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Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish
Rumspringa is Tom Shachtman's celebrated look at a littleknown Amish coming-of-age ritual, the rumspringa—the period of "running around" that begins for their youth at age sixteen. During this time, Amish youth are allowed to live outside the bounds of their faith, experimenting with alcohol, premarital sex, revealing clothes, telephones, drugs, and wild parties. By allowing such broad freedoms, their parents hope they will learn enough to help them make the most important decision of their lives—whether to be baptized as Christians, join the church, and forever give up worldly ways, or to remain in the world.
In this searching book, Shachtman draws on his skills as a documentarian to capture young people on the cusp of a fateful decision, and to give us "one of the most absorbing books ever written about the Plain People" (Publishers Weekly).
In this searching book, Shachtman draws on his skills as a documentarian to capture young people on the cusp of a fateful decision, and to give us "one of the most absorbing books ever written about the Plain People" (Publishers Weekly).
286 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2006
45 people are currently reading
1188 people want to read
About the author
Tom Shachtman
67 books27 followersSince I always wanted to be a writer, I consider myself fortunate to have had my work published and produced in many forms—40 histories, novels, and books for children, plus filmed documentaries and TV dramas, poetry, plays, songs, newspaper columns, magazine articles, even a comic book.
My newest book (January 2020) is THE FOUNDING FORTUNES: HOW THE WEALTHY PAID FOR AND PROFITED FROM AMERICA’S REVOLUTION. This completes a trilogy of books on the Revolutionary Era; the earlier ones are GENTLEMEN SCIENTISTS AND REVOLUTIONARIES, and HOW THE FRENCH SAVED AMERICA.
My book ABSOLUTE ZERO AND THE CONQUEST OF COLD, about 400 years of research into low temperatures, became the basis for a two-hour documentary special for BBC and PBS. The program and my script for it won the American Institute of Physics’ science writing award for 2009. The book itself was praised by The New York Times Book Review as written “with passion and clarity,” by the Library Journal as “truly wonderful,” and by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as “an absolute delight.”
Many of my other books have also received welcome critical praise. Library Journal wrote of RUMSPRINGA: TO BE OR NOT TO BE AMISH that is provided “a near-unprecedented glimpse into the inner lives of Amish society.” The Economist called AROUND THE BLOCK “a near-classic,” The New Yorker “A grand idea, splendidly executed,” and The Washington Post Book World “thoughtful, interesting … a good and useful book.” THE INARTICULATE SOCIETY was judged as “perceptive and disturbing” by The Washington Post, and by The Wall Street Journal as “a provocative examination of the American way with words.” Business Week labeled SKYSCRAPER DREAMS “fascinating history … the stuff of grand comedy,” and The New York Times cited it for “superb reporting on the industry’s wheeling and dealing.” “Fascinating … illuminating … stunning detail,” the Chicago Tribune wrote of THE GILDED LEAF (written with Patrick Reynolds).
I’ve also written books for children, including three novels, BEACHMASTER, WAVEBENDER and DRIFTWHISTLER, now published in several languages. My non-fiction children’s books include THE PRESIDENT BUILDS A HOUSE, about the work of Habitat for Humanity and, with my wife Harriet Shelare, VIDEO POWER.
My collaborations with criminologist Robert K. Ressler, the man who coined the term serial killers and knew more about them than anyone else, include WHOEVER FIGHTS MONSTERS and I HAVE LIVED IN THE MONSTER, both multi-million-copy best-sellers overseas.
My articles have appeared in The New York Times, Newsday, Smithsonian, and the Hoover Digest, as well as on the websites of The Daily Beast, Huffington Post, History News Network, and the Journal of the American Revolution. My occasional column for THE LAKEVILLE JOURNAL (CT), “The Long View,’ provides historical context to current events.
I am a lifetime member of the Writers Guild of America, a longtime member of The Authors Guild, and a former president of the board and current trustee of The Writers Room in New York City, an urban writers’ colony. I’ve also served as a trustee of the Connecticut Humanities Council, and of The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.
My newest book (January 2020) is THE FOUNDING FORTUNES: HOW THE WEALTHY PAID FOR AND PROFITED FROM AMERICA’S REVOLUTION. This completes a trilogy of books on the Revolutionary Era; the earlier ones are GENTLEMEN SCIENTISTS AND REVOLUTIONARIES, and HOW THE FRENCH SAVED AMERICA.
My book ABSOLUTE ZERO AND THE CONQUEST OF COLD, about 400 years of research into low temperatures, became the basis for a two-hour documentary special for BBC and PBS. The program and my script for it won the American Institute of Physics’ science writing award for 2009. The book itself was praised by The New York Times Book Review as written “with passion and clarity,” by the Library Journal as “truly wonderful,” and by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as “an absolute delight.”
Many of my other books have also received welcome critical praise. Library Journal wrote of RUMSPRINGA: TO BE OR NOT TO BE AMISH that is provided “a near-unprecedented glimpse into the inner lives of Amish society.” The Economist called AROUND THE BLOCK “a near-classic,” The New Yorker “A grand idea, splendidly executed,” and The Washington Post Book World “thoughtful, interesting … a good and useful book.” THE INARTICULATE SOCIETY was judged as “perceptive and disturbing” by The Washington Post, and by The Wall Street Journal as “a provocative examination of the American way with words.” Business Week labeled SKYSCRAPER DREAMS “fascinating history … the stuff of grand comedy,” and The New York Times cited it for “superb reporting on the industry’s wheeling and dealing.” “Fascinating … illuminating … stunning detail,” the Chicago Tribune wrote of THE GILDED LEAF (written with Patrick Reynolds).
I’ve also written books for children, including three novels, BEACHMASTER, WAVEBENDER and DRIFTWHISTLER, now published in several languages. My non-fiction children’s books include THE PRESIDENT BUILDS A HOUSE, about the work of Habitat for Humanity and, with my wife Harriet Shelare, VIDEO POWER.
My collaborations with criminologist Robert K. Ressler, the man who coined the term serial killers and knew more about them than anyone else, include WHOEVER FIGHTS MONSTERS and I HAVE LIVED IN THE MONSTER, both multi-million-copy best-sellers overseas.
My articles have appeared in The New York Times, Newsday, Smithsonian, and the Hoover Digest, as well as on the websites of The Daily Beast, Huffington Post, History News Network, and the Journal of the American Revolution. My occasional column for THE LAKEVILLE JOURNAL (CT), “The Long View,’ provides historical context to current events.
I am a lifetime member of the Writers Guild of America, a longtime member of The Authors Guild, and a former president of the board and current trustee of The Writers Room in New York City, an urban writers’ colony. I’ve also served as a trustee of the Connecticut Humanities Council, and of The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
April 15, 2016
The book is a measured, thoughtful and well-researched view of the period between childhood and commitment to the church (or leaving the church) that the Amish call rumspringa - literally 'running around'. Everything is permitted for these teens and early twenties, or if not exactly permitted, then not forbidden. As an anabaptist sect, the Amish believe that baptism must be entered into freely by an adult, in full knowledge of the alternative, 'English' or mainstream America. This baptism is an unbreakable commitment to the Church and not, as the Baptist sects believe, any guarantee of an eternal dwelling in heaven.
