New York Amish: Life in the Plain Communities of the Empire State
"This is a fascinating and much-needed book on the New York Amish. New York is the 'go-to' state for the Amish today, and Johnson-Weiner's book could not have been better timed for publication."—Pennsylvania History"New York Amishtraverses between the history of the Anabaptists in the sixteenth century and anthropological work among contemporary Amish communities. Karen M. Johnson-Weiner makes a notable contribution by bringing Amish history into the larger religious narrative of New York. Throughout, she allows the reader to appreciate the variation and complexity of these communities in a respectful way."—Philip P. Arnold, Syracuse University, coeditor ofSacred LandscapesandCultural Politics: Planting a Tree"Karen M. Johnson-Weiner writes fluidly, with a great eye for detail. This book gives ample evidence of the time she spent in intimate relationship with the New York Amish, her love for them, and her desire to present these people to others."—James Hurd, Bethel University, author ofHorse-and-Buggy Mennonites"For those who know much about the Amish, and for those who know little, this book is a treasure. By introducing readers to the Amish communities of New York state, Karen Johnson-Weiner opens new vistas of Amish scholarship and underscores the diversity of Amish life in fresh and compelling ways. Her esteem for her Amish subjects is apparent, though it never detracts from her clear-sighted analysis."—David Weaver-Zercher, Messiah College, author ofThe Amish in the American Imagination"This groundbreaking work provides an excellent overview of the Amish communities in the Empire State. It is a must-read for anyone interested in this distinctive religious group."—Donald B. Kraybill, Elizabethtown College, author ofThe Riddle of Amish Culture"New York Amishis a fascinating and intriguing look at Amish life in the state that now has the fastest-growing Amish population in the country. We meet farm women and businessmen and schoolteachers. We discover how their communities coalesce and why some settlements fail. We learn what distinguishes various Amish groups from one another and what holds them all together. Clear and thorough, this is a book that will interest scholars as well as any New Yorker who wants to learn more about their growing number of plain neighbors."—Steven M. Nolt, Goshen College, author ofPlain Diversity