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    Growing Up Amish: A Memoir
    Growing Up Amish: A Memoir
    Growing Up Amish: A Memoir
    Audiobook7 hours

    Growing Up Amish: A Memoir

    Written by Ira Wagler

    Narrated by Adam Verner

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherChristianAudio.com
    Release dateApr 1, 2012
    ISBN9781610454568

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    Reviews for Growing Up Amish

    3.5/5

    184 ratings26 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I was actually looking for a story more of the Amish than of one disgruntled Amish member. However, I must say I enjoyed Ira Wagler’s story. Much of what he went through we all go through, maybe not in terms of religious ambiguity, but definitely in terms of life’s choices and the difficult job of choosing from among those choices. Ira’s yo yo life in and out of the Amish community was a big repetitious, but the overall message was valuable. His story was worth telling and worth my while reading.
    • 4/5
      This story of a young man's journey to adulthood as he struggles to find his place and inner peace grabs your attention and holds it from page 1 right through to the end. An excellent read and very well written.
    • 4/5
      Born on a hot August day, Ira Wagler was raised in the Old Order Amish community of Aylmer, Ontario. Growing up in the Amish way suited Ira only until he became a young man. After watching most of his older siblings leave the Amish way of life, Ira followed suit at age seventeen. Over the course of the next nine years, Ira would repeatedly return to the Amish and then leave again. At twenty-six, he left Amish permanently. In this memoir Ira candidly shares the myriad of experiences that his life journey consisted of.Growing Up Amish by Ira Wagler peals away common stereotypes and misconceptions about the Amish people and reveals one man's journey in and out of the Amish world. In the Christian fiction realm, the Amish way of life is often idealized. Reading Growing Up Amish was like seeing a side of Amish culture that I had not been exposed to before. I thought the book started off a little slow. However, by the time the author began talking about his teenage years and Rumspringa, I was hooked. I live in one of the non-Amish areas that the author talks about visiting, so it was interesting to see his observations and experiences in my own area. Christians who are fans of biographies will probably enjoy this book.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
    • 4/5
      I was actually looking for a story more of the Amish than of one disgruntled Amish member. However, I must say I enjoyed Ira Wagler’s story. Much of what he went through we all go through, maybe not in terms of religious ambiguity, but definitely in terms of life’s choices and the difficult job of choosing from among those choices. Ira’s yo yo life in and out of the Amish community was a big repetitious, but the overall message was valuable. His story was worth telling and worth my while reading.
    • 3/5
      Mildly interesting autobiography of a vacillating Amish member. Born in that culture, he describes his large family, the farm work, the religion, the old fashioned ways demanded of them.... We feel the distance and resistance to the life from early on...but it takes a few attempts at breaking away (often to other Amish/ Mennonite settlements) - and returns to the life he feels he SHOULD want (but doescnt really) before he finally cuts the ties...
    • 2/5
      The author tells the story of his life. He grew up in an Amish household, but decided he had to leave. He left a note for his parents and slipped out in the middle of the night.I can't remember too much about this book after reading it 6 months ago. I remember he had to come to terms with his beliefs and that it took him several tries to find peace and a place in society.And it definitely paints a true picture, not a sugar coated or romanticized view of the Amish.
    • 3/5
      I listened to this as an audiobook. At times it was interesting as it got into what it is like being Amish and their customs and rituals. My biggest concern with the book was that it turned into this never ending monotonous psycho-drama of Ira Wagler's leaving his religion and way of life.Like all rebellious youth there will be trials and tribulations as the growing pains set in and the big decisions must be encountered. With Ira it is a never ending spin cycle and he finally gets there and much to my relief. But I was left wondering, as he always seemed to, would he go back to the fold and yet again be driven by his inner demons to leave. And on and on. I had little sympathy for him and much more for the young lady he dragged into the melee then abandoned.
    • 4/5
      What annoys me a lot about books is when the title doesn't exactly reflect what the book is about. Here is another example of that. I expected Wagler's memoir to be about growing up Amish, what it was like to grow up in that culture, day to day living, beliefs, etc.. It touched on those things, but mostly it seemed to be about running away from the Amish. It may have been more aptly titled, "Running w/Suspenders" :P

      I gave it four stars though b/c I liked his writing. And his story. He was brutally honest and forthcoming with his feelings, his confessions, his doubts, etc. I learned a lot about Amish communities and some of their customs and how they vary from one cluster to another.

