Chapter 7 – The sounds of silence

This chapter was an eye opener. I understand what the author was trying to say but I have never experienced sitting in a room with a kerosene lamp or for that matter with an electric lamp and just reading. The only exception to this would be if I were studying for a test or reading this book. Most of my information comes from my computer and when I am using the computer, the television or music is on in the background. But I do understand the point he was making about time moving more slowly with the absence of fast paced electronics, ringing phones, televisions, etc.

I agree with his statement that by speeding through life with technology, you reduce what any given moment can hold and by slowing down, you can expand it. Many times I feel the pressure of never enough time in each day to accomplish all of my responsibilities. When I get stressed I release my tension by working out or playing a video game.

I keep getting surprised that the Minimites used flashlights so they wouldn’t use up all of their kerosene. It is amazing how smart these people were. I do think they had the right idea of enjoying every moment of time. That is a lesson we all need to learn in today’s fast paced world. This chapter reminds me of the saying, “Slow down and smell the roses”.

Chapter 6 - The missing refrigerator

I cannot even imagine living without a refrigerator. My grandmother has told me stories of when she was young and her parents had an ice box. She said all the children in the neighborhood would get so excited when the iceman would come to deliver ice and for a treat he would shave off a piece of ice for them. Her mother would go to the grocery store almost daily to purchase meat and their milk was delivered every other day. I used to sit for hours and listen to her tell me stories of hanging clothes out to dry and using a wringer washing machine. They lived in Pennsylvania and had a coal furnace and no air conditioning.

I thought about this when I read this chapter on the dilemma they faced about not being able to keep leftovers because they didn’t have a refrigerator. It was also interesting to learn how inventive these people were. It was fascinating to learn how they harvested winter ice from ponds and packed it in a shed using sawdust from the lumber mills and packing it tightly to insulate the walls of the shed. Brende help solve his problem by putting his leftover in a jar and dropping it in the buckets of water he had stored at his place.

My other grandmother lived in West Virginia and told stories of her mother cold packing their meats and storing them in a shed they built over a cold stream. This chapter sure brought back memories for me.

Chapter 5 – The Ram

Before I read this chapter I knew the word “ram” to mean a male sheep or to batter or strike something. I have now learned that a “ram” is a certain device that was invented to combine the two uses of water: a water mill for pumping water. When it was suggested that perhaps he would want to build a ram so he could have water at his house, Brende declined because he felt it was not following his commitment to live like the rest of his neighbors. As the chapter progressed he realized that his neighbors chose devices they thought would benefit them. He also noticed that nearly every local kitchen had a cook-stove that was invented by two Amish brothers. It was the first application of the principle of airtight combustion to wood-fired cooking. He also discovered other innovation technology, such as a water mill, a horse-powered hay baler, and a cultipacker. He and his wife realized that it wasn’t the sheer physical burden of unmechanized labor that was daunting. It was the skill, with the foremost skill being able to balance and integrate all the little bits into a single livelihood. He realized that by minimizing technology his neighbors maximized human know-how.

I can see his point in this theory because in today’s world we push buttons and as long as everything is working well it all seems so easy. But when something goes wrong with whatever device we are using, most of us do not have a clue how to fix it. Our recent hurricanes were a good example. When everything shut down people panicked and there was chaos.

I enjoyed the episode with the bulls and the herd of cattle chasing Bernde through the fields. I don’t blame him for panicking in that situation. I would have probably reacted in the same manner.

This was a very interesting chapter and I find myself in awe of this man because I don’t think I would be able to live in this environment for even a short period of time.

Chapter 4 – Artfully answering nature

I found this a strange chapter to get through. The author goes into such detail and tried to psychoanalyze every gesture and event that occurs. He compares a theory written by James Scott where Scott concluded that the absence of modern technology made interdependence a matter of sheer survival after observing a lively practice of neighborly aid among Southeast Asian villagers to the Millers, who had worsened their situation so they could get together. I found this hard to follow.

In this chapter, Brene discovers that what he thought to be a genuine collection of Amish was actually an assortment of Amish, Mennonites, and mainstream Americans from various parts of the country. He discovered that the real identity of this community was still in formation. It was especially surprising to him to discover that Mr. Miller didn’t
belong to the group here and had lived in a setting with modern technology. He later found out from Mr. Miller that he moved to this community to hopefully keep his children from the temptations of underage drinking and drugs, and also teenage pregnancy.

At the end of the chapter he overheard a group of men discussing beards. It is difficult for me to relate to this entire way of thinking by the people in this community. I guess because there wasn’t modern technology to distract them, such as TV’s, and video games, etc., they had nothing more to do than discuss what was the proper length of a man’s beard.

Chapter 3- Lightening Up

This was a very interesting chapter to read because the author is starting to understand the emotional culture of the Millers and the Jones. At first he is very perplexed about the lack of emotion and warmth shown by the Millers even though they helped them over and over again with work, advice, and kindness. As he watched the Miller’s children working in the field he stated that a onlooker would have wondered why the whole nation around them goes to great extremes to avoid work, while the Amish had gone to conscious lengths to preserve it. Brene finally begins to understand the phrase they kept repeating: ‘Many hands make work light.” As people work together they develop a friendship. They have conversation, exercise, fresh air, and the work becomes fun.

Mrs. Jones, her husband Nate, and their four children came over to help him plant more vegetables for the winter. His wife Mary, he, and the Jones had a wonderful time together laughing and talking. They in turn, decided to visit the Joneses to see if they needed help but it was really to visit. Even though they have different beliefs they managed to accept each other and enjoy their time together. The author discovered that since the purpose of getting together was not social, there was no pressure to “like” or “be liked.” He said this indirect approach to companionship got them out of their shells and despite dissimilarities in social background and education they enjoyed each other’s company on a regular basis.

There were many humorous stories about milking the cow, shelling peas, picking the beans and weeding the garden. When their two-day marathon in the garden was over he came to a strange realization. The inventors and engineers may have overlooked something: physical labor is self-automating. The human body contains its own well-oil “laborsaving” mechanisms.

I know from personal experience as a football player that when you first start to train and condition it is extremely difficult and not enjoyable. As you work with the team together you begin to forget about your pain and discomfort and before you know it, your pain is gone and you are actually having fun.