Product Description
Each of the authors has spent years doing development, as wll as in academia. ... Read more

Product Description
Containing the most important body of work of Magnum photographer Larry Towell, this book provides a portrait of the way of life of the Mennonites, a Protestant religious sect in Mexico and rural Ontario. In addition to the photographs, Towell's text tells anecdotes of his experiences. He paints a picture of the lives of the people: the harshness and poverty of their rural life, the disciplines and contradictions of their religion, their hunger for land, for work, and for the freedom to live the way they choose. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A book for life
Reviewing a photo book is extremely subjective.I first read this book 5 years ago when I started college and wasn't impressed by it.I picked it up again last year and see the pictures with new eyes.The pictures and writing create a piece of literature more about humanity, independence and will than Mennonites.It is my Bible.

a beautiful book
This is a beautiful book, with wonderful reprodution of photography.
A joy to have in my book collection! ... Read more

Product Description
Amanda - a Daughter of the Mennonites. please visit www.valdebooks.com for a full list of titles ... Read more

Product Description
Explore the questions most people have about the Amish and Mennonites. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A good start....
20 Most Asked Questions about the Amish and Mennonites is a slim book of less than 100 pages.The 20 questions are frankly answered with only the most basic information, only a few pages really, but this was not meant to be a in-dept study.The questions, such as Why do they dress that way?and What are their weddings like?seem like something both adults and children may find interesting.I would suggest this book for anybody who wants to take a peek at their societies but does not really wish to spend too much on a huge hardcover book written by a scholar.
Some of the photos are old, having been first published in 1979 and only being reprinted in 1995.But the information itself is sound and many of the facts have been updated. I, frankly, find the reviews in which many people seem upset that the book is not in-dept amazing.A glance at it could tell you this is a Rest Stop Book.While in Pennsylvania I found this book was at every Rest Stop, every book store, gift shop, and every place you might stop to fill up on gas, food and guide books.Right next to the maps and trashy romance novels.If you want more please remember that this is the FIRST in a series of books, The People's Place Book series, and that other books deal with their homes, schools, buggies, recipes and so on.I suggest getting it for a start.

Rather too basic to be really useful
Although the Amish and Old Order Mennonites are remarkably fascinating for their simplicity, peacefulness and deep emotional ties that modern industrial society lacks so much, this book, which I originally found in a bargain bookshop near my home in Carlton, unfortunately does not offer a great deal that curious people (like myself) ought to know about these groups.

The first book in the "People's Place" series, the book answers many crucial question about these groups but does so in a rather shallow and stereotyped manner that is unlikely to help the reader deeply understand and make his or her own judgments about the qualities typical of these groups. Whilst they explain clearly many quesitons like why the Amish reject higher education or why they dress as they do, there is very little effort to relate them together in a coherent fashion to the lifestyle they lead. As a person with a great interest in what motivates people and societies, I cannot consider this a good thing.

The "People's Place" series may not have had a good start, but the much more detailed later books therein show it had much more potential than shown on this first title.

Take A Good Look
Take a good look at them. Anabaptist means rebaptizer. They were accused of being freeloaders on society.

A little too general, may be confusing
I would think most people buying this book are interested in conservative Amish and Mennonite groups, not the liberal/mainstream Mennonites. However, this book seems to make a point of explaining the liberal/mainstream views on issues without necessarily saying it is their stance and is contrary to conservative Mennonite/Amish views. Of course, this may be because the authors are mainstream Mennonite and feel just as much "Mennonite" as the ones in buggies. While I won't dabble with that topic in this review, I'm not so much opposed to them identifying mainstream Mennonite views so much as them not clearly identifying them as such and as a contrast. A bit of history of the conservative vs. mainstream movements during the 20th century would have gone a long ways, even if just a couple paragraphs, to explain why there are pictures on one page of a Beachy Amish congregation with segregated seating a plain dress, and then a woman with a short skirt smoking a cigarette on the other. "You mean, they're both Amish/Mennonite groups? How is that?" a reader may ask.

