Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Growing Up Amish: A Memoir

3.36 of 5 stars 3.36 · rating details · 5,296 ratings · 605 reviews

Ira Wagler was born in 1961, the ninth of a Canadian Amish couple's eleven children. At seventeen, in the dark of night, he left the religious settlement, but it was only nine years later that he finally left the church for good. His favorite Bible verse is from Psalm 34: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." In this new memoir, he...more

Paperback, 272 pages

Published April 1st 2012 by Tyndale House Publishers (first published June 28th 2011)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Winter/Spring 2013 List

23rd out of 45 books — 4 voters

We Wove A Web In Childhood - The Brontes At Home by Ruth Thomas

For Book Group

65th out of 97 books — 5 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 02, 2013 Jaclyn Day rated it 3 of 5 stars

I think there’s a lot of curiosity among non-Amish about their religion and day-to-day lives. As Wagler points out, there’s a misguided, yet persistent romantic view of their simple way of life that speaks to us through the rampant materialism, pop culture and technology that we are surrounded by. Logically, we all know that their lives are hard. That living without electricity and doing manual labor all day is not necessarily a life that we would choose to lead. That probably explains, as Wagle...more

9 likes · like · see review

Feb 27, 2013 Dawn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Dawn by: Kerri D.

I read Growing Up Amish for my book club, and I found it very interesting. I was glad to learn more about Amish culture. I saw Amish when we lived in Ohio, but we live in Iowa now and I did not know that there are also Amish communities here. The community in which Ira grew up is actually located in southern Iowa. I was glad to learn more about the differences between Amish and Mennonite communities. The easiest difference for us outsiders to understand is simply that Mennonites use technology,...more I read Growing Up Amish for my book club, and I found it very interesting. I was glad to learn more about Amish culture. I saw Amish when we lived in Ohio, but we live in Iowa now and I did not know that there are also Amish communities here. The community in which Ira grew up is actually located in southern Iowa. I was glad to learn more about the differences between Amish and Mennonite communities. The easiest difference for us outsiders to understand is simply that Mennonites use technology, while Amish don't. One of the women in my book group grew up with good friends who had been Amish and then changed to Mennonite. So she shared some first hand experiences and personal insights from them which added a lot to our discussion.

The author seems to have been a very emotionally sensitive and conflicted person. He suffered from depression. He loved his family, but he did not have a good relationship with his father. He disliked the heavy farm work and he wanted more options than his Amish community offered. Most of all, he felt stifled in a religion where he found no meaning. All he saw were old rituals and traditions in which he found no solace. Ira tried to leave many times. With some other teenage Amish boys, he would run away and find work doing hard physical labor on a farm or in construction. He would get drunk on the weekends and try to enjoy experimenting with his "freedom." But of course, that life didn't bring him satisfaction either. After a while he would run out of money, be missing his family, and return home, only to leave again later. He felt guilty for leaving his family, but he couldn't stand staying. He was even engaged at one point, but broke it off, unable to marry an Amish girl he loved because of his inner turmoil.

Ira's religious journey is the most interesting aspect of the book to me. Religion is very important to me, so I can't help comparing things from this book to my life and my own faith community. I wonder if some of my loved ones who have left my church had feelings similar to Ira's? Did they feel stifled and oppressed by traditions in which they found no meaning? Why did they lose their connection with God, while I, on the other hand, find so much joy and meaning in my faith? What made the difference?

One thing I really appreciated about Ira's story is that it is not the typical rejection of religion scenario. While Ira eventually left the Amish faith, he did not leave God. He actually didn't go far; he just became Mennonite. One reason that Ira kept returning to the Amish was that he was afraid for his soul. He sincerely believed that he might be damned if he left his religion. Ira finally found spiritual peace because he finally found Jesus Christ! An amazing friend helped Ira realize that he could pray personally. He didn't have to carry his burdens alone. Christ loved him and would help him. He really could be forgiven of his sins and mistakes. When Ira developed a personal relationship with the Savior, it totally changed his life! He became much happier. He found renewed purpose and meaning in his life. He finally felt peace and courage to move on. That friend was so important for Ira. I want to be that kind of friend. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 23, 2013 Wayne Groner rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wagler writes clearly, simply, and convincingly of the struggles he faced with the rules and restrictions of Amish life. Those who did not question what they were told were called drones. Those with a “speck of spirit” longed for worldly things.