After reading the book, which is written from the point of view of an interested and not-unsympathetic mainstream American, I have a great deal of respect from the Amish's ideas of community and how to maintain it, of their pacifist and non-judgmental stance and forgiveness of all acts by their children, no matter how against their ethics and even the law, during their rumspringa. It is difficult, however, to sympathise with the extreme submissiveness and abnegation of all self-determination of the women, and their insistence on only the most basic of formal education ending at 14. The various bans on electricity, telephones and motors in most circumstances but not all seem hypocritical. It strikes me as ridiculous that ownership and driving of cars (outside of rumspringa) are forbidden, but riding in them and hiring them with a driver isn't. Needless to say, most religions have these strange little peculiarities, but generally they aren't so obvious as with the Amish.
This is a good book, deep, interesting and well-written. Its a slice of America that is generally regarded as quaint, antiquated and a bit of a tourist show. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Amish are a thriving, growing religion that is deeply introspective and cares little what the world thinks of it.
After reading the book, which is written from the point of view of an interested and not-unsympathetic mainstream American, I have a great deal of respect from the Amish's ideas of community and how to maintain it, of their pacifist and non-judgmental stance and forgiveness of all acts by their children, no matter how against their ethics and even the law, during their rumspringa. It is difficult, however, to sympathise with the extreme submissiveness and abnegation of all self-determination of the women, and their insistence on only the most basic of formal education ending at 14. The various bans on electricity, telephones and motors in most circumstances but not all seem hypocritical. It strikes me as ridiculous that ownership and driving of cars (outside of rumspringa) are forbidden, but riding in them and hiring them with a driver isn't. Needless to say, most religions have these strange little peculiarities, but generally they aren't so obvious as with the Amish.
This is a good book, deep, interesting and well-written. Its a slice of America that is generally regarded as quaint, antiquated and a bit of a tourist show. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Amish are a thriving, growing religion that is deeply introspective and cares little what the world thinks of it.
June 24, 2007
around page 166, i realized that i don't give a crap about the amish. i think i was hoping for a more nuanced look at the lives of the amish in rumspringa, some sort of beautiful search for meaning in contemplating leaving everything they've ever known. No, nothing like that. This is a poorly written, uninteresting look at a phenomenon that is interesting in and of itself. Again this is one of those books that I wish were written by someone else. Michael Lewis maybe.
May 11, 2009
“Most Amish are satisfied with their lives; most mainstream Americans express a significant degree of dissatisfaction with theirs…But is satisfaction with one’s life the ultimate good? And is dissatisfaction with it inherently bad?” (p. 269)
This book was an interesting and carefully researched look at the Amish, focusing on the ritual known as Rumspringa (some of the research in this book also served as the focus of the documentary “The Devil’s Playground,” but the book is far more comprehensive). Amish people believe that baptism should be a conscious choice rather than a foregone conclusion. To this end, though their children are raised with Amish rules and values, at sixteen they are permitted to experience “English” life with no real restrictions, Amish or otherwise. When they choose, these adolescents can be baptized and officially join the Amish church as adults. This “running-around” transitional period is known as Rumspringa.
It’s a fascinating concept, one with special meaning for anyone raised in a religious enclave attempting to maintain its identity and resist the temptations of the surrounding culture. What’s even more fascinating is the high retention rate – the vast majority of Amish teens choose to return to the fold after a few years of partying. The adults interviewed did not seem to express any regrets over having made this choice, with a few notable exceptions among the younger set. Schachtman offers several possible explanations for this – the desire to marry an Amish spouse, the familiarity and simplicity of the lifestyle, a wish to remain connected to their families of origin, a sense of purpose, etc.
Reading this book was an interesting experience for me. Some of the Amish values felt comfortably familiar to me as an Orthodox Jew – the emphasis on religion, tradition, and community; the continual tension with modernity and the resistance to integrating normative values if they seem to conflict with the letter or spirit of divine law. Other values were foreign to me and even disturbing. I was especially struck by what I saw as the stifling of personal ambition, particularly in the intellectual realm. I respect Amish intentions, but it’s a lifestyle choice that would be extremely difficult for me in that regard. On the other hand, I’m sure there are people who look at my lifestyle and have a similar reaction. Everything’s relative, I guess.
At the risk of sounding judgmental (assuming I don’t already), I really wondered about the psychological soundness of offering these teenagers a Rumspringa (and my sense was that Schachtman joined me in this). Are adolescents, especially those raised in such an insular society, sufficiently equipped for this? It didn’t surprise me that many of the teens interviewed had gotten involved with some dangerous activities. And, as Schachtman suggests, maybe this also explains the high retention rate – the world out there is very scary if you’re not prepared for navigating it, especially if you’re entering it with the maturity of a mid-adolescent. After messing around and messing up, I can see where returning to the safety and structure of the Amish religion would seem pretty attractive. As Schachtman points out, it’s not as if these teenagers experience travel or higher education or other experiences with a long-term positive and personally fulfilling effect; the temporary partying is pretty easy to walk away from in comparison.
Anyway, this book should probably get five stars for its research and writing, but I’m giving it four because I must admit I got bored occasionally, despite my overarching interest in the topic. I guess I’m just not as intellectual as I want to think I am, because I got a little tired of all the detail here and there, especially during the chapter on farming. Don’t let that stop you, though – I highly recommend this book. The topic is interesting, the research thorough, and the writing (usually) engaging.
This book was an interesting and carefully researched look at the Amish, focusing on the ritual known as Rumspringa (some of the research in this book also served as the focus of the documentary “The Devil’s Playground,” but the book is far more comprehensive). Amish people believe that baptism should be a conscious choice rather than a foregone conclusion. To this end, though their children are raised with Amish rules and values, at sixteen they are permitted to experience “English” life with no real restrictions, Amish or otherwise. When they choose, these adolescents can be baptized and officially join the Amish church as adults. This “running-around” transitional period is known as Rumspringa.
It’s a fascinating concept, one with special meaning for anyone raised in a religious enclave attempting to maintain its identity and resist the temptations of the surrounding culture. What’s even more fascinating is the high retention rate – the vast majority of Amish teens choose to return to the fold after a few years of partying. The adults interviewed did not seem to express any regrets over having made this choice, with a few notable exceptions among the younger set. Schachtman offers several possible explanations for this – the desire to marry an Amish spouse, the familiarity and simplicity of the lifestyle, a wish to remain connected to their families of origin, a sense of purpose, etc.
Reading this book was an interesting experience for me. Some of the Amish values felt comfortably familiar to me as an Orthodox Jew – the emphasis on religion, tradition, and community; the continual tension with modernity and the resistance to integrating normative values if they seem to conflict with the letter or spirit of divine law. Other values were foreign to me and even disturbing. I was especially struck by what I saw as the stifling of personal ambition, particularly in the intellectual realm. I respect Amish intentions, but it’s a lifestyle choice that would be extremely difficult for me in that regard. On the other hand, I’m sure there are people who look at my lifestyle and have a similar reaction. Everything’s relative, I guess.
