The Amish have always struggled with the modern world. Known for their simple clothing; plain lifestyle; and horse-and-buggy mode of transportation; Amish communities continually face outside pressures to modify their cultural patterns; social organization; and religious world view. An intimate portrait of Amish life; The Amish explores not only the emerging diversity and evolving identities within this distinctive American ethnic community; but also its transformation and geographic expansion.Donald B. Kraybill; Karen M. Johnson-Weiner; and Steven M. Nolt spent twenty-five years researching Amish history; religion; and culture. Drawing on archival material; direct observations; and oral history; the authors provide an authoritative and sensitive understanding of Amish society. Amish people do not evangelize; yet their numbers in North America have grown from a small community of some 6;000 people in the early 1900s to a thriving population of more than 320;000 today. The largest populations are found in Ohio; Pennsylvania; and Indiana; with additional communities in twenty-eight other states and three Canadian provinces. The authors argue that the intensely private and insular Amish have devised creative ways to negotiate with modernity that have enabled them to thrive in America. The transformation of the Amish in the American imagination from "backward bumpkins" to media icons poses provocative questions. What does the Amish story reveal about the American character; popular culture; and mainstream values? Richly illustrated; The Amish is the definitive portrayal of the Amish in America in the twenty-first century.
#22211 in Books Doris Kearns Goodwin 2013 2014-09-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.60 x 6.12l; 2.60 #File Name: 1416547878912 pagesThe Bully Pulpit Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft and the Golden Age of Journalism
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. 4 stars by comparisonBy don't look back4 stars by comparison means compared to her fantastic Team of Rivals. While I disagree almost completely with those who claim it was unreadable of lacked focus there is a small kernel of truth to the claim. The editor could have used a little more trimming and possibly helped it run a bit smoother. That being said I really enjoyed reading it and with only a few exceptions moved along quite enjoyably. I disagree with one of the editorial reviews that said she didn't show Taft in the best of light. While I knew a bit of his history her portrayal of his racial views really impressed me. And the idea of coupling Roosevelt; Taft and the journalists in one book interacting was inspired if as already said a touch disjointed. Probably doesn't hurt that the book coincides with my already held view that TR wasn't as wonderful personally as generally portrayed and Taft was ill treated by history. To me the best point on this is instead of getting a free trader; anti monopoly; racially way ahead of his times Taft for a second term; we got an anti semite ; racist; eugenicist; liar (he kept our boys out of war) pigheaded ( no Republicans at peace treaty oh no League of Nations) Woodrow Wilson. This book probably isn't for everyone but if you're interested in an evenhanded treatment of this period and are willing to push yourself in a couple of places I'd suggest it you'll be better informed for it1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I love everything Doris Kearns Goodwin has writtenBy CarlFirst of all; I love everything Doris Kearns Goodwin has written; and that includes this book. That said; there are some elements that I would change.The virtue of this book is the same as its defect: it's wildly detailed. That fact brings the characters to life when the details matter and slows the narrative when they don't. I don't really care about the voting tallies in the numerous elections Goodwin cites; for example.The trajectory of Roosevelt's life is vivid. He begins as pure energy in search of a cause; rises to genuine American hero; and ends rather tragically; as a slave of his own ego. Goodwin does a wonderful job completing the circle.For me; the biggest surprise is William Howard Taft; a sadly overlooked President; more regarded as a placeholder than a significant historical figure. The sheer goodness of his character is what I like best about Goodwin's portrait. His genuine attempts to do the right thing no matter the political consequences were so refreshing given today's political climate and in contrast with Roosevelt himself. I came out of the book admiring a character I had no sense of before this portrait.What was really new to me was Goodwin's accounting of the press during this period. Once again; ours suffers by comparison; and it's instructive to see exactly how.We've grown so accustomed to shoddy politics and shoddy press that we barely notice any more. I think the most important thing this book does is show how very similar problems were managed far more honorably than they currently are.13 of 14 people found the following review helpful. "The Bully Pulpit" looks at the trees but misses the forestBy Rev. RalphDoris Kearns Goodwin's finely detailed account of the Progressive era; with Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft at the center of her story; reinforced by her "inside" narrative of a great time in journalism; exemplified by the outstanding investigative team at McClure's magazine; gives the reader; in great detail; an enormous amount of carefully researched information. Several of the reviews claim that the book is far too long. However; the period of American history known as the dawn of the Industrial Age and with it the advent of a truly Progressive social reform era merit the sort of near-exhaustive treatment Goodwin offers. It was a time when two great forces were being unleashed in American culture: industrial strength and power; and the social; prophetic voices sounding loud and clear; in response to that very earth-changing business and industrial upheaval. The forces were really locked in conflict. To write about all that sweeping revolution requires a lot of words.What Goodwin does not attempt -- perhaps that would be the work of another author -- is a critical appraisal of the vastly disruptive era she characterizes with infinite care. The late Sydney E. Ahlstrom; historian of American religious thought; does provide such a broad interpretation in his magnum opus; "A Religious History of the American People" (1972;Yale University Press; Second Edition; 2004). Prof. Ahlstrom sets the time of Roosevelt and Taft in perspective. It was a time of expansion; glorifying "bigness;" and re-awakening America's religious roots as a nation with a "Manifest Destiny." For example; the country loved " the splendid little war" (April 19-August 12; 1898) pursuing Cuban independence. Taking pride in Commodore Dewey in the Philippines; Teddy Roosevelt said; somewhat ruefully; "It was a little war; but it was the only one we had." (Ahlstrom; p. 879) In an era of American imperialism and religious zeal; the country; and its churches; were intent on Christianizing the heathen. The Presidents simply gave political support to the program.It was a time of enormously keen social reform. It really followed in the aftermath of the American Civil War... a time called "The Second Great Awakening;" highlighted by the beginnings of such institutions as the YM and YWCA; urban settlement houses; foreign missionary movements; Bible societies; and mental hospital reform. Without that supporting cast; Roosevelt and Taft; as well as the great journalists Ida Tarbell; John Phillips; Ray Baker; and others would simply not have had a responsive audience.So; while Doris Kearns Goodwin gives us a valuable picture of the trees in an extremely significant period of American development; she leaves it to someone else to provide a clear picture of the forest.
