
Member Reviews

Geoffrey Durham paints a vague, but appealing picture of the Quaker religion. I did wonder whether he is describing an extremely modern form of Quakerism, however, because I thought that Quakers were Christian and Protestant. According to Durham, you don't have to be a Christian to be a Quaker, although the Bible is very important to Quakers. It is possible to be a Hindu or Buddhist Quaker, apparently.
Durham gets rid of the misconceptions concerning Quakers, for example, that they are exclusive or that they dress in black and don't have any fun. He writes eloquently about Quaker philosophy, their belief in an Inner Light and their approach to life, the importance of meetings and their work for charity and society. Many people will have heard that Quakers are pacifists. Durham explains this. He has Quakers from several different backgrounds describe their experiences at the end of the book.
This is an excellent introduction to Quakerism and I enjoyed reading it.
I received this free ebook from Net Galley in return for an honest review.

It was a bit confusing at first, but then things got really interesting. This is obviously not enough to understand what Quakerism is about, but it serves as a good introduction for the topic and get a basic knowledge on the topic. The author has a good style, simple and direct, making it easy to enjoy the reading.

An interesting and quick read about the mindset of Quakers. A lot I had no clue about, as I was one of those that thought it was related to Shakers. Not a lot is well known about this religion, and the author explains why that is as well. A good read, but I felt like it rambled a bit at times too, which made it skimmable. Would still recommend this book though, and if you have any interest about Quakers and their beliefs this book will help you.

The opinions expressed in this book set forth by the author have greatly changed my perception of Quakerism. As told from a voice of experience, not encumbered by the rules of the church, the Quakers of today live by principle - not doctrine; they follow a spiritual path. That was my first revelation.
Not surprisingly from the aforementioned, it was revealed that there are no specific holy days for Quakers; to them every day is holy. They firmly believe that there is no one religion superior to another.
It was interesting to learn that a Quaker meeting is filled with meditative silence. There is no agenda to follow. However, someone offering a discussion that would benefit the group might take place. Again, anything is allowed. No one is denied.
This well-written narrative turned me around to what quakerism is all about. Its dominant principle brings together a divine order of people who share one primary objective: Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward men - an ideal worth heeding.
I offer my gratitude to NetGalley and John Hunt Publishing Ltd for this digital edition in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is a fascinating quick guide to a Faith that many people know nothing about, or think they know but actually believe wrongly in false myths about the Quaker community or Quaker beliefs. I was surprised to learn that not only is their no "dogma," also individual Quakers believe as they wish. Quaker experience is just that: personal experience. I applaud the Quaker drive to honesty, clarity, and love. I really applaud their Silence. I believe the world in general could use a whole lot more silence and contemplation.