But, the book does cover some basic questions readers may have about conservative Amish and Mennonites. Perhaps the less publicized book by Stephen Scott, Introduction to Old Order and Conservative Mennonite Groups (People's Place Book 12), by the same publisher would be a good introduction to conservative Mennonite groups. Scott is with a plain church and is a researcher at Elizabethtown College.

Anything by Donald Kraybill is usually a good place to start with the Old Order Amish, but he is a sociologist not an Amish theologian, so you miss something there, though he does detail the whys of what they do.

And you won't find much of anything on rumsprunga in this book. That's because it's an overpublicized media entertainment stunt that is far from portraying universal practice. There are many Amish groups that do not practice rumsprunga, and many more that have a moderate form of it, as in meeting up with the youth to sing hymns. The media's practice is like taking a run-down inner city school and portraying it like it represents all US schools.

Interesting, but somewhat general and some answers incomplete
I found this book to be a quite readable overview of the Amish and Mennonite, although out of necessity it has to be quite general in order to be such a slim volume.My only complaint it that some of the "questions" are not answered satisfactoraly, namely that about the problems that the Amish currently have to contend with.Also, some of the photos (all in the book are black and white) are fairly dark, something which could easily have been avoided. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

With vivid language and eyewitness detail
In Separate And Peculiar: Old Order Mennonite Life In Ontario, author Isaac Horst, an Old Order Mennonite, thoroughly explains the customs, beliefs, and culture of his people in Ontario - both in English and in Pennsylvanian German. This bilingual presentation shows the Mennonite community through the eyes and story of a typical boy, Menno Martin, who matures over time at home, on the farm, in school, and at church. Eventually he marries Grace and becomes a preacher. Vivid language and eyewitness detail bring to life what it is like to live in an Old Order Mennonite community, from barn raising, quilting, and butchering day to youth singings and being baptized as a member of the church. With black-and-white illustrations, a glossary of typical Mennonite terms, and a captivating point of view, Separate And Peculiar is strongly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the Old Order Mennonite community. ... Read more

Product Description
Many people no longer have time to entertain and cook for large groups of people in their homes. Hence, the growing interest in potlucks, fellowship meals and carry-in dinners. Here are 800 recipes ranging from Sweet and Sour Baked Beans to Amish Vanilla Pie, perfect for sharing with friends at home or at church. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

still finding great recipes after 2 years.
I love this cook book.Not anything fancy or gourmet in it, just good, practicle, inexpensive meals.This is a great family cook book.I liked it so much I ordered a second one and had it sent to my Sis.I'm still discovering new recipes after 2 years of use.There is not a lot of attention to appearance of the dishes, or presentation.It's not the kind of cookbook you will want if you are trying to impress the in-laws with your gourmet abilities, but if you want to prepare good homemade dishes on a budget, this book will fit the bill.

My Most Used Cook Book
I've had this book for many years.Every recipe I have tried has been over and above what I've ever expected.I've made meals for our church dinners and am always asked for the recipe.Mine is taped together it has been use so much!Our favorite family recipe is the Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas.I just purchased this book for my sister because she borrows mine so much! One of the best and most-used cookbooks I own.

Nice book, but not what I was looking for
I ordered this book thinking that I would be getting more background on Mennonite cooking. It is a fine book though for anyone who just wants recipes.

Great basic ideas
A great book for cooking ahead.I find I use it a lot in planning meals that I need to take somewhere or planning meals I need to have cooked well before dinner time.The only nit-pick I'd have is that there are a lot of "variations on a theme" recipes, but this could also be seen as a positive

The Best of Mennonite Fellowship Meals
I use this book all of the time.Most of the recipes are items most people who like to cook will have on their shelves or in their refrigerators.Have given this book as a gift three times because I love the recipes!

