So I wanted to find a good, easy to understand book about the Amish people, and how they came about. I flipped through "A History of the Amish" by Steven M. Nolt and felt that this would be the one to pick up. It is a well written 300 plus pages with a cover price of $9.95! You get a lot for your money with this one too!
It IS a 300 page history on the Amish, so keep that in mind. Its not exactly perfect casual reading for the weekend, but if you know a little about the Amish, and want to learn more of their history, this is the perfect book. Also, for a book on a group's history, this is far from a dull, dry read. Nolt's writing style has a very nice, easy to follow flow to it.
He covers the very start of the movement several centuries ago, explaining how it grew out of and away from the main religion of the time. He covers the various splits that have occurred. He talks about how some splinter groups have reconnected with other groups as time passes. The author discusses how some groups have moved into certain areas and have become heavily associated with those geographic spots.
Nolt also gives interesting details about many of the concepts that I think most of us associate with the Amish. He covers the age of baptism, shunning, clothes, being non-violent, use of machinery and modern technology, military drafts, etc. If you have ever been curious about why certain groups of Amish are very serious about these things (while others may not be as concerned) Steven M. Nolt explains it.
He also gets into the perception of the Amish in popular culture. Movies and news headlines have affected how the group is viewed by outsiders. Books have romanticized their life style. He does a great job of explained how the whole Amish tourism started and continues.
I really enjoyed reading Steven M. Nolt's complete, and easy to read book about the Amish, and I do give it my highest possible recommendation.
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