Money Secrets of the Amish

Prompted by the recent economic downturn, Lorilee Craker decided to revisit her Mennonite roots and explore the habits of pocketbook and heart that might explain the famous Amish resilience in times of financial difficulty. A self-confessed recovering shop-a-holic who has nightmares of financial guru Dave Ramsey, she brings a self-deprecating cheerfulness to her discussion of shopping habits, credit, cultivating contentment and green living.

The book is a fast read and cuts a fairly wide swath through a variety of lifestyle habits. It feels more like a pep talk than a primer for changing one's life, especially since the author's constant references to her flightiness and distractedness when presented with anything shiny eventually make readers question her common sense and judgment.

There's nothing in here readers won't have seen before, including a surprising amount of material from mainstream magazines, blogs and other similarly themed books. Anyone looking for solid tips, implementable practices or clear Amish wisdom are going to be disappointed. That said, nothing in the book would steer readers down the wrong path and the friendly tone might be enough to encourage other shop-a-holics to make some changes.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.