      I've read parts of his blog, though the entries are a little long and rambling. I'm very much interested in what's happened to Ira since the ending of the book... so I just might sift through the myriad blog entries to find out.
    • 3/5
      Ira Wagler was the ninth of eleven children in an Old Order Amish family. Wagler shares memories of his childhood in Canada, and recalls the growing restlessness of his teenage years in Iowa. Wagler was one of several teenage boys who left the Iowa Amish settlement for life among the English. This was the beginning of a decade of departures from and returns to the Amish fold. Wagler chafed under the strict rule of life presided over by the Amish bishops. When he was away from home, he missed his family and friends, but every time he determined to give it another try, it wasn't long before he again grew restless and left.Wagler's memoir stalls in a detailed description of a cycle of departures and returns. He might have maintained the momentum of the earlier part of his memoir by writing of his goings and comings collectively rather than serially, and selecting a few significant episodes to illustrate that period of his life.Wagler wrestled with the guilt of disappointing his family and friends, and with his inability to do what was required to maintain his membership in the Amish Church despite his belief that it was the only path to salvation. Wagler seems to expect that the way in which his internal conflict was resolved will surprise his readers, but it's actually a familiar story. Wagler discovered a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer and Bible reading. He left the Amish church for good and joined a Mennonite church, as many Amish people have done before and since.
    • 3/5
      On its surface, my upbringing parallelled the author's; big family, religious strictness, controlling father. We even both physically left our fathers' homes at 17. But theology and social pressures were way different and it was fascinating to read his story.
    • 4/5
      The author describes his rambling years from age 16 to 26, when he left his old order Amish community three times, before finally leaving it for good. He tried moving to different communities, where the rules differ, truly joining the Amish church - and leaving, and going back, and finally leaving for good at the end of the book. Although the book is about the Amish culture, I think his struggles are universal. It's really all about what do you want to do in life and where do you fit in.
    • 4/5
      Interesting account. I learned a lot about the Amish, but didn't really like Ira much.
    • 4/5
      This has been one of my favorite Amish books thus far. It was uniquely refreshing to have a male's perspective. The women's stories all seem to be glitzy, semi-slutty, love stories and I never felt I got a glimpse into how the Amish lifestyle works. Ira Wagler's account was detailed. Both in his personal endeavors and in how the various districts work.
    • 4/5
      I liked this book in spite of what I would call mediocre writing, but I felt the author was genuinely attempting to tell his story. The writing seems very genuine. I felt a strong sense of honesty throughout the book. The Amish culture is unique and is very isolating. That isolation would be very hard for us "English" to fully appreciate.I especially appreciated the author's distinction between what he considered to be Christian beliefs and his Amish teachings. What we are taught and experience before we are six seems "normal." Having to re-evaluate what is normal is not an easy over night process. The pull between the Amish world and the outside world mentally tortured him for years before he was able to come to a sense of peace. I appreciated the story and the author's honesty.
    • 4/5


