I recently vacationed in Lancaster and became curious about the Amish. I knew to some extent what technology they shunned but not why. Part true crime, part Amish history, Amish Grace is a short and informative look at who the Amish are and what they believe. How they reacted to a terrible tragedy recounted in this book is both powerful and insightful.

This was a very timely book for me personally and really made me think hard about forgiveness. This was an academic book, almost a sociologist look on how an Amish community responded to a school shooting and it was incredibly powerful and definitely one that I would like to own and re-read simply to figure out my own beliefs about forgiveness. IDK guys, it was good.

seems well enough written for a team effort. it does have one of the best overviews of the Amish communities, their beliefs and the differences among the various communities, that I have found anywhere.

I found this book to be somewhat life-changing. The primary notion I derived from this story was the idea that forgiveness is more about healing the self than assuaging the guilt of others, and that forgiveness doesn't necessarily mean pardoning. That is, when we say we forgive someone, it doesn't mean that we accept or dismiss whatever wrongs they've committed, but rather, that we let go of our negative feelings toward them and what they've done. I think that this type of forgiveness is a powerful virtue and that many could learn a lot from the few people discussed in this text.

This book was a very diffrent take on any Amish novel that I have ever read before. I was intrested in the topic of forgivness and I didn't know about the incident in the school house and the murdering of innocent school girls. Where I have been when I don't even know about the things going on in my own country. I am lost in my own world and I don't keep up with the news but it really jarred my sense of safety. This is a very dry read from the view of a journalist and it's about facts and traditions and not so much about people and relationships. I learned a lot of history on why Amish tradition is the way it is and the historical information was great. I didn't make it to the end but it's only because they keep going over the same small amount of information an outsider can get and kept trying to strech it into a full novel.

I found the general idea of this book super interesting. It’s well written, but excessively repetitive at times.

I didn’t know really anything on the topic going in, and now I’d be interested in learning more.

This was a life-changer. The author does a beautiful job of exploring the Amish view of and commitment to forgiveness, even in the face of something as overwhelmingly evil and tragic as the Nickel Mines shooting. While they do review and explore the shooting itself, the book goes way beyond that one event. The shooting is only a doorway to explore how fundamental forgiveness is to Amish daily life.

There were many elements of the Amish tradition that were deeply moving. They strive so greatly to embody Christ's teachings, which includes not judging others. One of the great lines from an Amish minister: "We believe in letting our light shine, but not shining it in other people's faces." For them, actions are what speak for you - not words.

Reading this, it's very easy to idealize the Amish people and their traditions, yet the authors present a balanced view of some of the pitfalls of their ideology. Still, I couldn't help but feel that, at the end of the day, they are getting so much right. Humility, love, forgiveness, and true service. They all require daily practice, sometimes hourly. I would settle for a fraction of that diligence and mindfulness.

As I said, this really was a life-changer. I've had a strong interest in the concept of forgiveness for several years now, before which I gave it little thought. In the last year, it's a dominant issue in my world. There was much in this book that spoke to the "how" and the "why" of forgiving, both spiritually and psychologically, that has already changed my perspective for the better. I know that the material will continue to unfold in me for many years to come.

Last point - I actually listened to this from my iPhone, via the Overdrive library app, and the reading was great.

The highlight of this book is the ability of the Amish to forgive. The authors gave us insights into the Amish world, but it still felt like the view of outsiders looking in.

I found this book very helpful in my own struggle to forgive in the midst of a tragedy. Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in the study of forgiveness and reconciliation.

I have become fascinated with Amish culture lately. I have read several fiction books about the Amish, but decided to read this non-fiction book about the Amish culture, especially its strong belief in and practice of forgiveness. The context of the book is the Nickel Mines School shooting which resulted in the deaths of five young girls and the serious injury of five others. The book recounts how the Amish quickly forgave the shooter, Charles Roberts and his family. the book then goes on to explain how culturally ingrained forgiveness is in Amish society. It also discusses other aspects of the Amish religion and culture including history, doctrine and practices. It is an interesting look at a group of people who have managed to preserve a way of life that is, in many ways, the complete opposite of most of what is valued in modern American society. After reading this book, I am even more fascinated with the Amish and their determination to remain separate from the world.