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50 reviews for:
Almost Amish: One Woman's Quest for a Slower, Simpler, More Sustainable Life
Nancy Sleeth
3.09 AVERAGE
50 reviews for:
Almost Amish: One Woman's Quest for a Slower, Simpler, More Sustainable Life
Nancy Sleeth
3.09 AVERAGE
slow-paced
I liked this. I really liked it until she just had to slip in how great it is to maintain traditional gender roles. But the simplicity and Amish bent still made it worth it.
Ah, the lure of the Amish. For whatever reason, the Amish way of life evokes feelings of simplicity, peace and perfection. When we moved to this area of Pennsylvania four years ago, I was intrigued by the Amish. I read lots of Amish fiction and rushed to the window every time I heard the sounds of a horse and buggy.
Nancy Sleeth draws on this fascination with the Amish for her book Almost Amish: One woman's quest for a slower, simpler, more sustainable life. I, too, long for simplicity and greater sustainability, so I was eager to read what the author had to say.
Sleeth's family had what they call a spiritual and environmental conversion about a decade ago. Not only did they align their lives with Christ, they significantly and drastically changed their lifestyle. They gave half their possessions away. They learned to live with less. They made caring for the earth their job.
In Almost Amish, Sleeth uses 10 Amish principles to offer ways the rest of us who aren't Amish can learn from their examples.
I really wanted to like this book, but by the second chapter -- on technology -- I was angry. And that attitude tainted the rest of the read for me. I think Sleeth has a lot to offer those of us who want a slower, saner, earth-friendlier life, and I look forward to adopting some changes in our home and life.
But I have two major issues with the book.
First, tone. Sleeth is a highly educated woman who also has been an educator. I can appreciate her passion for this topic, but I felt guilty more than inspired by her words. For each of the principles, she offers a practically perfect example of the life of someone she knows. So close to perfect, they almost don't seem real, and even though I trust that these are real people, I don't know if I'd want to hang out with them. They seemed unapproachable, and many of the principles, though practiced by Sleeth's family, seem unattainable by regular folks.
I often felt like Sleeth was talking down to readers. I don't know. Maybe it was just my interpretation.
Secondly, Sleeth seems to idolize the Amish, painting them as perfect examples of simplicity and living out God's intended way of life. Even the more controversial aspects of their culture, like shunning, she justifies as necessary discipline. I find it hard to believe that a woman with a master's degree education would say we all need to be like a group of people who don't educate their children past eighth grade.
In defense of families, Sleeth quotes these statistics about the Amish: "the divorce rate is less than 1 percent, illegitimate births are nearly unheard of and the suicide rate is less than half the American average." That all sounds good, but bear in mind, that's the stuff that's reported. I'm not saying Amish communities are dens of iniquity but let's not pretend that bad things don't happen to them, too. Those statistics made me wonder how many miserable Amish women were trapped in abusive marriages because divorce is rare or whether there were cases of rape or incest among the brethren.
The Young Center at Elizabethtown College, which Sleeth references in the book, provides a partial answer.
Q: Do the Amish have problems?
A: Yes. They are humans and, like all human societies, have their share of problems. Sometimes rebellious youth act out and abuse alcohol or use drugs. Some marriages turn sour. There are documented cases of incest and sexual abuse in some families. Although such problems do exist, there are no systematic studies to enable comparisons with other groups or mainstream society. In general, the Amish way of life provides many sources of satisfaction for most of its members.
Don't miss this point: "there are no systematic studies to enable comparisons with other groups or mainstream society." And a key word at the end: "most." I don't doubt that the Amish way of life is satisfying and fulfilling. For most people. And that emulating an Amish lifestyle might provide the same for some non-Amish. But they are not a utopian society nor are they perfect.
In the end, I think I'm mostly disappointed with this book, although it has given me some guidelines for simplifying my life.
