Who are the 'plain people', the men and women who till their fields with horse and plow, travel by horse and buggy, live without electricity and telephones, and practice 'help thy neighbor' in daily life? Linda Egenes visited with her Old Order Amish neighbors in southeast Iowa for thirteen years before writing this informative and companionable introduction to their lifeways. Whether quilting at a weekly sewing circle above the Stringtown Grocery, playing Dutch Blitz and Dare Base with schoolchildren, learning the intricacies of harness making, or mulching strawberries in a huge garden, Egenes was treated with the kindness, respect, and dignity that exemplify the strong community ties of the Amish. Her engaging account of her visits with the Amish, beautifully illustrated with woodcuts by Caldecott Medal winner Mary Azarian, reveals the serene and peaceful ways of a plain people whose lives are anything but plain.

About the Author

Linda Egenes has written about the Amish for Cobblestone, Plain, the Iowa Source, and the Plain Reader. She is an adjunct faculty member at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa. Vermont artist Mary Azarian won the Caldecott Medal in 1999 for her illustrations in Snowflake Bentley.

Reviews

"Direct, respectful, and informative, "Visits with the Amish" takes us into the very homes and businesses of the plain people. There we enter a culture so different from the American mainstream that we are forced to examine our own spiritual beliefs, identities, and values. This slim, quiet book should assume a big place on the bookshelves of anyone interested in anthropology, religion, folklore, or sustainable living."--Mary Swander, author, "Out of This World: A Journey of Healing"