Carolyn S. Cecil
Lincoln, IL ... Read more

Product Description
This volume challenges received images of Old Colony Mennonites as 'living in the past' or perfect examples of community. Through the concept of the 'imagination of the future' this book presents an analysis of their historical transformations as the result of attempting to apply in practice their Christian ideals of building a community of believers in the world, while remaining separate from it. It argues that while they contributed to the territorialisation of the states that hosted them through their migrations from sixteenth-century Europe to late twentieth-century Latin America, they systematically rejected being incorporated into the nation through the building of a community of agricultural settlements that maintain ties across international borders. It explores how these imaginations are maintained and transformed through the analysis of schisms, conflict, and border management, together with a biographical approach to conversion narratives, and the religious experience. ... Read more

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Tillie, a Mennonite Maid; a Story of the Pennsylvania Dutch. please visit www.valdebooks.com for a full list of titles ... Read more

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In recent years, religion- andculture-based approaches to conflict resolution have been implemented at both the local and regional level. The U.S. State Department and other governmental agencies now recognize that religious leaders, transnational religious movements, and faith-based NGOs are central players in the post-Cold War era of ethnic and religious conflict.

This new collection of essays chronicles, analyzes, and evaluates the Mennonite contribution to the new cultural paradigm in conflict resolution and peacebuilding theory and practice. Contributors to this volume provide a thorough account of Mennonite initiatives to prevent, resolve, or transform conflict in a variety of settings, including South Africa, Northern Ireland, Colombia, Nicaragua, Somalia, Liberia, Haiti, and Hebron. They also look at Mennonite peacebuilding, comparing it to Quaker and secular techniques, exploring its relationship with Mennonite religious values, and assessing its strengths and weaknesses.

Thoroughly researched and carefully argued, From the Ground Up is a vital resource for students and scholars of religion, diplomacy, and peacemaking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Homey old-fashioned cooking
You will find lots of homey old-fashioned recipes in this cookbook that are easy to prepare. For example I made the Swiss Steak recipe that used tomato sauce. I substituted thinned out tomato soup instead and the recipe worked just fine. The recipe was cooked and then frozen for later eating. When prepared the steak was absolutely tender and delicious.

You will find lots of preserving recipes that help round out the meal.

Finally, the author keeps the cookbook friendly and homey through her well written chapter introductions telling about the recipe history.

Overall, highly recommend.

I love, love this cookbook!
The sheer nostalgia is reason enough to love this cookbook. First published in 1950, it has some very interesting recipes, as well as a whole section of miscellaneous recipes and household tips and tricks, which includes how to make yellowed piano keys white again, and even how to make laundry soap! A truly fun read! It also includes recipes that are wonderfully simple for today's family. While a lot of the recipes would certainly not qualify as healthy, or even appetizing, (suet pudding??) others are fabulously simplistic, budget-friendly, and can even be made to be healthy (farmer's summer supper). Still, as much as I love this book; I would caution those who are looking for a collective abundance of simple, budget-friendly meals that are also healthy, this might not be the book for you.

The best cookbook to hand down to your children!
This cookbook is our families favorite and not just because we are Mennonite!I cooked this way long before I became Mennonite and this book has many recipes that we all use in our family for every day eating. When my children got married and moved out on their own, each one of them received this cookbook as a present.They all looked forward to getting it.Even still, 15 years after the last one married, I still receive calls from them asking if I could help them with recipe so-and-so on page whichever.Hahaha.Makes an empty nester still feel useful I can say for sure and for certain!

Anyways, this cookbook has so many recipes in it that are good, healthy ways to eat.And then there are those that are not, but those are the ones that usually taste the best!We love the recipe for chicken in sour sauce which is heavy with sour cream.And the corn casserole to go with it.Usually followed at the end by one of the many great pie recipes here too.I wouldn't be without this cookbook in my kitchen and refer back to it often.

So if you are looking for a good, easy to use cookbook that is packed full of easy to make recipes and that have lots of comfort foods in it too, then this is the cookbook for you and your family.Mine liked it a LOT better than even the new Better Homes and Garden cookbook!

