Work and Worship Among the Shakers

by Edward Deming Andrews, Faith Andrews

Insightful analysis, previously unavailable material, 116 illustrations. Emphasizes traditional Shaker crafts and industries.

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1982

Reviews

[Sherry Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book as a sort of assignment from the leader of the Paris-Bourbon County Public Library non-fiction reading club (that's a mouthful). Each member of the club was to read a different volume on Shakers from the library's holdings. I picked this one, expecting theology or philosophy but what I got was economics and items like a list of Shaker inventions, both those patented and those not. After a time the Shakers decided the exclusiveness of patents was unethical and stopped patenting their inventions. The list of them covered 5 pages.

The book is copiously illustrated with many photographs of Shaker people, something I'd not run into before. Photographs of Shaker architecture are fairly common. After all the buildings and furnishings are still there. But I don't remember seeing photographs of the people, especially the children.

So I'd say the book is well worth taking a look at. Just don't expect a theological discussion of the relationship of work and worship.