilitated interviews, meetings, and meals with the Amish for Mindy's research. Mindy highly recommends the Apple Bin Inn: Not only is the place lovely, but Steve is the perfect host/guide and Jamie makes the best stuffed French toast on the planet!
Bibliography for Plain Answers About the Amish Life
Much of the information in Plain Answers About the Amish Life was gleaned from personal interviews, private tours, and the following sources:
Books
C. Arnold Snyder, Anabaptist History and Theology: An Introduction (Kitchener, ON: Pandora Press, 1995).
David Weaver-Zercher, The Amish in the American Imagination (Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University Press, 2001). The Amish in the American Imagination
David Weaver-Zercher and Diane Zimmerman Umble, eds., The Amish and the Media (Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University Press, 2008). The Amish and the Media
Donald B. Kraybill, ed., The Amish and the State, 2nd ed. (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003). The Amish and the State
Donald B. Kraybill, The Amish of Lancaster County (Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2008). The Amish of Lancaster County
Donald B. Kraybill, The Puzzles of Amish Life, rev. ed. (Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 1998). The Puzzles of Amish Life
Donald B. Kraybill, The Riddle of Amish Culture, 2nd ed. (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001). [The Riddle of Amish Culture
Donald B. Kraybill and Steven M. Nolt, Amish Enterprise: From Plows to Profits, 2nd ed. (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004).
Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher, Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2007). Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy
Donald B. Kraybill and Carl Desportes Bowman, On the Backroads to Heaven: Old Order Hutterites, Mennonites, Amish, and Brethren (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002). On the Backroad to Heaven: Old Order Hutterites, Mennonites, Amish, and Brethren
Eugene S. Stine, Pennsylvania German Dictionary (Birdsboro, PA: The Pennsylvania German Society, 1996).
Gail Keffer, Amish Paper Dolls (New Wilmington, PA: Americana, 1996).
Harvey Yoder, The Happening (Berlin, OH: TGS International, 2008). The Happening—Nickel Mines School Tragedy
Joe Wittmer, The Gentle People: An Inside View of Amish Life (Washington, IN: Black Buggy, 2007). The Gentle People: An Inside View of Amish Life
John A. Hostetler, Amish Life (Scotdale, PA: Herald Press, 1983).
John A. Hostetler, Amish Society, 4th ed. (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993). Amish Society
John A. Hostetler and Gertrude En10ders Huntington, Amish Children: Education in the Family, School, and Community, 2nd ed. (New York, NY: Harcourt Brace and Jovanovich, 1992). Amish Children: Education in the Family, School, and Community (Case Studies in Cultural Anthropology)
Karen Johnson-Weiner, Train Up a Child: Old Order Amish and Mennonite Schools (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007). Train Up a Child: Old Order Amish and Mennonite Schools
Kate Burridge and Werner Enninger, eds., Diachronic Studies on the Languages of the Anabaptists (Bochum : N. Brockmeyer, 1992).
Leonard Plotnicov, American Culture: Essays on the Familiar and Unfamiliar (Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1990).
Lucy Hanley, The Amish in Words and Pictures (Gettysburg, PA: Americana Souvenirs and Gifts).
Mark W. Dewalt, Amish Education in the United States and Canada (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Education, 2006). Amish Education in the United States and Canada
The Mennonite Encyclopedia, 5 vols. (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1955-90).
Merle Good and Phyllis Good, 20 Most Asked Questions about the Amish and Mennonites, rev. ed. (Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 1995). 20 Most Asked Questions About the Amish & Mennonites
Nina Berend and Elisabeth Knipf-Komlsi, eds., Sprachinselwelten: The World of Language Islands (Frankurt, Germany: Peter Lang Publishing, 2006).