Nancy Sleeth draws on this fascination with the Amish for her book Almost Amish: One woman's quest for a slower, simpler, more sustainable life. I, too, long for simplicity and greater sustainability, so I was eager to read what the author had to say.
Sleeth's family had what they call a spiritual and environmental conversion about a decade ago. Not only did they align their lives with Christ, they significantly and drastically changed their lifestyle. They gave half their possessions away. They learned to live with less. They made caring for the earth their job.
In Almost Amish, Sleeth uses 10 Amish principles to offer ways the rest of us who aren't Amish can learn from their examples.
I really wanted to like this book, but by the second chapter -- on technology -- I was angry. And that attitude tainted the rest of the read for me. I think Sleeth has a lot to offer those of us who want a slower, saner, earth-friendlier life, and I look forward to adopting some changes in our home and life.
But I have two major issues with the book.
First, tone. Sleeth is a highly educated woman who also has been an educator. I can appreciate her passion for this topic, but I felt guilty more than inspired by her words. For each of the principles, she offers a practically perfect example of the life of someone she knows. So close to perfect, they almost don't seem real, and even though I trust that these are real people, I don't know if I'd want to hang out with them. They seemed unapproachable, and many of the principles, though practiced by Sleeth's family, seem unattainable by regular folks.
I often felt like Sleeth was talking down to readers. I don't know. Maybe it was just my interpretation.
Secondly, Sleeth seems to idolize the Amish, painting them as perfect examples of simplicity and living out God's intended way of life. Even the more controversial aspects of their culture, like shunning, she justifies as necessary discipline. I find it hard to believe that a woman with a master's degree education would say we all need to be like a group of people who don't educate their children past eighth grade.
In defense of families, Sleeth quotes these statistics about the Amish: "the divorce rate is less than 1 percent, illegitimate births are nearly unheard of and the suicide rate is less than half the American average." That all sounds good, but bear in mind, that's the stuff that's reported. I'm not saying Amish communities are dens of iniquity but let's not pretend that bad things don't happen to them, too. Those statistics made me wonder how many miserable Amish women were trapped in abusive marriages because divorce is rare or whether there were cases of rape or incest among the brethren.
The Young Center at Elizabethtown College, which Sleeth references in the book, provides a partial answer.
Q: Do the Amish have problems?
A: Yes. They are humans and, like all human societies, have their share of problems. Sometimes rebellious youth act out and abuse alcohol or use drugs. Some marriages turn sour. There are documented cases of incest and sexual abuse in some families. Although such problems do exist, there are no systematic studies to enable comparisons with other groups or mainstream society. In general, the Amish way of life provides many sources of satisfaction for most of its members.
Don't miss this point: "there are no systematic studies to enable comparisons with other groups or mainstream society." And a key word at the end: "most." I don't doubt that the Amish way of life is satisfying and fulfilling. For most people. And that emulating an Amish lifestyle might provide the same for some non-Amish. But they are not a utopian society nor are they perfect.
In the end, I think I'm mostly disappointed with this book, although it has given me some guidelines for simplifying my life.
SOOOOO I got to within 20 pages (!) of finishing before finally giving up... it was the "Respect Gender Roles" section that got me. I read it, to be fair. It's boringly predictable bullshit: women should quit their careers to bear, birth, and care for children. Oh, and children need a man married to a woman as their parents, in order to grow up properly. But don't worry, Nancy makes sure to include the fact that part-time work can sometimes be appropriate for moms; full-time work can be resumed after children have reached adulthood; and of course, women should still be able to vote!!! OMG how generous.
Even before this gender nonsense, the book is self-righteous, irritatingly repetitive, and not well-organized. I picked it up because the subtitle makes it sound like my kind of nonfiction read: person attempts X (like The Year of Living Biblically, which is a much, MUCH better book). Also, I wanted/expected tips on living simply (ala lykke/minimalism/zero waste etc.). This disappointing book is just a weird list of things like finances, nature, faith, family, community, etc. that Nancy peppers with scripture and her own already-implemented, already-successful lived experience. Oh, also, I didn't learn much about the Amish and I wonder what they would think of this book.