He was raised in a world with no cars, no electricity, and no telephones; horse-drawn buggies for transportation and to power farming implements; long-flowing, home-sewn dresses and head coverings with chin strings for the women and girls, homemade trouse...more

like · see review

Apr 20, 2013 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book really showed how destructive and insidious religious indoctrination (one may say brainwashing) Ira is miserable as an Amish person, but he keeps returning, again and again, because he believes if he stays away from the Amish community he is going to hell. He fears eternal damnation, so he tries to make it work again and again. The programming we get in religion as children is so hard to fight. I was raised in a very legalistic Catholic church, constantly told that if I sinned or left...more

like · see review

Dec 31, 2012 David rated it 3 of 5 stars

Fairly interesting description of the author's upbringing in an Old Order Amish community, which he ends up leaving in fits and starts (left and returned several times between age 17 and about 25). There is some detail about how the Amish, or at least his community, handled grief, their views on education, etc.

In many ways, though, it seemed to me that it could have been almost any bright, restless young man's story. Wanting freedom but not knowing how you would get by away from your community;...more

like · see review

Nov 09, 2012 Gail Welborn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

In this heartwarming memoir readers join Ira Wagler, a young Amish boy on a journey of self-discovery that begins with his Amish Rumspringa and ends ten years later with a life-changing decision.

The account begins with Ira scribbling a note to tuck under his pillow before he packs all his worldly belongings into a small black duffel bag. Even though it’s a rite of passage all sixteen-year-old Amish boys experience, tradition requires Ira leave in the dark of night, with everyone asleep to avoid...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 21, 2012 Ryan Mercer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I listen to audible books at work, as well as read traditionally at home. One of my recent Audible purchases was Growing up Amish: A Memoir by Ira Wagler which you can find on Amazon (just click the Amazon banner on the right hand side of my page and give it a click then search the title). In short, I say get a copy of the book, it's well worth the read... and if reading isn't your thing, give the Audible book a go the narrator is great!

I've always been curious as to the Amish way of life due to...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 16, 2012 Mark Nenadov rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: anabaptists, memoirs, biographical

I enjoyed this portrayal of the struggles of an young Amish man as he repeatedly tries to leave the group he grew up in.

Ira does a fantastic job conveying his complex personal history. He writes with remarkable passion and depth of emotion. His memoir is accessible to anyone who has a passing knowledge of the life of the Amish. He's a pretty good story teller--he tightly packs emotions into words that endear the reader. He's pretty good at picking out details, stories, characters, and anecdotes...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 03, 2012 Megan rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was hoping for a bigger picture of Amish life than what I got. What I got instead was the author's biased opinion and feelings about his Amish faith and community.

The beginning of the book deals with the author's upbringing and what the culture is like, which is very interesting. However, this is not dealt with deeply; instead, the author expresses his doubts about the Amish religion and his disagreements with it. I personally am not interested in how the Amish religion is *wrong*, I am inter...more

11 likes · like · see review

Dec 20, 2011 Sam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: america, biography, kindle, non-fiction, owned, review-copies

This biography tells the story of Wagler's Amish upbringing and his struggle between the comfort of his traditional life on one hand and the freedom of the outside world in the other hand.

This memoir was an enjoyable read and was pacy enough to keep the pages turning quickly (I finished it in two sittings). Wagler's life was covered in chronological order and I particularly enjoyed the sections about his childhood. As a primary school teacher who often bemoans the amount of gadgets children have...more

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 11, 2011 Nancy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I seem to always want more from these books about other more secretive religions. This author told a little about what being Amish was like, but not nearly enough detail to satisfy me. One thing that did strike me though, was how we humans seem to think that taking the tact of fear to make another toe the line is useful. It never seems to work, yet we do it over and over sometimes in such subtle fashion that we don't even realize it's fear making us chafe. I think that he did present some of the...more

5 likes · like · see review

Nov 14, 2011 Simone rated it 3 of 5 stars

“Growing up Amish” by Ira Wagler. Tyndale House Publishers Inc. Hillsboro OR 2011.

