A Quiet Moment in Time: A Contemporary View of Amish Society

The authors present this book as a preparatory guide for those wishing to make the most of a visit to Amish settlements. They succeed admirably. In a mere 131 pages of very readable text (plus recipes) they present the history, faith and life style of the Amish, with an emphasis on understanding their values. Many books centre on the Lancaster County (PA) Amish. This book centres on the Amish of Ohio, which has the most Amish of any state, without forgetting the other regions. This is not a guide detailing the specific sites of interest, however it does offer very useful information for the serious tourist. For example, if the store sign says ÒAmishÓ you can be sure the operator is not Amish. The book also reminds us that the details of Amish clothing and practice vary somewhat from district to district, thus avoiding the error of oversimplification often found in other books.Those looking for a picture book should look elsewhere. The pictures (b/w) are interesting and useful, but often not of exceptional quality (the cover photos are excellent). With respect to the Amish sensitivity, there are no facial close-ups of Amish people. Perhaps this is another indication as to how serious tourists should behave as well.Despite the easy read, there is a surprising amount of information in this book. The authors obviously know their sociology and the Amish but, thankfully, the book remains a guide for the general public and not a sociological study.I am a Roman Catholic priest in rural TŽmiscamingue (N-W QuŽbec, Canada) with a particular interest in community. I cannot pretend any direct contact with the Amish though I have shared with a Mennonite group. Other authors I would recommend : John A Hostetler and Randy-Michael Testa as well as Menno Simons for the founding theology.