Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish

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, show more 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. show less

The Amish are an Anabaptist sect, so members must make a decision to join rather than be baptized at birth. "Rumspringa" refers to a period in Amish adolescence when the teen must decide whether to join the church. This decision may include exploration of the "English" comunity (i.e., everyone else), including driving, substances, and sex. Contrary to the book's assertion that this is a coming of age rite, it seems more accurate to understand it as a developmental period--it is protracted, it is not engaged in by all Amish teens (and perhaps not even by most), and many families seem to protest it.

The book is oddly U.S. majority culture-centric. The author tries to bring developmental theory into the mix, but uses theories that for the most part are out of date, not empirically validated, or see adherence to U. S. majority values as the only successful outcome. He implies that Amish youth are psychologically underdeveloped, ignoring the reality that most of the world's youth live in collectively-oriented cultures and have even less than the Amish youths' 8th grade education. The book is best when it sticks to anthropology; when it tends toward pop psychological interpretation, it is less compelling.

I kept wondering what it's like to be a gay Amish youth who holds traditional Amish values. That's a book I'd read.

I had never heard of "Rumspringa" -- the period of adolescence where Amish youth are given an opportunity to experience life outside of Amish rules. The theory is that, following this period of experimentation, the youth will return to the church and undergo baptism. And, it's a theory that works since at least 80% of youth do return. As the Amish believe, there is no stronger bond than one freely chosen.

The author has done an excellent job of providing a balanced view of Amish religion and culture and provided an interesting study laced with individual stories of youth going through the rumspringa period. It made me think about how we bring up teenagers in mainstream North American society -- giving them lots of freedom as children then trying to impose more rules and responsibilities as they enter high school. Do we have it backwards? Are we setting a strong enough foundation of values in early childhood?

Anyone interested in Amish culture or in raising teenagers will find lots to think about in this book.

I learned a lot about the Amish from reading this book. The experience is completely foreign to me however. It is unbelievable to me that parents would hold their children hostage to their beliefs and predicate their acceptance on their child's submission to their lifestyle choice. Patriarchal monotheism truly is the breeding ground of fascism.
I got to meet some Amish (even an Amish stripper in Sarasota) in Pinecrest, Fl which is a resort area for them. The young people are just like anyone else except they have a lot of hangups to deal with.

Rumspringa, or "running around," is an Amish teenage tradition. After finishing school at age 14, they are allowed to spend as much time as they need living outside the order, until they are ready to either be Amish, and join the church as an adult, or leave the church (and often their family) behind. Tom Shachtman interviewed hundreds of Amish teenagers and parents, to learn more about rumspringa, and the factors that influence joining or separating from the church. In the first few chapters, he describes the experiences of several teenagers, which generally involves experimenting with alcohol and drugs, using cars, and working in restaurants and factories. He then analyzes various aspects of adult Amish life, that cause people to return to the order (or choose not to). 80-90% of teens return after their rumspringa, often because of marriage. They also value the strong community support, and usually can find work on the family farm or in an Amish-run business. The Amish lifestyle also is far less expensive than life "on the outside." It seemed to me that the central limiting factor of life outside the order is lack of education, which greatly limits employment opportunities.

I had looked forward to reading this book, because I live near Amish communities in Pennsylvania. It does provide interesting insight to a culture that I can observe only from a distance. Ultimately, however, it read like a series of loosely connected chapters, lacking a central thesis or message. show more Shachtman briefly draws on psychological theory to discuss the emotional development of Amish teens, but stops short of in-depth analysis. At the end of the book, having explored the broader societal forces acting on modern Amish life, Shachtman tries to envision the Amish 50 years from now. Unfortunately, he did not build up sufficient evidence for his points, which leaves his conclusion feeling slightly disconnected.

This is still an interesting book, and worth reading if you are interested in Amish culture. It just could have been considerably better. show less

A great and interesting book to read.
It gave me more insight and (inside) information about the Amish people, just like I had hoped it would. The series I watched on television awoke my interest, and this book satisfied (part of) that curiosity.
The parts I loved best were the ones that more or less quoted the teenagers / young adults. It offered a peek inside their heads. Their thoughts, fears, hopes in a period that is difficult for any teenager, but even more when you have to make such a life determining decision as they have.

A surprising look at Amish coming of age. When Amish youths reach age 16, they are allowed to explore the wider world, including drinking, drugs, and sex. Shachtman does a great job of offering balanced information and explaining the complicated philosophies that underpin Amish society. This book definitely makes you reconsider the way Western society handles adolescence.

Apparently there's a documentary floating around on which this book is based. Is it good to be "of the world"? Are teenagers ready to make lifelong commitments to their families armed with an eighth-grade education, strong work ethic, and a trade as American society slowly disintegrates? Which is the smarter choice: abandon self for safety or go into the world, risking the past for an uncertain future?

