This was a very enjoyable book to read. It was written very simply but from the heart. I felt like the author was my grandmother, sitting down for a visit and her sharing personal stories about her life.
Some stories made me laugh, and some made me want to cry. I have read many books about the great depression. This one gave me an inside look of not only the hardships family face but a glimpse of the struggles of a widow with a large family.
In spite of all the difficulties they faced, the book is written on a positive note. Not only the mother but the children also showed great courage, strength and determination in the face of seemingly impossible situations.
I was so impressed with the love and selflessness of each member of her family. It is easy to see how strong character was a byproduct of those times. This would be an excellent book for children to read. Not only to show them how blessed they are, but also to see you don’t’ have to have everything you want to be happy.
I received this book free from the Hannibal Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

We live in an Amish area and these quite gentle people and their way of life have always fascinated me. I admire their simple living and have often wondered what it might be like to make that commitment. So when I saw the title of this book I was immediately drawn to it. While I respect their no frills way of living, I know without a doubt I would not be able to live that way completely.
I was hoping that the book would share ways for me to make choices to incorporate their basic lifestyle into mine. The author did an excellent job of addressing the very core of their values and priorities. I was not disappointed.
It was interesting to learn about their daily routines and family life in greater detail than I had known before. The chapters are divided into fundamental areas of life we share just as people and families (with the exception of the chapter on technology). She shares the Amish beliefs and practices in each one then compares it to how the majority of non-Amish folks live. She offers her personal experiences, ways we can simplify and integrate their practices into our lives, and she also shares many scriptures to illustrate the biblical truth of their culture.
The book was a real eye-opener and made me examine how I was living more closely. She wasn’t preachy nor did she make me feel inferior for not making the same choices she did. I felt like she was merely sharing information for me to make a decision.
At the end of each chapter I really liked the “Let’s Sum It Up”. It allowed me to review all the material in a nut shell. At the end of the book are some wonderful recipes to try.
While I admire the author for the drastic changes her family made in their day to day living, I know I would not be able to go to that extreme. Her husband and children were all on board and that isn’t going to happen with me. Nevertheless she gave me all I need to incorporate these ideas into my life personally.

I received this book free from the Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255