At the risk of sounding judgmental (assuming I don’t already), I really wondered about the psychological soundness of offering these teenagers a Rumspringa (and my sense was that Schachtman joined me in this). Are adolescents, especially those raised in such an insular society, sufficiently equipped for this? It didn’t surprise me that many of the teens interviewed had gotten involved with some dangerous activities. And, as Schachtman suggests, maybe this also explains the high retention rate – the world out there is very scary if you’re not prepared for navigating it, especially if you’re entering it with the maturity of a mid-adolescent. After messing around and messing up, I can see where returning to the safety and structure of the Amish religion would seem pretty attractive. As Schachtman points out, it’s not as if these teenagers experience travel or higher education or other experiences with a long-term positive and personally fulfilling effect; the temporary partying is pretty easy to walk away from in comparison.
Anyway, this book should probably get five stars for its research and writing, but I’m giving it four because I must admit I got bored occasionally, despite my overarching interest in the topic. I guess I’m just not as intellectual as I want to think I am, because I got a little tired of all the detail here and there, especially during the chapter on farming. Don’t let that stop you, though – I highly recommend this book. The topic is interesting, the research thorough, and the writing (usually) engaging.
November 29, 2007
I read this book after watching the documentary film of the same topic and research- The Devil's Playground- this was additional information and had limited Amish youth's self analysis, which was interpreted by the author. The Amish youth who were the subject of the film made reappearances and others who were not had their stories incorporated into this work.
The style of writing is easy to read, with direct quotations of the teenagers, which are better heard than read, like, um, you know what I mean, yeah, uh huh, I knew you'd see.
At any rate, the book gives the feel of a prolonged interview with various young people in the midst of their rumspringa: the time when young amish teenagers are permitted to behave as they have no rules to abide and experience the "English" world, without being bound to Amish religion as they are not technically Amish until they decide to be baptized of their own freewill. If they choose to be baptized after their rumspringa they will be Amish and live the rest of their lives according to their religion and often hard working families (or be shunned).
Sadly, being able to do things of their freewill is often interpreted as a modern life of drugs, alcohol, and sexual activity, while doing other things that their Amish culture ordinarily forbids, like driving motor vehicles wearing modern clothing.
There is relief in some of the stories in this book, which were not as developed in the documentsry film- such as the girls who choose to continue their education beyond the 8th grade, much to the chagrin of their parents, or the girls who decide to play basketball at the public high school which they also attend against their religion.
There are also interviews with those who have chosen to live separate from their families, but are still permitted to visit. And there is mention of certain Amish relatives of those interviewed, who have continued their education into college. Some of the young people who long for careers as lawyers or doctors are interesting to contemplate that their parents are discouraging them, as those of us living a non-Amish life are experiencing the opposite, often with pressure from parents to become doctors, finish high school, etc...
The style of writing is easy to read, with direct quotations of the teenagers, which are better heard than read, like, um, you know what I mean, yeah, uh huh, I knew you'd see.
At any rate, the book gives the feel of a prolonged interview with various young people in the midst of their rumspringa: the time when young amish teenagers are permitted to behave as they have no rules to abide and experience the "English" world, without being bound to Amish religion as they are not technically Amish until they decide to be baptized of their own freewill. If they choose to be baptized after their rumspringa they will be Amish and live the rest of their lives according to their religion and often hard working families (or be shunned).
Sadly, being able to do things of their freewill is often interpreted as a modern life of drugs, alcohol, and sexual activity, while doing other things that their Amish culture ordinarily forbids, like driving motor vehicles wearing modern clothing.
There is relief in some of the stories in this book, which were not as developed in the documentsry film- such as the girls who choose to continue their education beyond the 8th grade, much to the chagrin of their parents, or the girls who decide to play basketball at the public high school which they also attend against their religion.
There are also interviews with those who have chosen to live separate from their families, but are still permitted to visit. And there is mention of certain Amish relatives of those interviewed, who have continued their education into college. Some of the young people who long for careers as lawyers or doctors are interesting to contemplate that their parents are discouraging them, as those of us living a non-Amish life are experiencing the opposite, often with pressure from parents to become doctors, finish high school, etc...
October 29, 2008
I believe I would have enjoyed this book more if the author had picked a small handful of Amish teens in rumspringa and followed them for a year in their lives and then revisited back with them at a later date. The author has too many subjects he interviewed for this book. As a result you never feel you get a true sense of rumspringa and how it affects the Amish youth. At the beginning of each chapter is a short intro about a person unrelated to the people in the remainder of the chapter which is terribly perplexing. The author gives you mere snapshots of each subject through their own narrative. These narratives are short, maybe 2-4 pages at best. Each narrative is then followed up by pages of the author referencing psychological and sociological studies on adolescence. Eventually he gets back to a subject later on the book in other chapters but when he does he's talked about so many others you forget what their original story was. It gets quite tiresome after a while. I can only handle so many single incident stories that merely scrape the surface. I found myself craving a deeper understanding on a more personal level. After each story I found myself searching for details or resolution. What happened as a result of this incident? How did the subject feel about it? How did they feel about it in regards to their religious beliefs? How did the incident change the subject? Was the change evident in future incidents? It seemed like all these questions were left dangling. I wanted to feel a bond or at least empathy with the subjects in the book. As is I didn't feel them develop into adults, or insights, or self awareness. I would be very interested in seeing the documentary a few reviewers have wrote about as alot have stated they liked it better than the book.
In the end the book title and synopsis was slightly misleading. More than anything this book appears to be a book about the Amish way of life in general as opposed to an in depth study of Rumspringa. While I do find the Amish religion and lifestyle fascinating, I was disappointed this book did not provide many insights to this time in Amish youth's life and I feel I have not come away with a better understanding of this ritual.
In the end the book title and synopsis was slightly misleading. More than anything this book appears to be a book about the Amish way of life in general as opposed to an in depth study of Rumspringa. While I do find the Amish religion and lifestyle fascinating, I was disappointed this book did not provide many insights to this time in Amish youth's life and I feel I have not come away with a better understanding of this ritual.
July 8, 2008
Pennsylvania, my old stomping ground, is a quirky place. There are odd sayings like "I stoved my finger" instead of "I jammed my finger." "Red up your room" is to clean your room. I once had a waitress ask me, "Can I take your drinks awhile?" I'm not sure, but I think that she was asking for my drink order while I looked at the menu (??) But PA's most famous quirk has got to be the Amish. The Amish are fascinating to me for obvious reasons. I'm curious as to how they can ignore modern conveniences when they are so closely surrounded by a technology-dependent culture. But what is even more fascinating to me is how the Amish are a tourist attraction. People spend their hard-earned money and their valuable vacation time to come to Central Pennsylvania to basically gawk at the Amish as they go about their day to day activities. I was never comfortable doing that, so I choose to read about them instead.
"Rumspringa" highlights the Amish youth's "running around period" where they are set free around age 15-16 to explore modern America, eventually faced with the choice to leave the Amish fold or become baptized into the church. The idea is that Rumspringa will inoculate them against mainstream culture. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. There are narratives about both instances: teens who have "seen the light" and settle well into plain life and sad accounts of teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, and being shunned by one's own family. Toward the end of the book, I was craving more "sense making," but I did learn one little gem of information: the Amish use celery as a primary means to celebrate a wedding...yep, celery! "Rumspringa" was no "Witness," that's for sure.
"Rumspringa" highlights the Amish youth's "running around period" where they are set free around age 15-16 to explore modern America, eventually faced with the choice to leave the Amish fold or become baptized into the church. The idea is that Rumspringa will inoculate them against mainstream culture. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. There are narratives about both instances: teens who have "seen the light" and settle well into plain life and sad accounts of teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, and being shunned by one's own family. Toward the end of the book, I was craving more "sense making," but I did learn one little gem of information: the Amish use celery as a primary means to celebrate a wedding...yep, celery! "Rumspringa" was no "Witness," that's for sure.
