Plain Secrets: An Outsider Among the Amish Book

Plain Secrets tells the story of Joe Mackallâ??s long friendship with his Swartzentruber Amish neighbors, the Shetlers, to create a nuanced portrait of this most traditional Amish sect. “Mackall does the job beautifully, painting an intimate portrait of the family that leaves the reader feeling humbled by the common thread thatâ??s woven into all of us.â? —Sarah English, Cleveland Magazine"Prose as graceful as it is unsentimental . . . Mackall doesn't sensationalize, romanticize, or condescend." —Brigid Brett, Los Angeles Times "The book points to a difficult truth: A religious community is bound to be freed. Mackall explores this paradox with rare honesty and insight . . . [and] achieves what he promises." —Tom Montgomery-Fate, Boston Globe "Mackall describes the details of family, farming and church life with sympathy, accuracy and good will . . . His particularistic description of one family is a welcome addition to what has often been a sociological literature." —Levi Miller, Christian CenturyRead More