Really Good Real Home Cooking Cookbook! Highly Recommended!
My wife asked me to find another copy of the "Mennonite Community Cookbook" to give to my daughter so she wouldn't have to take ours. I don't want my wife to be without this cookbook, so was happy that Amazon carried it :-)

As several of the other reviewers point out, the recipes included in this cookbook are not low anything (insert Fat, Salt, Sugar, Carb, other unhealthy item, etc). That being said, they can generally be adapted by a good cook to be more healthy by substituting alternative ingredients.

This book gets a lot use in our house and I, as a recipient of the excellent meals that result, highly recommend it!

This is my most used cookbook
The recipes in this book are for farmers, who are cold all winter and hot all summer, so they are hearty and filling.However, if you are trying to cook light, they are easily modifiable.Use ground turkey instead of ground beef or sausage.Use turkey sausage instead of pork sausage, etc.You can often substitute canola oil for butter.You really only need to use shortening or lard when it effects the consistency, like in pie crust.Even made as they are written, these recipes are much healthier than the average fast food or restaraunt meal.They are also healthier than the average prepared meal out of the grocery store freezer.They are meant to be served up with heaping helpings of fresh vegetables.Some are great simple fare to serve up when you don't have time to cook.I find that the farmer's summer supper (a mixture of torn bread, fresh fruit and fresh milk) is great on hot summer nights when its too hot to turn on the oven and heat up the kitchen.I have used the sour milk griddle cake recipe for decades (substitute buttermilk if the idea of using sour milk bothers you, or sour fresh milk with a tablespoon of vinegar).Recently, I have gotten totally hooked on the buckwheat pancake recipe.I love the cornbread recipe, and I often make it by substituting a can of creamed corn for the milk.Its much healthier than eating store bought bread, with whole grain and vegetables both in the same bread. ... Read more

Product Description
This collection of original essays focuses on the rich, historically diverse, and often misunderstood experiences of Amish, Mennonite, and other women of Anabaptist traditions across 400 years.Equal parts sociology, religious history, and gender studies, the book explores the changing roles and issues surrounding Anabaptist women in communities ranging from sixteenth-century Europe to contemporary North America. Gathered under the overarching theme of the insider/outsider distinction, the essays discuss, among other topics:

•How womanhood was defined in early Anabaptist societies of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and how women served as central figures by convening meetings across class boundaries or becoming religious leaders
•How nineteenth-century Amish tightened the connections among the individual, the family, the household, and the community by linking them into a shared framework with the father figure at the helm
•The changing work world and domestic life of Mennonite women in the three decades following World War II
•The recent ascendency of anti-modernism and plain dress among the Amish
•The special difficulties faced by scholars who try to apply a historical or sociological method to the very same cultural subgroups from which they derive

The essays in this collection follow a fascinating journey through time and place to give voice to women who are often characterized as the "quiet in the land." Their voices and their experiences demonstrate the power of religion to shape identity and social practice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Introduction to a Different World
"Strangers at Home" is a multi-authored volume on the subject of Amish and Mennonite women, which grew out of a conference on the subject at Millersville University in 1995. It explores the many facets of the lives of women in Amish and Old Order or Conservative Mennonite communities, from history, to their role in religious ceremony, to their dress and daily lives.

As with most multi-authored works, not all of the chapters are equally good; but many of the essays are gems. Hasia Diner's opening essay, "Writing History From Inside and Outside", is both an introduction to the subject of Mennonite women, and a reflection on the relationship of scholar to the culture that she studies. Beth Graybill's essay on Mennonite dress is both informative and deeply empathetic. The late Margaret Reynolds' description of the breadmaking ritual among the River Breathren is fascinating, a fine description of the ritual without being voyeuristic or judgmental. Julia Kasdorf's essay on poetry by women of Mennonite background is a fine introduction to the subject by a woman who is herself of Mennonite background, a poet, and novelist.

