Living Without Electricity

"Reads quickly because it is written in an entertaining and loving style, but it contains considerable information." – Pennsylvania Magazine "Living Without Electricity is a factual, unglamorized yet sensitive account of how the Amish live without inventions that most of us in North America take for granted." – Christian Living "Perhaps its most useful contribution is an explanation of why some labor-saving devices are acceptable to the Old Order while others are not." – Kitchener-Waterloo Record "The strength of this book is the attention given to variation in the use of mechanical power among the Amish through time and from settlement to settlement. The authors document the use or prohibition of devices such as pickup balers, motorized washing machines, and bulk milk tanks. The book also includes many good photographs of these devices." – Mennonite Quarterly Review "Similarities and differences within groups of Amish and between geographical areas are highlighted. Charts and photographs add interest and information. One is also able to see when various technological changes took place in the larger American society. "What becomes clear throughout is that all new inventions are evaluated in terms of their long range effects on the Amish community and in terms of their compatibility with Amish values. The simple joys of working and living together as a family, portrayed by the Amish way of life, hold a great deal of appeal. "It is hard to imagine a better written, more widely documented book on the subject of the Amish and technology." – Provident BookFinder