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Growing Up Amish: A Memoir Audiobook
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(3.00) - 5,275 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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.
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"I read this book in one sitting, likely because I felt such compassion for Ira Wagler's dilemma. His courageous struggle to find his faith and his place in the world makes for a thought-provoking memoir. His simple, straight-forward style of sharing the story, with an uncanny ability to assess his feelings as events were unfolding, kept my attention from cover to cover. I found it genuine, touching and uplifting."
— Lois (4 out of 5 stars)
Growing Up Amish Listener Reviews
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" This was an interesting look at one mans struggle with a life journey in a life I am not familiar. "
— Ann, 2/19/2014 -
" An interesting look inside Amish communities and the differences between them. Written in a very simple format, so a quick read. Worth the time to read it. "
— Pam, 1/15/2014 -
" This book was written my my friend, Ira. I loved it and found it fascinating! "
— Lori, 1/12/2014 -
" This book had a really interesting premise and a unique writing style. "
— Alicia, 1/6/2014 -
" Good view of Mr. Wagler's struggle who after leaving his parents religion is not only told he is wrong, but that he is sentenced to eternal damnation, and that his parents support his being shunned by the entire religious community unless he begins believing as they do again. My only hesitancy is that I would like to know about the inner workings of the religion. "
— Gregory, 1/6/2014 -
" This wasn't the most well written book, but it was interesting. He definitely dispells the myth of Amish perfection. "
— Marianna, 1/6/2014 -
" This book has a lot of really interesting details about Amish life. I really enjoyed the details about the culture. "
— Jane, 12/30/2013 -
" I enjoyed reading about the Amish. Previously, I did not know much about them. There is not a lot of 'plot' in this memoir, but I found his constant spiritual struggle honest and intriguing. "
— Jaime, 12/22/2013 -
" I was very excited to read this book and learn more about the Amish community. The book turned out to be rather monotonous and quite disappointing. "
— Mei, 11/24/2013 -
" Very interesting, although the author description of trying to find himself goes on a long time. "
— Ruth, 11/21/2013 -
" A bit repetitive and self-indulgent. "
— Gail, 7/12/2013 -
" I'm intrigued by the Amish. The book answered many of my questions, and even included pics of Ira's family and friends. I wrote to him via email when I was through reading, and he replied immediately. He asked me to get the word out about his book. "
— Eileen, 4/22/2013 -
" a good insight into the workings of the Amish community. A good read. "
— Anne, 4/19/2013 -
" Eh...rather dry. I also felt little sympathy/empathy for the author as he told his story. "
— Jennifer, 4/14/2013 -
" I really liked this book. I have always been interested by the Amish Culture and Ira's story was captivating. "
— Jeanette-marie, 4/13/2013 -
" Pick a side already. And stop blaming everyone else for your unhappy life. "
— Kathy, 4/11/2013 -
" Really interesting insights into a "hidden" community. Well written. "
— Cindy, 2/10/2013 -
" Not bad. There aren't many first-hand accounts of the Amish. I felt it lacked details though. "
— Cetta, 12/24/2012 -
" Liked it as I am very interested in learning of the Amish culture. I listened to it on audiobook. "
— Laurie, 12/14/2012 -
" A key sentence toward the end of the book: "The box of the Amish life and culture may provide some protection, but it could never bring salvation.". This pretty much sums up the main viewpoint of the book. The first third is a fascinating look into the Amish culture. "
— Jeff, 7/26/2012 -
" Not what I expected but ok. Took a while to read because it just was not interesting, but it's nice that the book exists. "
— Lauren, 6/18/2012
About Ira Wagler
Ira Wagler was born in the small Old Order Amish community of Aylmer, Ontario. At age seventeen, frustrated by the rules and restrictions of Amish life, he got up before dawn, left a note under his pillow, packed his duffel bag, and left. Over the course of the next five years, he would leave and return home numerous times, torn between the ingrained message that abandoning one’s Amish heritage results in eternal damnation and the freedom and possibilities offered by the rest of the world. Only upon becoming a Christian at age twenty-six did he finally leave the Amish for good. He is currently general manager of Graber Supply, LLC, and Pole Building Co. in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
About Adam Verner
Adam Verner is a stage, film, television, and voice actor and an Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator. He holds a BS in theater arts from Bradley University and an MFA from Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.