Persons who are deeply versed in this subject may quibble with one or another chapter. But for someone like myself - a man and a Catholic, for whom the world of Mennonite women is terra incognita - "Strangers at Home" is a fine introduction to that world. I found the book to be informative and generous in its empathy, in the best tradition of humanistic scholarship. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Makes the people real
The photos were great, and the descriptions made the old Swiss Mennonites seem very human.I even found out what they ate and wore.The dating may be wrong.My family documents indicate that the entire group came in 1717.My ancestor, Isaac Kauffman, bought 300 acres very near Mr. Herr in 1717.I assume that he had come with the first group.
Marcia Meisinger

Not just a guidebook to one specific 18th century house
Sure, this book was designed to explain the origins of the Hans Herr House built near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1719.But it includes historical background about the Mennonites from their beginnings in Switzerland and the German Palatinate through their immigrations to North America in the early 1700s.Aspects of typical daily life are detailed as well, such as building construction techniques, farming, furnishings, foods and cooking procedures, tools, and religious practices.Even though the rooms can be imagined by reading the descriptions and studying the color photos, a floor plan would have helped those readers who haven't yet visited the house.Still, anyone with Mennonite or Pennsylvania German roots should probably read this slim volume someday.

One chapter follows the ownership of the property, which remained in the hands of Herr descendants until 1969, when the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society was able to acquire it.There was plenty of work to do; the structure had been unoccupied for more than a century.Restoration even included matching the existing mortar with a mixture of cow manure and yeast!Through the work of the society and many hours of volunteer labor, the site is now on the National Register and offers tours and educational programs.You can visit it on the web at ... ... Read more

Product Description
On Easter Sunday of 1927, progress and tradition collided at the Groffdale Old Order Mennonite Church in eastern Pennsylvania when half the congregation shunned the cup of wine offered by Bishop Moses Horning. The boycott of this holiest of Mennonite customs was in direct response to Horning's decision to endorse the automobile after years of debate within the church. The resulting schism over opposing views of technology produced the group known as the Wenger Mennonites. In the nearly eighty years since the establishment of this church, the initial group of fifty dissenters has grown to a community of 16,000 Wenger Mennonites. They have large families and typically retain 95 percent or more of their youth. For many years their main community was based in Lancaster County, but in recent decades they have expanded into eight other states, with new communities most recently established in Iowa and Michigan. Despite their continued rejection of modern technology, the Wengers - popularly known as horse-and-buggy Mennonites - continue to thrive on their own terms. In this first-of-its-kind study of the Wenger Mennonites, Kraybill and Hurd - a sociologist and an anthropologist - use cultural analysis to interpret the Wengers in both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. They systematically compare the Wengers with other Mennonite groups as well as with the Amish, showing how relationships with these other groups have had a powerful impact on shaping the identity of the Wenger Mennonites in the Anabaptist world. As Kraybill and Hurd show, the Wengers have learned that it is impossible to maintain a truly static culture, and so examining the ways in which the Wengers cautiously and incrementally adapt to the ever-changing world around them is an invaluable case study of the gradual evolution of religious ritual in the face of modernity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Horse-and-Buggy Mennonites
My sister is really interested in the Mennonites but has had trouble finding any good literature.I sent her this book and she raved about it and told me she leant it to her friend - also interested in Mennonites.
Thank-you for having such wide choices in literature.

Good for readers with communitarian interests
"Horse-andBuggy Mennonites" is an excellent, sympathetic, sociological study of one of the Mennonite subgroups in the US.On issues of community viability and love for the earth, the horse-and-buggy (Wenger) Mennonites can teach us lot.Kraybill is a student of various Mennonite groups and he applies all his skills in this presentation. ... Read more

Product Description

Treasury Of Mennonite Quilts is a Good Books publication.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Treasury of Mennonite Quilts
Lovely book , I have enjoyed it.. got some greatideas on making a quilt.. ... Read more