Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish
by Tom Shachtman
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Book Summary Information
Author: Tom ShachtmanEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2007-05-29
ISBN: 0865477426
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: North Point Press
Book Reviews of Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish
Book Review: Bashing the Amish
Summary: 1 Stars
The failings of this book can only be dealt with in a review that would have a word count far exceeding the word count of the book itself, so instead I will briefly touch on several points:
1) The majority of this book does not deal with the practice of rumspringa, rather after a few chapters it degenerates into a general critique of of Amish society.
2) The author has a clear agenda and is quite crass at times in his critiques, being particularly vitriolic when it comes to the supposedly low level of education that Amish children receive.
3) When the author does discuss rumspringa, the majority of the time he deals with the vast minority of Amish youth who enter the "English" world and become engaged in partying, drugs and promiscuity. For most Amish youth, rumspringa is still something quite tame. But I guess sensationalism is the whole point, here, right? That's what sells books.
4) The author is convinced that secular society is superior to that of the Amish, and the author continually suggests or implies that it would be best if the Amish adapt themselves more to the world around them. In fact, at one point, he asserts that _will_ eventually be assimilated, and needless to say one can imagine he wrote that with much glee.
5) Yet, despite his continual critques of the Amish, he does admit that the Amish have many characteristics that that are enviable: stable families, hard working, committed to stewardship of the land and quality craftsmenship, honesty, integrity, etc.
6) It would seem that in the end that the author disapproves of the Amish because they are Christian, so-called "fundamentalist" Christians who try to live their lives according to Christ's teachings, rather than simply abiding by them when it's convenient, as most "Christians" do.
7) This book would not have been published had it been written about other minority or religious groups. The Amish are a particularly easy target because they are Christian, insular, non-violent, easily recognized, and, most of all, successful. Despite persecution and outside pressures, they have as distinct society which succeeds in maintaining an agricultural lifestyle in a rapidly modernizing world.
8) In the end, what's most sad about this book is the fact that the author clearly knows that he can spout off about the Amish without fear any consequences or recrimination.
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