With 122 full-color illustrations. Todtri, New York 1996. Hardback, 128 pages.

Bought this at the library sale a few years ago.

Back cover:
The Amish base their daily lives on the principles of faith, brotherhood, and community. Deeply devout, they keep their traditions alive by separating themselves from the modern world, living close to nature, and tending the land that God has given them. Illustrated with 122 beautiful full-color photographs, this spirited volume explores and celebrates Amish history, beliefs, and culture.

Front flap
Often misunderstood as old-fashioned and humorless, the Amish are actually a vibrant and spirited people whose lives are guided by the principles of faith, brotherhood, and humility. Filled with detailed information and stunning full-color photographs, Out of the Past: Amish Tradition and Faith demystifies this devout community, discussing Amish history, religious beliefs, daily life, and celebrations.
Unlike most other Christians, the Amish do not have churches but hold services in their homes, reinforcing their belief in the unity of God, family, and community. The home and farm are the center of life. Hardworking and industrious, the Amish are accomplished farmers, craftsmen, seamstresses, and cooks-everyone in the family has a traditional but significant function.
Amish celebrations are undertaken with a sense of great joy and brotherhood, but never apart from the thread of religion, which is woven throughout every aspect of their lives. Weddings in particular are occasions for great festivity, and, as in any culture, births, holidays, and funerals are also major events. The Amish are a very social people, placing great emphasis on the value of their tightly-knit society. Visiting, an important practice, is engaged in frequently. Other activities which reflect the Amish belief in community include barn raisings, frolics, charity work, quilting bees, and the education of their children. As might be expected, the world beyond their own community sometimes presents great temptations, particularly to the young. Out of the Past concludes with a discussion of the interaction of these separate people with the rest of the world, and the consequences this contact can sometimes bring.
Deeply religious, humble, and virtuous, the Amish are an engaging people, worthy of our understanding and respect. This beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written volume presents a rare opportunity to look inside the remarkable world of the Amish.

PREFACE
This book will discuss the lifestyle and beliefs of the Old Order Amish. For the sake of convenience, I will refer to them in the text simply as Amish. Throughout the book I will refer specifically to other religious sects with common Anabaptist roots, such as the Old Order Mennonites, New Order Amish, Hutterites, Church of the Brethren, Mennonites, and other Amish groups like the Nebraska and Beachy sects. These references will describe the differences between Amish sects and other groups.
It is very difficult to make definite statements about such cultural aspects as the dress of the people or the modernization of farms, since differences abound among the Amish. Whenever possible, I will make generalities regarding most of their practices and comparisons between the groups. The only constant among the Amish is their religious beliefs and practices, since many of these originated with the European founding fathers and have transcended time and place.
Living in Pennsylvania, I've been exposed to, and have been friends with, Amish people my entire life. My own ancestry runs deep in the Anabaptist movement, with my Mennonite ancestors arriving in the New World in 1722 and settling in Lancaster County. Many of my early ancestors were instrumental in the growth of the German Baptist Brethren church (known as the “Dunkers” and today as the Church of the Brethren). Although I live in the modern world, many of my beliefs and religious practices are similar to those of the Amish. I hope this book will help clarify any misconceptions and myths regarding this very dynamic, humble, and reverent people.

The photos are beautiful—no wonder, they're taken by several (professional?) photographers—and the text is both informative and interesting. Unfortunately, the layout does not seem that professional to me. You have to turn the page in the middle of a sentence or a word, that's understandable. But if you have to turn three, four, sometimes even six pages before you know how the sentence/word continues, it's annoying, to say the least. It happens often when you're reading Out of the Past.
I learned much new about the Amish culture. I had no idea Pennsylvania is such an Amish state. I didn't know the language is called Pennsylvania Dutch, didn't know they have their own school system (only 8 grades, no high school education to Amish youth) etc.

Amish.net
Amish America
Amish at Wikipedia
Old Order Amish at Wikipedia
Amish way of life at Wikipedia

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