The People Called Shakers

Some of the information here has been reinterpreted over time. But readers seeking to understand the spirituality of the Shakers would do well to begin here, and experience the Andrews' genuine enthusiasm for their subject, and then follow with other readings by contemporary authors.

The Shakers were a religious group founded in England and transplanted to America in Colonial Times. Their aim was to live a "simple" life. They founded numerous villages throughout New England, where they shared a communal existence based on farming, carpentry, and furniture-making. Today the Shakers are virtually extinct but they are best-remembered for their distinctive furniture.Edward D. Andrews was an authority on the Shakers and he wrote several books on these fascinating people. This one is a good place to start your study. Then move into his "Work & Worship Among the Shakers," before getting into books by other authors on the subject.Deming tells the interesting story of the Shakers, and makes you wish there were still some Shaker villages to visit. But alas, they're all gone, victims of the Modern World! Deming's books are the next best thing!