“Growing up Amish” is a memoir that gives a glimpse into the Amish lifestyle. Ira Wagler recounts his experiences in the Amish church from youth up until young adulthood. Ira uses point of view to the fullest by introducing friends and family members through dialogue and flashback. Ira begins the memoir by painting scenery of country life. This symbolizes the structure and stability of the Amish lifestyle that he...more

like · see review

Sep 21, 2011 Sally rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: amish, non-fiction, borrowed-from-library

At times humorous, at times poignant, this is an easy book to read. Wagler grew up, the ninth of 11 children, in Amish communities in Ontario and Indiana. The Ontario community was more conservative and, after three of the children left the Amish, Wagler's father decided to move the family to the slightly more progressive Bloomfield, Indiana community. For Ira, however, it soon became apparent it wasn't enough. Perhaps it was in blood; Ira's maternal grandparents had left the Old Order many year...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 04, 2011 Sandra Stiles rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, amish

I have always loved reading and hearing about the Amish life. There are several reasons for this. I grew upon a farm in Indiana. My parents became Christians when I was five. With no one to guide her in her walk, my mother decided it was better to err on God’s side. Board games, dancing of any kind, and most television shows became off limits or a sin. My books and comic books were scrutinized. My mom’s first question whenever I told her about a new friend was, “Are they a Christian?” I had few...more I have always loved reading and hearing about the Amish life. There are several reasons for this. I grew upon a farm in Indiana. My parents became Christians when I was five. With no one to guide her in her walk, my mother decided it was better to err on God’s side. Board games, dancing of any kind, and most television shows became off limits or a sin. My books and comic books were scrutinized. My mom’s first question whenever I told her about a new friend was, “Are they a Christian?” I had few friends growing up because they did not fit into my mom’s “category” of what a Christian was. I worked on the farm just as the Amish do. When we moved to Florida I learned that what we called a garden the people down here called a truck patch or small farm. I learned how to can and freeze fruits and vegetables. We smoked our own meat. In the winter we filled a concrete tub in our ‘milk house’ up with snow and put perishables in it. It was a tough life yet one I miss.

It may be these memories that have always drawn me to Amish fiction. I can see so many parallels. I was thrilled to read Ira Wagler’s book Growing Up Amish. In this book we get a look at the “real” Amish. Not the ones so often written about in romance novels, which make the Amish come across as a people who do, or think no wrong. We find a man who has struggled to find where he truly belongs. He wanted to be a part of the Amish world he was born into, yet felt it was not for him. At age 17 he left his Amish home in Iowa. He later returns, and must admit all of his sins to the congregation before he is allowed to join the church. He tries, but still doesn’t seem to feel as if he is where he should be. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to once again make a decision to leave his Amish life. He subjected himself to this pain many times before leaving for good.

The pain of being shunned by everyone you know is hard enough. Their belief is if you left the church then your soul was headed for damnation. I was happy to learn that Ira finally asked God about his situation and got an answer. He found salvation outside of his Amish culture. Unfortunately it is not only the Amish that are like this. We see this in many denominations. They become so legalistic that it seems they forget what Jesus was all about. I thank God each and every day that his love for us is not based on a set of laws. We see where that got people in the old testament.

This book is a great look at the Amish. However, I believe the message I it is clear. We all need to take a look at our lives and ask if we are where God wants us. If not then maybe we need to talk with him to find out where he wants us to be. I do find it funny when I think about how they try to separate themselves from the English. When we get to heaven Go is not going to separate us, say, “You Baptist over there and You Amish over here. We who have found salvation through Jesus blood are all God’s children and he has prepared a home for us in heaven, together.

This is a must read book for anyone who enjoys learning about the Amish.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 30, 2011 Doreen rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who likes reading about different religions and lifestyles

Recommended to Doreen by: i forget

I didn't realize that the Amish aren't all the same. There are varying degrees of modernism among the groups, scattered throughout the continent. There are rules about buggy wheels and the length of dresses. There is not just one way to live as an Amish.

Ira Wagler struggles with living in his Amish community. This is partly a coming of age story. Ira runs away many times, but is always welcomed back. That's one of the things that I found amazing about Amish parents.....no matter what, they forgi...more

like · see review

Aug 18, 2011 Jean-françois Virey rated it 2 of 5 stars

"Growing Up Amish" is written in a style I normally avoid, with lots of fragments, i.e. bits of sentences, sometimes even a couple of words, that are gratified with a full stop and, often, a line of their own for more dramatic effect. Had I known it was that kind of book, I might not even have bought it.
Or read it.
Because I myself never use fragments.
Never.
Ever.
I find them cheap. And low-brow. To be avoided. At all costs.

I came to the book with a rather recent but fairly extended knowledge of Am...more "Growing Up Amish" is written in a style I normally avoid, with lots of fragments, i.e. bits of sentences, sometimes even a couple of words, that are gratified with a full stop and, often, a line of their own for more dramatic effect. Had I known it was that kind of book, I might not even have bought it.
Or read it.
Because I myself never use fragments.
Never.
Ever.
I find them cheap. And low-brow. To be avoided. At all costs.