August 28, 2008
The author's startling inability to construct simple sentences caused me to abandon this book after only a few pages. His tortuous writing made the subject suddenly less interesting; in fact, I lost interest in all reading for a while after fighting my way past the first chapters of this assault on writing.
Yuck.
Yuck.
August 17, 2015
I gave it the old college 50-page-rule try, but just couldn't get into it. It reads more like an essay, and I suppose I was hoping for more of an in-depth story or at least something a little less...boring? Could have been an interesting subject, but just seemed bland, repetitive, and regretably general.
August 16, 2022
There were times while reading it I became frustrated at the writing style. Sometimes sentences were a bit convoluted where they could have been shorter and more to the point. Anyway, it really wasn’t a bad book, and there’s a lot of information in it. The interviews with the kids are interesting, even though I wish he would have followed and interviewed a few more. These are kids whose basic human rights are violated every day by the church and community rules. No wonder during this bad idea called “Rumspringa” they are like an animal who has been unleashed into the wild. Not all though, in all fairness. Some just go off to further their education, and you can’t blame them for that. Many do chose to stay with the simpler life after all that. They’ve had a taste of the outside and realize there’s a lot less stress in being amish. It was an ok book.
December 2, 2015
I did learn a lot about the Amish in this book and I did not like what I learned basically. I had this "little house in the prairie" kind of image in head and now it's definetely gone.
Basically, it goes like this: Amish teens get to experience the "English world" before committing to the church. So, it's sex, drugs and alcohol. Without ANY parental supervision, guidance or support. In the "English world", as far as I know, 16- year olds are not allowed to drink, it's illegal to do drugs and you are responsible for your actions. The Amish teens in this book are out of control, lost, confused and/or extremely vulnerable. I fail to understand how parents could possibly think it's acceptable to let their kids act in ways that are dangerous to themselves or others. I am not surprised that so many teens decide to become Amish afterwards because being a teen is hard, but being an Amish teen is hard and lonely. Rumspringa is a rather clever strategy...
Other things I learned in the book, fathers don't speak to their children or wives, kids are out of school before they can actually learn anything and women are completely submitted to their husband. And you grow celery for weddings. The book left me rather sad and with a lot of unanswered questions.
Basically, it goes like this: Amish teens get to experience the "English world" before committing to the church. So, it's sex, drugs and alcohol. Without ANY parental supervision, guidance or support. In the "English world", as far as I know, 16- year olds are not allowed to drink, it's illegal to do drugs and you are responsible for your actions. The Amish teens in this book are out of control, lost, confused and/or extremely vulnerable. I fail to understand how parents could possibly think it's acceptable to let their kids act in ways that are dangerous to themselves or others. I am not surprised that so many teens decide to become Amish afterwards because being a teen is hard, but being an Amish teen is hard and lonely. Rumspringa is a rather clever strategy...
Other things I learned in the book, fathers don't speak to their children or wives, kids are out of school before they can actually learn anything and women are completely submitted to their husband. And you grow celery for weddings. The book left me rather sad and with a lot of unanswered questions.
September 24, 2012
This was a fascinating glimpse into the world of the Amish. The author intersperses firsthand testimonials with his own research and background information. Shachtman deals with a wider variety of issues than you might think would be encompassed by the idea of rumspringa, including the role of women, deeper matters of faith, economy, etc.
Rumspringa, in my opinion, seems a very bizarre idea. Old Order Amish shun the modern English world and yet let their teenagers venture off into it ill-prepared with no restrictions whatsoever. How any of these teens manage to come out of the other side of it without serious repercussions is beyond me. (And some definitely experience those serious repercussions!) To have the world of modern technology, fashion, and ideas opened to you all at once, including drugs, alcohol,and sex, is a completely overwhelming concept.
Furthermore, as a Christian, I have a hard time reconciling this idea of a "free pass" for these years to the idea of living your life for Christ, putting aside the old self and putting on the new self in Christ.
Anyway, if you are at all interested in the Amish, I think you would find this book fascinating and informative.
Rumspringa, in my opinion, seems a very bizarre idea. Old Order Amish shun the modern English world and yet let their teenagers venture off into it ill-prepared with no restrictions whatsoever. How any of these teens manage to come out of the other side of it without serious repercussions is beyond me. (And some definitely experience those serious repercussions!) To have the world of modern technology, fashion, and ideas opened to you all at once, including drugs, alcohol,and sex, is a completely overwhelming concept.
Furthermore, as a Christian, I have a hard time reconciling this idea of a "free pass" for these years to the idea of living your life for Christ, putting aside the old self and putting on the new self in Christ.
Anyway, if you are at all interested in the Amish, I think you would find this book fascinating and informative.
November 16, 2007
A book about Amish kids letting loose that's less interesting than it really should be. The Amish allow their teenagers to experience the outside world during a "rumspringa" period - driving cars, partying, etc. - so that they are able to make an informed choice about joining the church as adults (which the vast majority end up doing, although sometimes not until after a lot of drinking and drug use). The topic is interesting - how kids from a very sheltered community deal with going out into the "real world" and how they cope with the freedom to develop their own rules instead of simply following the very strict ones they've grown up with. However, the author couldn't quite seem to decide whether he wanted to follow some kids as they went through rumspringa or write an academic treatise on the history and culture of the Amish in general. The book was written from interviews done for a documentary; I've gotten the film from the library and am hoping it's a bit more focused.
April 26, 2015
Fairly early on, Shachtman makes a point about the Amish being about as close to a foreign culture Americans can get to within the U.S.—that they seem so different as to function, on some small level, as a tourist attraction.
But the broader is of the Amish as far more like the general population than not...just stricter. Much stricter. More isolated, sort of. (Excellent mention towards the end of the similarities and differences between the Amish and Hasidic Jews, too...)
His focus is on, of course, rumspringa—the period when Amish youth have finished school and are working but have not yet joined the church (which is only done as an adult), when they are exempt from the rules the Amish live by. When they can 'dress English' and drive cars and drink and do drugs, if they want, without recrimination from the church.* When the idea is for them to decide whether or not to get married and join the church and be a good Amish Christian for the rest of their lives...or leave.
I learned a ton from this book. Granted, I knew very little about the Amish, but still. That each district basically determines its own rules (certain types of farm equipment are permitted in certain districts but not others, for example; ditto bicycles). Rumspringa is a much more fluid, open-ended period than I had envisioned—I knew of it, but I guess I'd always thought (to the extent I'd thought about it at all) that it was a finite period of a few months or a year. Not so—rumspringa is the period between a child turning sixteen and them joining the church. That might be when they are seventeen or twenty or twenty-six. In theory I suppose somebody could join the church much later, although Shachtman doesn't talk much about that. At some point in the book it hit home to me that in any given community there is always a group of teens who are not subject to Amish rules and who are, you know, being typical impossible teenagers. (Seem obvious? Yes, maybe. I never said I was the brightest bulb in the box...)
One of the things that so fascinated me here is the idea that until a person joins the church, they are free to do as they will—it's okay if they do drugs and have sex and get pregnant out of wedlock—and still be welcomed back, but if they commit to the church (get baptised) and then back out, it's permanent. They are put on bann, shunned.