Even before this gender nonsense, the book is self-righteous, irritatingly repetitive, and not well-organized. I picked it up because the subtitle makes it sound like my kind of nonfiction read: person attempts X (like The Year of Living Biblically, which is a much, MUCH better book). Also, I wanted/expected tips on living simply (ala lykke/minimalism/zero waste etc.). This disappointing book is just a weird list of things like finances, nature, faith, family, community, etc. that Nancy peppers with scripture and her own already-implemented, already-successful lived experience. Oh, also, I didn't learn much about the Amish and I wonder what they would think of this book.
I've read several similar books and though this one included great Scripture references, it wasn't my favorite.
A good introduction to simple living from a Christian perspective. Sleeth effectively demonstrates the interconnectedness of different aspects of life and offers specific ways to slow down and re-focus. I had two big issues with the book, but they were mostly on my end, rather than Sleeth's. #1 - Her tone and writing voice irked me. Too many stories about how perfect her children are and her stories of "struggle" didn't come across very difficult which made it sound like the Sleeth family transformation was easy peasy. That's a bid hard to relate to. #2 - I understand the "almost Amish" concept as a way to frame the book but it didn't resonate with me. It seemed somehow like Sleeth was co-opting Amish tradition to offer an "Amish-lite" life to readers who don't really care about understanding the tradition. However, I think that this was just my academic self balking at her haphazard and un-nuanced discussion of the Amish.
An excellent book for someone's first foray into simple living - I think i just got to it too late!
An excellent book for someone's first foray into simple living - I think i just got to it too late!
This book started off good, but I slowly lost interest along the way. it's definitely full of things that will make you think. Easy read.
Soooooo preachy. I don't know what I was expecting, with the Amish RIGHT IN THE TITLE. I just liked the cover photo.
As long as I skipped the super preachy parts, it was okay.
As long as I skipped the super preachy parts, it was okay.
I did not love this book and it was completely the author's fault and not the message she was trying to give. For the most part, every point she was trying to make-- I agreed with but it began to get very repetitive. She humble bragged about 10 times about how she shops local and she's helping the community. I'm all for shopping local, but it was repeated in almost every chapter.
My biggest gripe about the book is Nancy Sleeth's attitude. It comes off very condescending and egotistical, which is the opposite of what she was going for. I am happy for you because you got perfect angel children who didn't mind eating your homemade bread everyday (because I swear to God she talks about her bread constantly) and you're so lucky that your kids liked playing outside. Not everyone has the same lifestyle, but that doesn't make them a bad parent or a sinful person because of it.
Other gripe: There's not one interview with someone from the Amish or Mennonite community. I have no idea if any of their lifestyle choices and reasons for them are true as she describes them, but I'm left feeling like I have to believe it because she's went to more Amish gatherings than me.
Overall, the book is thought provoking and has some good suggestions of how to simplify your life but you have to read through her judgemental crap to get to it.
My biggest gripe about the book is Nancy Sleeth's attitude. It comes off very condescending and egotistical, which is the opposite of what she was going for. I am happy for you because you got perfect angel children who didn't mind eating your homemade bread everyday (because I swear to God she talks about her bread constantly) and you're so lucky that your kids liked playing outside. Not everyone has the same lifestyle, but that doesn't make them a bad parent or a sinful person because of it.
Other gripe: There's not one interview with someone from the Amish or Mennonite community. I have no idea if any of their lifestyle choices and reasons for them are true as she describes them, but I'm left feeling like I have to believe it because she's went to more Amish gatherings than me.
Overall, the book is thought provoking and has some good suggestions of how to simplify your life but you have to read through her judgemental crap to get to it.
Good ideas, but most were geared towards those married and/or with children. Not very many applicable ideas for singles.