I came to the book with a rather recent but fairly extended knowledge of Amish culture, so I am mostly glad for the tidbits I learned here and there. As Ira and family move from one Amish community to the other, you get a good sense of how different they are from one another, and how weird they seem to each other, just because they don't exactly cut their beards the same way, or paint their buggies the same colours.

After the media expose of the cruelty of Amish puppy mills, the book confirmed in my mind that their culture may lack empathy for animals, as is probably true of any culture in which so many people are directly involved in their exploitation (unlike ours, where most of the killing and butchering is safely hidden from the average customer, and only brutalises a small percent of the population.) Ira talks of his brothers routinely catching swallows, tearing their heads off and throwing them to the cats (who were otherwise expected to feed themselves.) When he himself decides to let go a swallow that had been trapped in the house, he does it more as a heavy-handed metaphor for his own thirst for freedom than out of genuine compassion for the animal.

Ira does feel a close bond with one horse, but one gets a feeling that the Amish can be as vain about their horses and buggies as "Englishers" can be about their cars. He talks at one point of a horse no Amish would be caught dead riding, or something to that effect.

Ira was one of what he estimates to be twenty-percent of rebellious Amish kids. He got involved in smoking, drinking, stealing, chasing after painted English girls and the rest. He did not pray much, and seemed to have a rather shallow (if almost nonexistent) spirituality. The TV show "Amish: The World's Squarest Teenagers" had led me to believe that their culture could produce real Christians (as far as temperament and way of life are concerned), precisely because they choose to ignore much of modern culture and modern ways. But Ira Wagler is also proof that not all Amish get the message, even though his own father was the publisher of the Amish magazines "Family Life" and "The Budget", which set examples for the various communities.

Ira also complains of one community that seemed to validate the comical Hollywood image of the Amish as simpleminded country bumpkins and whose only topic of conversation was the latest cow or horse caper. Amish obscurantism is probably not the most glorious trait of their culture (though I understand the rationale), and if the author's portrait was fair, I feel a bit sorry for the human types it can generate.(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 05, 2011 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a very quick and pretty absorbing read (I think I read it in a day!) about an Amish man who leaves his community for the big, bad wild world. Actually (MINOR SPOILERS HERE) he leaves repeatedly, which I wasn't expecting, and both makes the story more and less interesting at the same time. I was expecting it to be more of a single exodus and then we get to hear all about his life outside the community and how he adjusted and fit in over time. But instead he kept going back... and back ag...more This was a very quick and pretty absorbing read (I think I read it in a day!) about an Amish man who leaves his community for the big, bad wild world. Actually (MINOR SPOILERS HERE) he leaves repeatedly, which I wasn't expecting, and both makes the story more and less interesting at the same time. I was expecting it to be more of a single exodus and then we get to hear all about his life outside the community and how he adjusted and fit in over time. But instead he kept going back... and back again... and again (this is what I mean by "less interesting"--it was kind of like the movie Groundhog Day. Not to trivialize this man's struggles. Although I guess I just did).

On the other hand, it made it more interesting because you really get a feel for the back-and-forth tug of war that this poor man went through over a period of a decade. It's HARD to just leave everything you've ever known, even if you know deep down that this is ultimately the right thing for you to do. He was great at conveying this mental tug-of-war, even though I don't completely understand it myself--those of us fortunate enough to be raised in a comfortable, non-restrictive lifestyle with lots of freedoms and choices might find it hard to really put yourself in his place.

I also found it interesting how MANY Amish leave the faith. It wasn't just this guy, it was lots of his siblings and friends as well. I'm not sure if this is a new thing or if people have always been leaving Amish communities at this rate. It's like they were hemorrhaging young people.

I would have loved more information about his life on the "outside"--we heard a lot about it on his many temporary "drifter" ventures (as he describes them) but nothing about what happened after the final time he left. Although I realize this was probably to protect his own privacy about his current life, I was curious to hear more about the "final straw" and what exactly was different about the last time he left that caused him to not go back. I really wanted to learn about what turned him from "drifter" to permanent resident of the outside world.