(I was also struck at one point how commercial some churches seem—'Equally revelatory to her is this [non-Amish] church's assertion that she can simply be baptized and will thereafter be in a spate of grace, "saved," assured of a place in Heaven. She has always been bothered by the lack of such assurance in the Amish church' (149). Not trying to pit church against church, but it is kind of like...'we offer the better deal! Pick us!')
There's a really interesting back-and-forth, though, about the good things about rumspringa (like the chance to experience both sides of things before committing) but how it is also inconsistent. 'He also tells them [church elders] he is bothered by the contradiction of the Amish church permitting him in rumspringa to have a motorcycle thought it was forbidden before he became sixteen and will again be forbidden if he joins the church. How can they both condemn and condone a behavior? To DeWayne, the Baptist stance on sin is less ambiguous and more understandable: a sin is a sin, no matter what the circumstances. For a Baptist, there are no indulgences, no time-out periods during which something usually forbidden is permitted' (134). Most of the people interviewed in the book don't seem to have quite as much of a dilemma there (if they head for the Baptists, etc., it often seems to be because they want religion but also non-Amish material things, or because they want to worship in a different way), but the question of what makes sense about rumspringa and what doesn't comes up over and over again in different forms. (I would have loved a better look at what rumspringa looked like for older generations, though.)
I did wish that Shachtman had spent more time on the 'tamer' side of rumspringa. He says early on that 'many, maybe even a majority, do not go to the parties or otherwise engage in behaviors that Amish parents and church officials consider wild. Rather, they attend Sunday singings, occasionally go bowling, take part in structured activities supervised by church elders...' (11). Probably not as interesting to read about, but the amount of time spent on that end of thing is tremendously slim in comparison to the time spent on parties and drugs and uncertainty about whether or not to go back to the Amish. If 80 to 90 percent of Amish-raised youth end up joining the church (251), I would expect that a lot of those are youth who never strayed far in the first place.
I also had a tremendously difficult time keeping the different individuals straight; although it's not the sort of book that follows just a few people through a given time period, I wouldn't have minded more detail. In some cases I think the lack of detail was to preserve privacy/anonymity, which is fine, but even when reminders were given I could dredge up only the most basic of memories. Maybe following fewer people but in more depth would have helped...wait, I just acknowledged that it wasn't that kind of book.
And a lingering question: One of the individuals in the book mentions that 'he knows that Amish young men do not treat women well—he admits to not having done so well himself in that regard—and doesn't feel that his female friends "need to be put through that kind of situation"' (195). And then the subject is dropped. Umm, what? That deserves a great deal more detail. (Shachtman does talk, elsewhere, about general abuse rates in Amish communities—that several studies have indicated that they are lower than in the general population, but this is separate, I think.) There's a whole trove of material to be considered on the topic, not just in terms of people being treated badly but in terms of what relationships tend to look like during rumspringa—which is largely, now that I think of it, ignored beyond the fact that there are relationships, they are sometimes sexual and sometimes not, and they sometimes end in marriage and entry to the Amish church (and sometimes not).
*From families and from the law—that's another matter.
But the broader is of the Amish as far more like the general population than not...just stricter. Much stricter. More isolated, sort of. (Excellent mention towards the end of the similarities and differences between the Amish and Hasidic Jews, too...)
His focus is on, of course, rumspringa—the period when Amish youth have finished school and are working but have not yet joined the church (which is only done as an adult), when they are exempt from the rules the Amish live by. When they can 'dress English' and drive cars and drink and do drugs, if they want, without recrimination from the church.* When the idea is for them to decide whether or not to get married and join the church and be a good Amish Christian for the rest of their lives...or leave.
I learned a ton from this book. Granted, I knew very little about the Amish, but still. That each district basically determines its own rules (certain types of farm equipment are permitted in certain districts but not others, for example; ditto bicycles). Rumspringa is a much more fluid, open-ended period than I had envisioned—I knew of it, but I guess I'd always thought (to the extent I'd thought about it at all) that it was a finite period of a few months or a year. Not so—rumspringa is the period between a child turning sixteen and them joining the church. That might be when they are seventeen or twenty or twenty-six. In theory I suppose somebody could join the church much later, although Shachtman doesn't talk much about that. At some point in the book it hit home to me that in any given community there is always a group of teens who are not subject to Amish rules and who are, you know, being typical impossible teenagers. (Seem obvious? Yes, maybe. I never said I was the brightest bulb in the box...)
One of the things that so fascinated me here is the idea that until a person joins the church, they are free to do as they will—it's okay if they do drugs and have sex and get pregnant out of wedlock—and still be welcomed back, but if they commit to the church (get baptised) and then back out, it's permanent. They are put on bann, shunned.
(I was also struck at one point how commercial some churches seem—'Equally revelatory to her is this [non-Amish] church's assertion that she can simply be baptized and will thereafter be in a spate of grace, "saved," assured of a place in Heaven. She has always been bothered by the lack of such assurance in the Amish church' (149). Not trying to pit church against church, but it is kind of like...'we offer the better deal! Pick us!')
There's a really interesting back-and-forth, though, about the good things about rumspringa (like the chance to experience both sides of things before committing) but how it is also inconsistent. 'He also tells them [church elders] he is bothered by the contradiction of the Amish church permitting him in rumspringa to have a motorcycle thought it was forbidden before he became sixteen and will again be forbidden if he joins the church. How can they both condemn and condone a behavior? To DeWayne, the Baptist stance on sin is less ambiguous and more understandable: a sin is a sin, no matter what the circumstances. For a Baptist, there are no indulgences, no time-out periods during which something usually forbidden is permitted' (134). Most of the people interviewed in the book don't seem to have quite as much of a dilemma there (if they head for the Baptists, etc., it often seems to be because they want religion but also non-Amish material things, or because they want to worship in a different way), but the question of what makes sense about rumspringa and what doesn't comes up over and over again in different forms. (I would have loved a better look at what rumspringa looked like for older generations, though.)
I did wish that Shachtman had spent more time on the 'tamer' side of rumspringa. He says early on that 'many, maybe even a majority, do not go to the parties or otherwise engage in behaviors that Amish parents and church officials consider wild. Rather, they attend Sunday singings, occasionally go bowling, take part in structured activities supervised by church elders...' (11). Probably not as interesting to read about, but the amount of time spent on that end of thing is tremendously slim in comparison to the time spent on parties and drugs and uncertainty about whether or not to go back to the Amish. If 80 to 90 percent of Amish-raised youth end up joining the church (251), I would expect that a lot of those are youth who never strayed far in the first place.
I also had a tremendously difficult time keeping the different individuals straight; although it's not the sort of book that follows just a few people through a given time period, I wouldn't have minded more detail. In some cases I think the lack of detail was to preserve privacy/anonymity, which is fine, but even when reminders were given I could dredge up only the most basic of memories. Maybe following fewer people but in more depth would have helped...wait, I just acknowledged that it wasn't that kind of book.
