Hi, I'm a very new and slightly overwhelmed Quaker! I would greatly appreciate anyone sharing good books for a newbie. I have read "Plain Living a Quaker Path To Simplicity" by Catherine Whitmore and am now reading "Encounter With Silence" by John Punshon. I would like to read more on Quaker lifestyle and simplicity. I'm far from educated, so I need something easy to follow. Thank you Friends for your time. Blessings and peace, Tina

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Chel and Howard, Quakerbooks no longer had The Peaceable Kingdom, so I went to thriftbooks.com, where I have had a lot  of luck in the past. They had a copy for $4.13 with free shipping and handling! Praise God! I'm looking forward to it's arrival. Thank you both, again. Blessings and peace, Tina

John, Thank you so much for the variety of suggestions. I'm so happy to see you like Silence and Witness, I've been debating that book for sometime. I thnk it will be next in line after a reading by Quaker Jane. Blessings and Peace, Tina

John March said:

Hello Tina,

You've been given some wonderful suggestions.  I just finished reading Michael Birkel's __Slience and Witness__ and just loved it.  It's an easy read, covers a lot of history as well as Friend's traditions and practices, but most importantly represents the heart or spark of the experience of what it means to be a Quaker.  

If you're interested in Friends from an historical/practice point of view, you might like Howard Brinton's __Friends for 350 Years__, which in an earlier edition 40 years ago introduced me to Quakerism.  A more recent book a bit more slanted to Quaker Theology is Pink Dandelion's __Introduction to Quakerism__.  

Lastly, it is good to go back to the source and read around in the writings of the early and later Friends.  A good place to start is with the Quaker Reader by Jessamyn West. 

Have fun--it's a lovely and rich tradition and underneath the various forms the Quaker  spark is alive and well in the Light.

Kindly,

John

Dear Barbara, bless you for your insight. I have downloaded Isabel's writing and am trying to find some quite time to read it in. Isabel led me to Quakerism, so I'm looking forward to the reading. I really can't find words to tell you what I'm feeling in my heart right now and it' frustrates me that I have to leave it at thank you and bless you...Tina

Barbara Smith said:

Tina - I hear a thirsting and yearning for the life-changing experience that Quaker testimonies represent. I also, on coming to Quakerism years ago wanted to immerse myself in what appeared to me to be a holy path to God. I did not find that years ago, but have now. I strongly recommend a booklet by Isabel Penraeth called "Amity for the Troubled Spirit". It is only available for download on her website QuakerJane.com. Here is the link to the page where thee can find the pdf:

http://www.quakerjane.com/spirit.friends/spiritual_mentor-.html

She also has lots of information on the plain speech that thee asked about, lots on the history of plain dress, and many resources for seeking Friends. But I especially was reached, or should I say smitten, but the booklet "Amity", which literally changed my life. I have recommended this to several others who have been similarly affected.

I encourage thee to seek beyond the testimonies of plainness, simplicity etc. to the Source of those testimonies, and do not be discouraged, as I was years ago.All these books are interesting and helpful but in reality the Light of Christ is the only teacher thee needs to direct thee.

Blessings and love,
Barb

Tina:  See the thread entitled Quaker Writers for Adult First Day School for a list of journals and memoirs of Friends in the past.  I think that most modern Friends are not very aware of most of these volumes.  Actually, the volumes I described there only scratch the surface.  Most of these books are now available in reprint form at very modest prices.

William, Thank you so much for thinking of me and posting this link! I found many readings to add to my growing list. 

Blessings and Peace,

Tina

William F Rushby said:

Tina:  See the thread entitled Quaker Writers for Adult First Day School for a list of journals and memoirs of Friends in the past.  I think that most modern Friends are not very aware of most of these volumes.  Actually, the volumes I described there only scratch the surface.  Most of these books are now available in reprint form at very modest prices.

I don't think anyone has mentioned a new book from Friends Journal - Quaker Process for Friends on the Benches by Mathilda Navias. It basically a newcomers guide to the nuts and bolts of how meetings function.

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