      the long and winding road...
      evocative of aspects of my own family history, i took great interest in Ira's faith and life journey. a memoir of Ira's personal insights into Amish life, leadership, family, activities, worship. controversial, i'm sure, to those of the Amish communities, but the insider's view that answers many of the questions outsiders want to ask. it left me wanting to know more...
    • 5/5
      I listened to this book 2 times. It is so honest, sensitive and revealing that I was captivated to the book in its entireity. This is a clear look at the Amish culture from the inside. From what I read, it seems that the effects of living under a religious spirit is the same no matter what your affilitation. Ira Wagler found out the difference between the living God and living under the mask of a religious spirit. This is a wonderful book for anyone who wants to break free from well meaning people who think they know God by keeping rules.
    • 2/5
      Although I found the subject interesting, the book was very dry. It does give you real flavor for the tug and pull of the Amish culture.
    • 2/5
      I love books like this -- memoirs of those who grew up in insular communities, such different circumstances from mine -- but this really fell short for me. I felt like the book couldn't decide if it wanted to be more about the Amish or more about the author, and unfortunately, it ended up doing neither thoroughly or well. I'm still on the lookout for the quintessential Amish memoir.
    • 5/5
      I really have enjoyed reading some Amish fiction, so I decided to try some non-fiction. I really enjoyed reading about Ira's life and struggles in my home state. As I read the story I realized I lived about one county away when some of this story takes place. I would recommend this to anyone who likes reading about the Amish.
    • 4/5
      Growing Up AmishIra WaglerI enjoyed this book for a multitude of reasons. One big reason is the insight provided by Mr. Wagler of what the Amish life is like. There was a complete honesty and simplicity in his thinking about home. The question always before him was can he ever really leave home. The bigger and greater reason for staying with his story was the triumphant end - coming to a Christ who is home and salvation. It is a true prodigal coming home as many are going home to the Christ who saves. The saddest thing was the gentleman who shared the savior to Mr. Wagler, and Mr. Wagler grace in dealing with loosing this friend. It is a great show of the Lord salvation because when Mr. Wagler would not do as his friend wanted Mr. Wagler faith continued to grow and change his life. Throughout the slower parts of his story he successful wove in the knowledge that something was coming. The big life altering something of Jesus the Christ. Thank you Mr. Wagler for the glimpse into the Amish mystique and again our great God and Savior.
    • 5/5
      I have always loved reading and hearing about the Amish life. There are several reasons for this. I grew upon a farm in Indiana. My parents became Christians when I was five. With no one to guide her in her walk, my mother decided it was better to err on God’s side. Board games, dancing of any kind, and most television shows became off limits or a sin. My books and comic books were scrutinized. My mom’s first question whenever I told her about a new friend was, “Are they a Christian?” I had few friends growing up because they did not fit into my mom’s “category” of what a Christian was. I worked on the farm just as the Amish do. When we moved to Florida I learned that what we called a garden the people down here called a truck patch or small farm. I learned how to can and freeze fruits and vegetables. We smoked our own meat. In the winter we filled a concrete tub in our ‘milk house’ up with snow and put perishables in it. It was a tough life yet one I miss.It may be these memories that have always drawn me to Amish fiction. I can see so many parallels. I was thrilled to read Ira Wagler’s book Growing Up Amish. In this book we get a look at the “real” Amish. Not the ones so often written about in romance novels, which make the Amish come across as a people who do, or think no wrong. We find a man who has struggled to find where he truly belongs. He wanted to be a part of the Amish world he was born into, yet felt it was not for him. At age 17 he left his Amish home in Iowa. He later returns, and must admit all of his sins to the congregation before he is allowed to join the church. He tries, but still doesn’t seem to feel as if he is where he should be. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to once again make a decision to leave his Amish life. He subjected himself to this pain many times before leaving for good. The pain of being shunned by everyone you know is hard enough. Their belief is if you left the church then your soul was headed for damnation. I was happy to learn that Ira finally asked God about his situation and got an answer. He found salvation outside of his Amish culture. Unfortunately it is not only the Amish that are like this. We see this in many denominations. They become so legalistic that it seems they forget what Jesus was all about. I thank God each and every day that his love for us is not based on a set of laws. We see where that got people in the old testament.This book is a great look at the Amish. However, I believe the message I it is clear. We all need to take a look at our lives and ask if we are where God wants us. If not then maybe we need to talk with him to find out where he wants us to be. I do find it funny when I think about how they try to separate themselves from the English. When we get to heaven Go is not going to separate us, say, “You Baptist over there and You Amish over here. We who have found salvation through Jesus blood are all God’s children and he has prepared a home for us in heaven, together.This is a must read book for anyone who enjoys learning about the Amish.