But overall, an interesting and quick read about a community I did not know a whole lot about before.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jul 16, 2011 Robin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book for a multitude of reasons. One big reason is the insight provided by Mr. Wagler of what the Amish life is like. There was a complete honesty and simplicity in his thinking about home. The question always before him was can he ever really leave home. The bigger and greater reason for staying with his story was the triumphant end - coming to a Christ who is home and salvation. It is a true prodigal coming home as many are going home to the Christ who saves. The saddest thing w...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 16, 2011 Marlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ira Wagler brings readers into the world of the Amish as he vividly describes being repeatedly tossed between the pull of familiar security in this life and the next, and beckoning possibilities of a culture of forbidden fruits. A lot to weigh at 17, the son of an iconic Amish writer. Nevertheless, walk away, he did, thus beginning a journey back and forth between divergent cultures as he fought to find a way to meld his beliefs with the ways of the “world.” Growing up deeply entrenched in rules...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 02, 2011 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Title: GROWING UP AMISH
Author: Ira Wagler
Publisher: Tyndale
June 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4143-3936-8
Genre: Inspirational/Amish/memoir

GROWING UP AMISH is one man’s story of his quest to fit into the Amish—something he was born into, but in his heart, didn’t belong to.

Ira Wagler was the 9th child of the famous David Wagler who was long time Editor of Family Life. But Ira never quite fit into his Amish family or community. Getting in with a wild crowd, Ira spend his free time hanging out with friends and p...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 30, 2011 Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars

Author: Ira Wagler
Title: Growing up Amish
Description (source): One fateful starless night, 17-year-old Ira Wagler got up at 2 AM, left a scribbled note under his pillow, packed all of his earthly belongings into in a little black duffel bag, and walked away from his home in the Amish settlement of Bloomfield, Iowa. Now, in this heartwarming memoir, Ira paints a vivid portrait of Amish life—from his childhood days on the family farm, his Rumspringa rite of passage at age 16, to his ultimate decis...more Author: Ira Wagler
Title: Growing up Amish
Description (source): One fateful starless night, 17-year-old Ira Wagler got up at 2 AM, left a scribbled note under his pillow, packed all of his earthly belongings into in a little black duffel bag, and walked away from his home in the Amish settlement of Bloomfield, Iowa. Now, in this heartwarming memoir, Ira paints a vivid portrait of Amish life—from his childhood days on the family farm, his Rumspringa rite of passage at age 16, to his ultimate decision to leave the Amish Church for good at age 26. Growing Up Amish is the true story of one man’s quest to discover who he is and where he belongs. Readers will laugh, cry, and be inspired by this charming yet poignant coming of age story set amidst the backdrop of one of the most enigmatic cultures in America today—the Old Order Amish. (Marketing Copy)
ARC source: Netgalley
Writing style: Wagler does a good job of combining the big picture with single incidents that illustrate his points. The narrative kept my interest throughout, moving along quickly enough that it doesn’t get bogged down.
Audience: The book should appeal to fans of Amish fiction; I think most of them are women, and this book, written as it is from an Amish man’s point of view, gives another side of the picture. It will also appeal to anyone who enjoys reading memoirs. I grew up in Amish country, so I was more interested in this topic than many people would be, but I did not “laugh, cry, and get inspired” as the marketing copy promised.
Major ideas: Wegler keeps to the point throughout, which is his ambivalence about the Amish lifestyle. He describes both the appeal and the downside of being Amish; if there was a drawback here, it would be that he seems at a remove from his younger self—almost as if we are looking down at him rather than inhabiting him. I imagine the young Ira was very confused, so maybe that is a good thing.
Wrap-up: I liked this book. I found myself wondering what choice Ira would ultimately make, and how he would find his place in the world, since he didn’t seem to fit in either the Amish or the “English” culture. 3.5/5*
(less)

like · see review

Jun 20, 2011 Maureen Timerman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read

I really enjoyed reading this very well written autobiography. At times I felt that I was reading a fictional story, but it was true.
You will love going along with Ira in his everyday life. There are 5 boys and 5 girls in his family, Ira being 3rd to the last. Experience his time of schooling, and his pain in bullying another. You'll meet his friends including some people you already know. Experience his move from Aylmer, Ontario to Bloomfield, Iowa and leaving the only home he has ever known i...more

like · see review

Jun 14, 2011 Sheri rated it 4 of 5 stars

What is it: One fateful starless night, 17-year-old Ira Wagler got up at 2 AM, left a scribbled note under his pillow, packed all of his earthly belongings into in a little black duffel bag, and walked away from his home in the Amish settlement of Bloomfield, Iowa. Now, in this heartwarming memoir, Ira paints a vivid portrait of Amish life—from his childhood days on the family farm, his Rumspringa rite of passage at age 16, to his ultimate decision to leave the Amish Church for good at age 26. G...more

like · see review

Jun 13, 2011 Jennifer Short rated it 4 of 5 stars

I felt a more appropriate name for “Growing Up Amish” would have been “Leaving the Amish”. I expected this memoir to be more about experiences as the author was a child, but I felt that instead he focused on the experience of trying to leave the Amish Church. Even so, it was an enjoyable read into the life of a culture that while they may live near me, I know little about them.