Shachtman raises these questions as he looks at three Amish communities in the United States. His conclusion: the self-reliant community of believers is good, but outside pressure is forcing change. He would like them to have a voice in managing change before change manages them.

I plan to use this for a book group in my community when it's my turn to select a title (I'm a librarian).

2/15/2007: This was much drier than I had expected. I found myself counting the pages left as I reached the end. I've read a lot about the Amish so nothing in this book really came as a surprise to me.
Although they appear to be a holy, righteous group, the ones I've read about are overall really a bunch of people so full of pride that they can't even take hope in the Bible they claim to be following.
One concept that has always bugged me is that the Amish that I've read about shun the modern conveniences of the world, yet when a troubling situation comes up that they can't deal with, then it's time to call in the modern conveniences "just this once".
One passage that I liked and I hope will stick with me was where he tells of a homemaker who is folding laundry. As she folds each piece, she thinks of the wearer and the blessing they are to the family. Since I am forever buried under laundry mountain (sister to TBR mountain), this is a good thing for me to hold on to!

Very interesting read. This book features several Amish teenagers and their struggles to find their place in the world. In the Amish tradition, young adults have a time of "Rumspringa", or "running around" where they are permitted to sample the world outside the Amish way. They all face a huge choice: stay in the secular world, totally separate from the life and family they've known, or be baptized and join the church, thereby giving up some of their newfound freedoms. It's fascinating.

Probably not the most scholarly book in the world, but the cover amused the heck out of me for some reason. Rumspringa is a serious topic, though. The author follows a few people through their rumspringa period and gives the reasons why most of them return. I wonder as many would return if there were an alternative other than 'sink on the outside,' but I suspect most of them still would.

ahhh...now this is the kind of nonfiction that i love. not a very quick read, but the subject matter is interesting. reads like a documentary. growing up in indiana, i have always been fascinated with the amish. it's their ability to lead such peaceful lives and to be totally content with what they have that intrigues me. even as an atheist, i think there is a lot we can learn from them.

A great book with a companion film describing that period of life in an Amish young adult's life when she or he goes into the world, tastes what the outside has to offer, and then decides whether or not to be baptized into the Amish faith.

Shachtman looks at three areas in the US and two publications to show the reader how the world affects the Amish, and, ultimately, how the Amish may have to accommodate their faith somewhat in order to preserve it. Great reading and wonderful cover art (Vermeer-like TV-screen capture of young girl smoking). Oh, the Pennsylvania Dutch are not Dutch in origin, they are German.

This is a fascinating look at what it is like to grow up Amish. The author interviewed teenagers and told their stories from their perspective.

Rumspringa is an interesting look a the life and religion of the Amish, especially their adolescents and young-adults. The beginning is a bit slow and the writing is not great, but the information is good. The focus of the book is on the period in each Amish youngster's life when they are permitted to live a mainstream lifestyle while deciding if they want to be baptized an officially become a member of the Amish community. The practice of rumspringa is fascinating and life of the Amish is certainly interesting, even if it's incomprehensible.

Very insightful book not only about Amish youth, but about adolescent development in general.

Interesting topic. Writing style didn't really impress me. Informative though.

Fascinating look at a fascinating culture.

I borrowed this one from my local branch of the public library.

Find my note on the book in my blog:
[http://gypsylibrarian.blogspot.com/2007/07/booknote-rumspringa.html]

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. A teenage Amish girl sits in her buggy, one hand dangling a cigarette while the other holds a cellphone in which she is loudly chatting away. This girl, like many Amish teens 16 and older, is in a period called rumspringa, when the strict rules of community life are temporarily lifted while an adolescent chooses whether to be baptized into the church and abide fully by its laws. Shachtman, a documentarian who began studying this phenomenon for the film The Devil's Playground, is a sensitive and nimble chronicler of Amish teens, devoting ample space to allowing them to tell their stories in their own words. And their stories are fascinating, from the wild ones who engage in weekend-long parties, complete with hard drugs and sexual promiscuity, to the more sedate and pious teens who prefer to engage in careful courtship rituals under the bemused eyes of adult Amish chaperones. Shachtman's tone is by turns admiring—of the work ethic, strong families and religious faith that undergird Amish life—and critical, especially of the sect's treatment of women and its suspicion of education beyond the eighth grade. Throughout, Shachtman uses the Amish rumspringa experience as a foil for understanding American adolescence and identity formation in general, and also contextualizes rumspringa throughout the rapidly growing and changing Amish world. This is not only one of the most absorbing books ever written about the Plain People but a show more perceptive snapshot of the larger culture in which they live and move. (June)
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