And a lingering question: One of the individuals in the book mentions that 'he knows that Amish young men do not treat women well—he admits to not having done so well himself in that regard—and doesn't feel that his female friends "need to be put through that kind of situation"' (195). And then the subject is dropped. Umm, what? That deserves a great deal more detail. (Shachtman does talk, elsewhere, about general abuse rates in Amish communities—that several studies have indicated that they are lower than in the general population, but this is separate, I think.) There's a whole trove of material to be considered on the topic, not just in terms of people being treated badly but in terms of what relationships tend to look like during rumspringa—which is largely, now that I think of it, ignored beyond the fact that there are relationships, they are sometimes sexual and sometimes not, and they sometimes end in marriage and entry to the Amish church (and sometimes not).
*From families and from the law—that's another matter.
September 3, 2012
Having lived in PA and traveled to Lancaster County on various occasions, I have enjoyed seeing the Amish working in the fields and shopping in the fabric stores. I was surprised to read of so much turmoil during the rumspringa time where teens are allowed to leave the fold and experience worldly pleasures, an experience the adults hope will allow their kids to go through the normal adolescent rebellion and then, on seeing how empty these experiences are, will return to the church which they will officially join, settle down and get married, and become a lifelong member of the Amish community. Naively I just saw them as living Little House on the Prairie lives, thinking that living in the past would solve modern problems. But as we have all discovered, the problems aren't just external; they are inside us--Who am I? What do I want to do with my life? Do I embrace the lifestyle in which I was raised, whether that be Amish, urban, upper middle class? I felt sorry for the kids--it seems harsh to shelter them so severely from experiencing things outside the Amish community and then throw them headlong into these temptations when they haven't yet internalized their own values yet. As the author suggested, with leaving school after the eighth grade, these kids are ill-equipped to find decent paying jobs. I would have found their lifestyle too confining and cheered the people who left. However, they will probably experience lifelong struggles stemming from the rejection from their families. It seems the concept of unconditional love for a family member isn't a part of their lifestyle. Like the Asian cultures, they seem to value group vs. individual identity. Having attended a Baptist church also, I was glad that these church people seemed to live out Christ likeness as they accepted these kids and tried to help these kids "find themselves." As a parent, we want the best for our kids, and navigating the teenage years are often exasperating. I guess their methods work as well as the next. The book was an easy read. I found the stories engaging, though often heart-wrenching. Adolescence is a tough time, no matter what your background.
May 16, 2008
The topic of this book seemed very interesting to me: Amish kids are given the chance to live outside the Amish world in an effort to make their decisions to spend their adult lives committed to the Amish church. They're rebellious teenagers who do what other rebellious teenagers do, which was surprising to me. I assumed Amish kids would've been kept so far away from technology that they wouldn't have known what cell phones were.
I have to be honest that I couldn't finish this book. It's broken up into segments that make it hard to read. Some segments are about the history of the Amish church (what people believe, how they worship). There are also segments reporting on the various effect of rumspringa on different families. The author doesn't just cover one family or a few. It's family after family. It was hard for me to get a sense of who anyone was because each little snippet was only a page or so long. Then the family would be gone and he'd be on to a new story. Overall, it was just a bit too dry for my tastes.
I have to be honest that I couldn't finish this book. It's broken up into segments that make it hard to read. Some segments are about the history of the Amish church (what people believe, how they worship). There are also segments reporting on the various effect of rumspringa on different families. The author doesn't just cover one family or a few. It's family after family. It was hard for me to get a sense of who anyone was because each little snippet was only a page or so long. Then the family would be gone and he'd be on to a new story. Overall, it was just a bit too dry for my tastes.
March 17, 2008
"... a fascinating look at a little-known Amish coming-of-age ritual, the rumspringa - the period of "running around" that begins for Amish you at the age sixteen. ..Amish youth are allowed to live outside the bounds of their faith, experimenting with the larger world and its temptations: alcohol, premarital sex, phones, drugs, wild parties, etc."
Parents home that the children will then make a decision to ignore the outside "English" way of life and return to be baptized in the Amish faith.
Particularly enjoyed it because during my childhood I had observed a number of Amish folks vacationing at the NJ shore. Knew very little about them except their modest way of dressing and what I had read/heard about their simple way of life. This book explained the foundations of the Amish way of life as well as the tradition of Rumspringa.
Parents home that the children will then make a decision to ignore the outside "English" way of life and return to be baptized in the Amish faith.
Particularly enjoyed it because during my childhood I had observed a number of Amish folks vacationing at the NJ shore. Knew very little about them except their modest way of dressing and what I had read/heard about their simple way of life. This book explained the foundations of the Amish way of life as well as the tradition of Rumspringa.
June 12, 2009
Very, very poorly written. Yes, it's nice to realize that the Amish youth do not speak in thees and thous, but one more "like, it's like, you know?" and I was ready to throw this book out the window. The quotes were often so incoherent (and interviewees so jumbled together), I really had no idea what they were talking about.
More annoying than the usual teenage nonsense is the lack of narrative. Shactman is no scholarly author, and the ideas presented are all over the place, with no organization - ramshackle, to be sure. The documentary is far more coherent, & far more conclusive - this reads like a collection of interview notes.
More annoying than the usual teenage nonsense is the lack of narrative. Shactman is no scholarly author, and the ideas presented are all over the place, with no organization - ramshackle, to be sure. The documentary is far more coherent, & far more conclusive - this reads like a collection of interview notes.
March 10, 2010
Given the title, you might think this book is more about Rumspringa than it actually is. While the study of the Amish is a fascinating subject, I unfortunately feel short-changed given the cover and the title. Yes, threads about individuals' stories were woven in, but they certainly didn't make up the majority of this volume. Really a disappointment, given how much interesting information must have been gathered in research.
(read: 22 (read a manuscript))
(read: 22 (read a manuscript))
November 25, 2009
Although the subject matter was very interesting to me, I couldn't get through this. The teenagers blended together and Shachtman's writing style was awkward and dense.
There might be other books about the Amish out there that would be better options from which to learn about this interesting religious order.
There might be other books about the Amish out there that would be better options from which to learn about this interesting religious order.
April 6, 2018
Expected it to be juicy. It's not. It's actually pretty boring. It's mostly about farming.
June 19, 2013
"What the Amish Can Teach Us..." reminded me that I read this shortly after it came out in '06. Ummm...Paints a very different picture.
June 18, 2019
This was a really interesting look into what life is like for Amish teens. I really appreciated the inclusion of such a wide array of stories, and I liked that the mentioned teens were not only revisited throughout their journeys. It was super helpful that Shachtman reminded you of who each teen was when they were mentioned again for the first time in a little while. I also loved the inclusion of psychological theories and their application to Rumspringa and the Amish in general.