    • 4/5
      I have been reading a lot of Christian fiction that deals with Amish communities. I was very curious about this book- mainly because I have become a little obsessed with the Amish population, especially in PA. It was a good book- I am not really sure how you could call and autobiography anything but good. The author is a talented writer- and I found myself surprised at how much I learned about the Amish people. I do wish, though, that he would have included more about what happened to him after he left the Amish community for good- I didn't get much closure. Absolutely pick up this book- it was a great change of pace!
    • 4/5
      An amazingly brilliant insight into the Amish culture and into Ira's soul. I was riveted with this book from the first page. The book gave me what I had been craving in all of the Amish fiction I always read…insight into their lives, their culture, their world. Ira does an amazing job pouring out his heart and capturing his audience in this autobiography. I felt his inner turmoil, his yearning, his journey for more. I know I was rooting for him to finally find happiness and to stop running from something and finally to something.
    • 4/5
      Born on a hot August day, Ira Wagler was raised in the Old Order Amish community of Aylmer, Ontario. Growing up in the Amish way suited Ira only until he became a young man. After watching most of his older siblings leave the Amish way of life, Ira followed suit at age seventeen. Over the course of the next nine years, Ira would repeatedly return to the Amish and then leave again. At twenty-six, he left Amish permanently. In this memoir Ira candidly shares the myriad of experiences that his life journey consisted of.Growing Up Amish by Ira Wagler peals away common stereotypes and misconceptions about the Amish people and reveals one man's journey in and out of the Amish world. In the Christian fiction realm, the Amish way of life is often idealized. Reading Growing Up Amish was like seeing a side of Amish culture that I had not been exposed to before. I thought the book started off a little slow. However, by the time the author began talking about his teenage years and Rumspringa, I was hooked. I live in one of the non-Amish areas that the author talks about visiting, so it was interesting to see his observations and experiences in my own area. Christians who are fans of biographies will probably enjoy this book.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
    • 4/5
      Ira Wagler brings readers into the world of the Amish as he vividly describes being repeatedly tossed between the pull of familiar security in this life and the next, and beckoning possibilities of a culture of forbidden fruits. A lot to weigh at 17, the son of an iconic Amish writer. Nevertheless, walk away, he did, thus beginning a journey back and forth between divergent cultures as he fought to find a way to meld his beliefs with the ways of the “world.” Growing up deeply entrenched in rules, traditions, and obedience to an austere God; prayers were formal and by the book, while services were long and seating on hard benches was ordered by age. Plenty of work availed itself, whether for the immediate family or caring for community members, a world in which those in need would always experience security. However, dictates from the church leaders gradually lost discontent teens one by one, including disillusioned Ira. His belief that leaving the fold would bring eternal damnation kept Ira returning in repentance to his Amish roots. A providential encounter with San, a friend who quietly led Ira to a God of love and a relationship through faith, drew an end to Ira’s 10 years of frenzied running and discontent.Amish or not, the theme is easy to relate to as Ira’s desire to explore and choose for himself is common to most, especially in the teens and early twenties. He gifts the reader with an inward look at various orders of culture, traditions, and values within communities and within self. As we gain much needed insight, we are led to yearn for him to find peace with himself, his family, his culture, and God.This is an honest review of a Kindle edition galley from Tyndale House Publishers through NetGalley.
    • 5/5
      Ok, Just finished this and I really enjoyed this, It was such and interesting read. It is almost as if you and Ira are old friends and He is telling you his story. Overall I give this a 5/5. Definitely recommend this.