Ira Wagler was born in Canada as an Amish child. He recounts the moves, why they moved, and how the different Amish dist...more

like · see review

Jun 08, 2011 Edna Tollison rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love to read about the Amish even though I am not one, and Ira Wagler wrote this one and it really describes the details of being on the Amish faith. He grew up in the Old Order Amish and even when he was young, he did not like the long church services as they last as long as three or four hours sitting on a backless bench with nothing to cool you in the summer. He always wondered what it would be like to not have all these restrictions on a person and have some of the things the English had a...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 07, 2011 Tracy Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Have you ever thought how it would be to live without electricity, a car, or even store-bought jeans? Come follow this eye-opening account of "Growing Up Amish" and get a glimpse of what that life is really like.

Ira Wagler's life, in his eyes, begins rather uneventfully in his family of 11. His daily existence is pure and simply led through the basic lifestyle of the Old Order Amish. By the age of seventeen, see how disenchanted he has become and how he must go through several years of trials a...more

like · see review

Mar 18, 2012 Shari Larsen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ira Wagler was born into an old order Amish community, frustrated by the rules and regulations, he left when he was 17, at 2am, leaving a note under his pillow for his family. Over the next 5 years, he would leave and return numerous times, torn between two worlds.

This was a well written book and real page turner, with real insights into Amish culture, I can understand why the author struggled so much with his faith. He writes the truth about being Amish but without the condemning the culture; e...more

like · see review

Dec 17, 2011 Annie rated it 2 of 5 stars

This was a little bit of a disappointment to me actually. The premiss was interesting enough and it started alright, but I totally skim-read at least the whole last 2 chapters just to get it over with! I mean come on! We get it... it's hard to leave your roots and do something new! I get the message he was trying to convey, but it was literally the last 2 pages where he came to the conclusion of the 200+ pages of a struggling, depressed Amish-man who can't make up his mind! There were some inter...more

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 20, 2011 Mandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-reviews, mandys-reads, read-in-2011

MY REVIEW:

Sad. Fascinating. Heavy. Intriguing.

I grew up visiting Amish country often and for 4 years of my early married life we lived in an area filled with Amish and Mennonite families. My family also had an Amish family that we were friends with and spent time in their home as I as growing up. I have always had an appreciation for the Amish community and enjoyed reading the occasional Amish fiction. However, all this said, I think our English views of the Amish community are shaped on quaint...more

like · see review

Jul 16, 2011 Marlene rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: inspirational

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Bookworm Bitches : November 2012: Growing Up Amish: A Memoir	25	210	Mar 03, 2013 03:31pm

combine
Other Editions (8)

More editions...

Genres

Non Fiction

129 users

Autobiography > Memoir

95 users

Biography

58 users

Religion

41 users

Biography > Autobiography

19 users

Book Club

12 users

Biography Memoir

11 users

Christian

10 users

Adult

9 users

Literature > American

3 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Ira Wagler

Ira Wagler was born in the small Old Order Amish community of Aylmer, Ontario. At 17, frustrated by the rules and restrictions of Amish life, Ira got up at 2 am, left a note under his pillow, packed his duffel bag and left. Over the course of the next 5 years, Ira would leave and return home numerous times, torn between the ingrained message that abandoning one's Amish heritage results in eternal...more

More about Ira Wagler...

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Growing Up Amish:...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Growing Up Amish: A Me...

“As I would come to discover later in life, one shouldn't be condemned for simply craving freedom.” — 1 person liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Growing Up Amish: A Memoir
avg rating	preview: Growing Up Amish: A Memoir Goodreads rating: 3.36 (5296 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10870589-growing-up-amish?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349010602l/10870589.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10870589-growing-up-amish?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Growing Up Amish: A Memoir by Ira Wagler[/url]

Growing Up Amish: A Memoir

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website