January 11, 2022
this book convinced me to not become amish after years of thinking it was the path for me, i have nothing but gratitude
November 25, 2007
Like many people, I find the Amish quite fascinating. The idea that people would want to live without modern conveniences seems quaint, and I was interested to learn how they could retain young members. "Rumspringa" is the time in an Amish teenagers' life when s/he is permitted to go out and experience the outside world. The hope is that after reveling in temptation for a short while, they will realize the need to return to their communities and devote themselves to the Amish way of life. But, these kids don't just go out and get jobs and spend time with "English" youth. They go all out - they smoke, drink excessively, use hard-core drugs (often becoming addicted to meth and heroin), and engage in pre-marital sex (which leads to the fairly common phenomenon of many Amish first children being born 8 months after the wedding). While this book is, on its face, a study of Amish youth and their frustrations with the rigors of their religion, it is underneath a study of all children - how parents raise and teach children, and hope that when they are out on their own, they will know how to make the right choices and take care of themselves. The Amish parents in the book struggle between being too strict and driving away their children (but teaching them good values), and being too lenient, risking the wrath of their community, but hopefully showing their children mercy and acceptance. In many ways, it seems as if the Amish set their children up for disaster in the outside world - they rarely attend school after the 8th grade and so aren't in a position to obtain sustainable employment. What they can earn is spent readily on "normal" clothing and other means of just fitting in to regular life. Often times, the examples in the book seemed to come back to the Amish communities after they'd hit rock bottom, or were too afraid of the shunning they'd face if they didn't. As would be expected, the Amish life seems particularly difficult for women who are expected to have many many children and to submit to the directives of their husbands. On the other hand, as far as organized religions go, the Amish do have much to commend. Rumspringa is a fascinating glimpse in to growing up Amish, but also in to how we all come to make our own decisions and choose which life we want to lead.
May 20, 2013
The rumspringa period is intended to give the young Amish some experience of mainstream culture so that they can make informed decisions, when the time comes, about whether or not to join the Amish church as adults. The period ends, ideally, when a young adult in rumspringa decides to be baptized into the church, which implies refraining thenceforth from the illicit behaviors they were allowed briefly to experience. Some 80% of Amish youth do, in fact, return to the fold.
Tom Shachtman's Rumspringa is the product of more than 400 hours of interviews conducted between 1999 and 2004. Shachtman focuses on the period of rumspringa, but in fact his book serves as an introduction to Amish life as a whole. Each of the author's 11 chapters centers on some aspect of Amish life--education (most Amish aren't educated beyond the 8th grade), farming, punishment by shunning, the role of women in Amish society. Shachtman profiles a great number of individual Amish of varying ages, returning to his subjects' stories throughout the book as anecdotes from their lives become pertinent to his current theme. Shachtman seamlessly integrates direct quotes and information gleaned from the interviews into his narrative. And in fact Shachtman writes very well throughout the book. His prose is clear and admirably precise.
Shachtman's book is also fascinating, at least to this reader, who was previously largely unfamiliar with the particulars of Amish culture. I cannot know how a reader raised in the Amish faith would respond to the book, but Shachtman's study seemed to me a very thoughtful and fair-minded exploration of the society. The author finds value in much of what Amish culture has to offer--the Amish work ethic, for example, dependable community support, their care of the elderly and infirm--while finding fault with other aspects, for example, their abbreviated educational system. Shachtman concludes with a chapter considering why so high a percentage of youths in rumspringa eventually join the church. What is the allure of life in Amish society, considering that the price of belonging, the renunciation of much of one's independence, is so high? It is a very interesting discussion.
Tom Shachtman's Rumspringa is the product of more than 400 hours of interviews conducted between 1999 and 2004. Shachtman focuses on the period of rumspringa, but in fact his book serves as an introduction to Amish life as a whole. Each of the author's 11 chapters centers on some aspect of Amish life--education (most Amish aren't educated beyond the 8th grade), farming, punishment by shunning, the role of women in Amish society. Shachtman profiles a great number of individual Amish of varying ages, returning to his subjects' stories throughout the book as anecdotes from their lives become pertinent to his current theme. Shachtman seamlessly integrates direct quotes and information gleaned from the interviews into his narrative. And in fact Shachtman writes very well throughout the book. His prose is clear and admirably precise.
Shachtman's book is also fascinating, at least to this reader, who was previously largely unfamiliar with the particulars of Amish culture. I cannot know how a reader raised in the Amish faith would respond to the book, but Shachtman's study seemed to me a very thoughtful and fair-minded exploration of the society. The author finds value in much of what Amish culture has to offer--the Amish work ethic, for example, dependable community support, their care of the elderly and infirm--while finding fault with other aspects, for example, their abbreviated educational system. Shachtman concludes with a chapter considering why so high a percentage of youths in rumspringa eventually join the church. What is the allure of life in Amish society, considering that the price of belonging, the renunciation of much of one's independence, is so high? It is a very interesting discussion.
June 24, 2009
A very interesting book, and I learned a lot about the Amish community that I didn’t know before.
Apparently, when an Amish teenager turns 16, he or she enters a period of time called rumspringa. Most Amish youth use this time as a way to experience English (i.e., non-Amish) life. During rumspringa, the Amish kids can do things normally prohibited by their religious leaders ... this includes going to parties, listening to secular music, watching TV, driving cars, drinking alcohol, smoking, using drugs, and having premarital sex.
The idea behind rumspringa is to let the kids experience life outside the Amish world, to the extent that they sow any wild oats well before they “join church,” or become baptized in the Amish faith. This book follows several Amish teens through their rumspringa period, giving us insight into why almost 90% of them eventually return to the faith.
My only complaint (and it’s a small one) is that I would have liked a bit more diversity among the kids interviewed. For example, Amish adhere very strictly to the Christian Bible and believe that homosexuality is wrong, but I can’t imagine that none of the teenage boys in those Amish communities haven’t thought about it. There were quite a few kids mentioned in the book who either didn’t join church or who did so and then left (which led to their being placed in the bann and effectively cut off from their Amish past forever), so it would have been very interesting to hear from guys who didn’t want to get married and settle down, or who questioned their sexuality. The book mentions several young women who do not want to submit to the role of housewife, and one who fights against rumors of being a lesbian because she lives with another woman on the outside, so it would have been nice to read about guys of a similar mindset.
Overall, this book is a very interesting look at the Amish faith and good commentary on why (in the author’s opinion) so many young people return to the fold despite the temptations of today’s consumer-based society. If you’re interested in reading this one, drop me a note ... but my parents and my sister want to read it first.
Apparently, when an Amish teenager turns 16, he or she enters a period of time called rumspringa. Most Amish youth use this time as a way to experience English (i.e., non-Amish) life. During rumspringa, the Amish kids can do things normally prohibited by their religious leaders ... this includes going to parties, listening to secular music, watching TV, driving cars, drinking alcohol, smoking, using drugs, and having premarital sex.
The idea behind rumspringa is to let the kids experience life outside the Amish world, to the extent that they sow any wild oats well before they “join church,” or become baptized in the Amish faith. This book follows several Amish teens through their rumspringa period, giving us insight into why almost 90% of them eventually return to the faith.
My only complaint (and it’s a small one) is that I would have liked a bit more diversity among the kids interviewed. For example, Amish adhere very strictly to the Christian Bible and believe that homosexuality is wrong, but I can’t imagine that none of the teenage boys in those Amish communities haven’t thought about it. There were quite a few kids mentioned in the book who either didn’t join church or who did so and then left (which led to their being placed in the bann and effectively cut off from their Amish past forever), so it would have been very interesting to hear from guys who didn’t want to get married and settle down, or who questioned their sexuality. The book mentions several young women who do not want to submit to the role of housewife, and one who fights against rumors of being a lesbian because she lives with another woman on the outside, so it would have been nice to read about guys of a similar mindset.
Overall, this book is a very interesting look at the Amish faith and good commentary on why (in the author’s opinion) so many young people return to the fold despite the temptations of today’s consumer-based society. If you’re interested in reading this one, drop me a note ... but my parents and my sister want to read it first.