Richard Stevik, Growing Up Amish, (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007). Growing Up Amish: The Teenage Years
Sara E. Fisher and Rachel K. Stahl, The Amish School (Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 1997). The Amish School
Stephen M. Scott, Amish Houses & Barns, rev. ed. (Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2001). Amish Houses And Barns
Stephen M. Scott, The Amish Wedding and Other Special Occasions of the Old Order Communities (Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 1988). Amish Wedding and Other Special Occasions
Stephen M. Scott, Plain Buggies: Amish, Mennonite and Brethren Horse-Drawn Transportation, rev. ed. (Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 1998). Plain Buggies
Stephen M. Scott, Why Do They Dress That Way? rev. ed. (Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 1997). Why Do They Dress That Way?
Stephen Scott and Kenneth Pellman, Living Without Electricity, rev. ed. (Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 1999) Living Without Electricity
Steven M. Nolt, A History of the Amish, rev. ed. (Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2003). A History Of The Amish
Steven M. Nolt and Thomas J. Meyers, Plain Diversity: Amish Cultures and Identities (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007). Plain Diversity: Amish Cultures and Identities
T.J. Redcay, The Old Order Amish in Plain Words and Pictures (Gettysburg, PA: Americana Souvenirs & Gifts, 2000).
Tom Shachtman, Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish (New York, NY: North Point Press, 2006). Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish
Victor McKusick, Medical Genetic Studies of the Amish: Selected Papers, Assembled with Commentary (Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, 1978). Medical Genetic Studies of the Amish: Selected Papers
Articles
A Very Brief Introduction to the Pennsylvania German Language,The Pennsylvania German Society.
American Languages: Our Nation's Many Voices Online Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures.
Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, Amish Migration Trends 1992-2007 and 2002-2007.
"Quilting," The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, 2007.
Andrea Sachs, Amish Romance Novels: No Bonnet Rippers. Time, April 27, 2009.
Brad Igou, Back to School: Amish Style. Amish Country News.
Chris Armstrong, Christian History Corner: The Amish Come Knocking, Christianity Today, July, 2004.
Damien McElroy, Amish killer's widow thanks families of victims for forgiveness.
Eric Gorsky,Christian fiction: Buggies to vampires, Portland Press Herald, July 18, 2009.
Glenn Rifkin, The Amish Flock From Farms to Small Businesses, New York Times, January 7, 2009.
Jeff Jacoby, Undeserved forgiveness, Boston Globe, October 8, 2006.
Lawrence P. Greksa and Jill E. Korbin, Key Decisions in the Lives of the Old Order Amish: Joining the Church and Migrating to Another Settlement, Mennonite Quarterly Review, 76, no. 4 (July 2002).
Marlow Ediger, "Examining the Merits of Old Order Amish Education," Education, Vol. 117, 1997.
Megan Manni and The Associated Press, Gunman Reportedly Bent on 'Revenge' Kills Girls, Self at Amish School.
Sasha Issenberg, "The Simplest Life: Why Americans Romanticize the Amish," Washington Monthly, Vol. 36, October 2004.
Stephen Scott, Amish Migration Trends 1992-2007 and 2002-2007.
Thomas J. Meyers, Amish, Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.
Thomas J. Meyers, "The Old Order Amish: To Remain in the Faith or to Leave," Mennonite Quarterly Review, 68, no. 3 (July 1994).
Amish, in Webster's New World College Dictionary, Wiley Publishing, Inc., (Cleveland, Ohio: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2005).
Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA.
Films
A Train Ride Through Amish Country, EIV Productions, 1995. VHS.
Amish Values & Virtues: Plain & Simple, EIV Productions, 1994. 60 minutes, VHS.
An Amish Barn Raising, EIV Productions, 1994. VHS.
An Amish Country Adventure: Exploring the Back Roads of Holmes County, EIV Productions, 1994. 80 minutes, VHS.
Jerry Erwin, Who Are the Amish? The People's Place, 30 minutes, theatrical viewing.
Lucy Walker, The Devil's Playground, Wellspring, 2003. 77 minutes, DVD. Devil's Playground
Ohio, Bennett-Watt Media, 2004. 60 minutes, DVD.
Blog
Erik Wesner, www.AmishAmerica.com.
Accommodations & Facilitation
The Apple Bin Inn, Willow Street, PA
Mindy at the wrong end of some cows!
