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Summary: Read it, live it, love it!
Review: A book for anyone who has the growing feeling that all of modern life's complexities aren't really such a good thing after all.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful writing and thought provoking
Review: A wonderful view of the world without all the gadgets we think are necessary. A great way to live and belong in the world. As a Christian I think we could do without alot of the junk the world thinks we need. Thanks for a great book.
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Summary: it made me think....
Review: An interesting way to see the world: through amish eyes. Actually, the plot of this book isnt to force you into Amish life.....but to stop and look at the materialistic and all to consumeristic ways of life that we americans live now-a-days. I cant tell you what a breath of fresh air this book was to me, and how much it opened my eyes to wants, needs and how they ARNT the same thing-even though we fool ourselves into thinking that they are.
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Summary: Life Changing
Review: My husband and I bought this book shortly after we were married, looking for a devotional to read together. What we discovered between it's pages was life changing. It literally spun our home around 180 degrees. This book is a collection of essays originally published in a magazine called "Plain". It is a magazine of small "human scaled" proportions, that is it is entirelly produced by hand using only human power operating a printing press. Because of this labour intensive approach they have actually turned down requests to new subscriptions because they cannot humanly handle the greater load. And that is what this book is about. It is about people telling their stories about living life on a more human scale. It's about touching and smelling and tasteing life. It's message rips at the heart of the current western culture, but gently shows you a whole other world of people who know what life really is like instead of the virtual life we have become accustomed to. It deals with our basic assumptions about work, health, money, education, wisdom, and technology. It tells us that the assumptions we have made about truth are based much less on our educated and enlightened view points than we think. It shows us the naked truth about who were are. And that reality is an uncomfortable read at times. Not very many people who read these essays are ready to be this honest about themselves. But if you are willing it is simply excellent.
Rating: 
Summary: A Mix
Review: The Plain Reader is a collection of articles that once appeared in the magazine "Plain". Its authors are comprised of individuals with varying philosophies on the virtues of a simple life. Some articles are written by Quakers, Amish and Brethren. There are also articles by homesteaders, authors of several books, and others. Since the authors come from so many different backgrounds, the articles aren't always compatible. For example, several of the articles are extremely anti-technology, anti-electricity, anti-competition, anti-public school education, etc., whereas others espouse the use of some of these things in moderation. To me, extremism in any direction is the antithesis of simplicity, which, after all, is what this book is supposed to be about. Still, the book is correctly subtitled "Essays on Making a Simple Life" - it is essays by different people, with different backgrounds and different beliefs about what constitutes a simple life. It is an educational read, not only about simplicity, but also about how certain groups view the rest of the world.
Rating:
Summary: A Mix
Review: The Plain Reader is a collection of articles that once appeared in the magazine "Plain". Its authors are comprised of individuals with varying philosophies on the virtues of a simple life. Some articles are written by Quakers, Amish and Brethren. There are also articles by homesteaders, authors of several books, and others. Since the authors come from so many different backgrounds, the articles aren't always compatible. For example, several of the articles are extremely anti-technology, anti-electricity, anti-competition, anti-public school education, etc., whereas others espouse the use of some of these things in moderation. To me, extremism in any direction is the antithesis of simplicity, which, after all, is what this book is supposed to be about. Still, the book is correctly subtitled "Essays on Making a Simple Life" - it is essays by different people, with different backgrounds and different beliefs about what constitutes a simple life. It is an educational read, not only about simplicity, but also about how certain groups view the rest of the world.
Rating:
Summary: Life Changing
Review: This book is simply wonderful, and in my opinion is one of the best "simple living" books on the market--regardless of whether or not that was its original intent. This book makes you just sit down and think... about how you live your life and what is important. I only wish the book was longer. Am looking quite forward to Scott's new book.
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Summary: Causes One to Open Their Eyes to a Different Type of Life
Review: This book is simply wonderful, and in my opinion is one of the best "simple living" books on the market--regardless of whether or not that was its original intent. This book makes you just sit down and think... about how you live your life and what is important. I only wish the book was longer. Am looking quite forward to Scott's new book.
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Summary: Thought provoking look at viable alternative to modern life
Review: This book will make you think about our "consumerism" lifestyle, and how we can escape to a more satisfying way of living.
Rating:
Summary: Ten stars and Priceless wisdom
Review: This is one of those days when I am feeling terribly blessed because I was able to buy a copy of The Plain Reader Essays on Making a Simple Life - Edited by Scott Savage. This is one of those books if you can find a copy I recommend you buy it. It is out of print, so I think the only places you can find a copy are via used books or small new booksellers who may have a copy stuck away somewhere. So what makes this book a gem? Well, for one thing it is a series of articles on a variety of topics, written by a lot of simple living folks on subjects that those seeking or living a simple life will really appreciate. One might even say its a great book to have next to your bedside so you can read something short, and encouraging before going to sleep.
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