December 18, 2007
One of the chief characteristics of American life in the early twenty-first century is its number of second chances—several careers, multiple marriages, lots of moving of residences, and plenty of opportunities for starting over. Amish youth have few such options, and only one moment in which to make the most important decision—perhaps the only significant decision—of their lives, one that will then define their lives until the end of their days. For once they have agreed to reenter their ancestral culture, it becomes to difficult to leave again, and the consequences of doing so are harsh.
...the stricter the church, the greater the likelihood it will survive and increase...
One added reason for noncomforming and for the practice of absonderung is that abstinence from pleasures helps to instill in the Amish a proper sense of suffering—a suffering that echoes Christ's and the agonies of all martyrs to the truth faith, the people whom the present-day Amish claim as forebears.
It is contrary to Amish tradition to announce a wedding too far in advance of the date, but most weddings are held on Thursdays in November, and the decorations and fare feature celery, so when a celery patch appears in a family's yard, the secret is out.
The banned person may not receive communion or participate in regular services. Family members may not eat at the same table with the ex-member; the banned person is not even permitted to serve himself or herself food from the common dish used by the others—food must be given to the person, usually through an intermediary who is not a member, such as a child.
"The head of every man is Christ, and the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God"
Amish youth know very well that joining the church is an irrevocable act having multiple weighty consequences. They may actually join because they seek that irreversibility, because they want to end the stress and ambiguity that will otherwise continue for them in the outside world.
...the stricter the church, the greater the likelihood it will survive and increase...
One added reason for noncomforming and for the practice of absonderung is that abstinence from pleasures helps to instill in the Amish a proper sense of suffering—a suffering that echoes Christ's and the agonies of all martyrs to the truth faith, the people whom the present-day Amish claim as forebears.
It is contrary to Amish tradition to announce a wedding too far in advance of the date, but most weddings are held on Thursdays in November, and the decorations and fare feature celery, so when a celery patch appears in a family's yard, the secret is out.
The banned person may not receive communion or participate in regular services. Family members may not eat at the same table with the ex-member; the banned person is not even permitted to serve himself or herself food from the common dish used by the others—food must be given to the person, usually through an intermediary who is not a member, such as a child.
"The head of every man is Christ, and the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God"
Amish youth know very well that joining the church is an irrevocable act having multiple weighty consequences. They may actually join because they seek that irreversibility, because they want to end the stress and ambiguity that will otherwise continue for them in the outside world.
December 17, 2014
Delving into the Amish culture, Shachtman explores the "running around" period that Amish parents grant their 16-and-up children, wherein they are free to roam without supervision, sampling the wares of the outside world, deciding whether to "join church," settle down in the Amish life or not.
It is hard to believe that such a strict, traditional people allow their kids a window of time to smoke, drink, sleep around. (I've got my own rumspringa child. I just want to tell her, "But dear, we're not Amish.") Shachtman examines: how much do the parents know about what goes on? Is a sheltered Amish childhood adequate preparation for meeting The World and its temptations? How many kids, in the end, opt for Amish life and why? And as for the ones who don't, why not?
Shachtman follows several youth through their rumspringa and beyond. We get to be the fly on the wall, watching them choose between wild parties and traditional "singings," cashiering at the tourist restaurants, driving fast for the first time, negotiating with a parent who offers a fully tricked-out buggy "if you'll just end this running around and join church now."
Shachtman also draws a picture of what it means to choose the Amish life: How do the they adapt to a changing world? What rules do they change and why? Would the religion survive if it allowed education beyond the 8th grade? What happens to those who leave the church? And, finally, what about the Amish is worth emulating and what should the Amish learn from the rest of us?
The author concludes that Amish youth could spend their allotted running arounddays hiking in the Rocky Mountains, or tracing their roots in Switzerland, or moving to Chicago and studying biology or in any number of world-widening pursuits. But with their short educations and sheltered childhoods, they don't know enough to even dream about these things.
It is hard to believe that such a strict, traditional people allow their kids a window of time to smoke, drink, sleep around. (I've got my own rumspringa child. I just want to tell her, "But dear, we're not Amish.") Shachtman examines: how much do the parents know about what goes on? Is a sheltered Amish childhood adequate preparation for meeting The World and its temptations? How many kids, in the end, opt for Amish life and why? And as for the ones who don't, why not?
Shachtman follows several youth through their rumspringa and beyond. We get to be the fly on the wall, watching them choose between wild parties and traditional "singings," cashiering at the tourist restaurants, driving fast for the first time, negotiating with a parent who offers a fully tricked-out buggy "if you'll just end this running around and join church now."
Shachtman also draws a picture of what it means to choose the Amish life: How do the they adapt to a changing world? What rules do they change and why? Would the religion survive if it allowed education beyond the 8th grade? What happens to those who leave the church? And, finally, what about the Amish is worth emulating and what should the Amish learn from the rest of us?
The author concludes that Amish youth could spend their allotted running arounddays hiking in the Rocky Mountains, or tracing their roots in Switzerland, or moving to Chicago and studying biology or in any number of world-widening pursuits. But with their short educations and sheltered childhoods, they don't know enough to even dream about these things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2009
This was a great book. I have no idea as to why I am so obsessed with the Amish Culture. I read this book in 2007 and it was completely interesting. It essentially chronicled some Amish teens in a community and followed their "Rumspringa" which is the period when an Amish teen turns 16 and essentially is allowed to date, wear american style dress, wear makeup, smoke, drink, have sex and experience things that typical teenagers may also experience. This period is really a comming of age for the Amish Teens as they have a very important decision to make...........Whether they want to join the Amish church or whether or not they want to leave the church. If they leave the church, they are excommunicated from their families and are not welcomed back to their families. Once a teen decides to join the church, they are baptized and then are a full fledged member of the church and Amish Community.
I was suprised at the book and how wild some of the teens were. Most of them joined the church and some of them did not. It was definitely an interesting book. I also saw the documentary on the Discovery Channel which is based on this book. It's called the Devil's Playground and it again follows the same teens as are in the book.............If you are curious about the Amish lifestyle at all, I definitely suggest you read this book.
I was suprised at the book and how wild some of the teens were. Most of them joined the church and some of them did not. It was definitely an interesting book. I also saw the documentary on the Discovery Channel which is based on this book. It's called the Devil's Playground and it again follows the same teens as are in the book.............If you are curious about the Amish lifestyle at all, I definitely suggest you read this book.
March 23, 2008
This book reads like a documentary. The author bases it on 400 hours of interviews with Amish and formerly Amish. "Rumspringa" refers to the period of time when an Amish youth turns 16 when s/he is allowed to "run around" -- experimenting with life in the "English" world. This includes drugs, sex, drinking, buying cars, etc. After this period of experimentation, the adolescents then must make the choice (in their own time - some people take many years to decide) of whether they want to return to the church, be baptised, and dedicate their life to being Amish. There is a big debate within the community and with other similar communities (like the Mennonites - who don't allow Rumpsringa) over whether this is a good idea or whether it is just pushing these kids out into a world where they have no knowledge or protection from potentially deadly vices (the main problem seems to be kids who become addicted to drugs, but there are also issues with sexually transmitted diseases). It made me really think about how I want to raise my own kids and how much freedom I want to allow them in their teen years to experiment, along with what sort of guidance I should provide.
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