Reviews
As the author effectively demonstrates, Lancaster County provides a useful "window" into America's fascination both with traditional rurality and modern development., " Garden Spot traces the history of an ambivalent American attitude about rural life. There is grist for both the scholar and the interested layperson a wonderful addition to the literature on the Amish."-- The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, "A lively and engaging reflection on the battle to save one of America's favorite places and peoples, this superbly crafted text probes the lure of rural life in the hearts of postmodern Americans. Blending historical perspectives with provocative analysis, Walbert explains the selling ofAmish images on the culture markets of America and tells America's love-hate story with its rural legacy."--Donald B. Kraybill, author of The Riddle of Amish Culture, " Garden Spot is a very well written book and fills a vital niche in Amishliterature by examining the crisis of encroaching urbanism in rural America." --Utopian Studies, "By synthesizing a phenomenal amount of scholarly work with popular portrayals, he tellingly documents the evolution of US perceptions of rural life."-- CHOICE, Implicit throughout the book are lessons applicable to all localities where imagined, if not actual, rural landscapes appear threatened by urbanization. Chapter by chapter, Walbert carefully relates Lancaster County trends to trends nationwide. Thus the book resonates with nationwide implication. I especially recommend it to readers concerned with urban sprawl in America and its economic and social impact., "By synthesizing a phenomenal amount of scholarly work with popular portrayals, he tellingly documents the evolution of US perceptions of rural life."--CHOICE, "Garden Spot provides an incisive and fascinating look at the changingmeanings of rurality during the twentieth century. By exploring the differentperspectives of Lancaster County businessmen, suburbanites, and exurbanites, aswell as the farmers themselves, David Walbert integrates the new rural historyand cultural studies to show how our understandings of the countryside have beenconstructed and reconstructed in a modern and urban society. This fine bookopens a new direction in rural studies that others are sure to follow."--Hal S.Barron, Harvey Mudd College and the Claremont Graduate University, There is grist for both the scholar and interested layperson ... a wonderful addition to the literature on Amish and Mennonites., "By synthesizing a phenomenal amount of scholarly work with popular portrayals, he tellingly documents the evolution of US perceptions of rural life."--CHOICE" Garden Spot traces the history of an ambivalent American attitude about rural life. There is grist for both the scholar and the interested layperson a wonderful addition to the literature on the Amish."-- The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography" Garden Spot is a very well written book and fills a vital niche in Amish literature by examining the crisis of encroaching urbanism in rural America." -- Utopian Studies"A lively and engaging reflection on the battle to save one of America's favorite places and peoples, this superbly crafted text probes the lure of rural life in the hearts of postmodern Americans. Blending historical perspectives with provocative analysis, Walbert explains the selling of Amish images on the culture markets of America and tells America's love-hate story with its rural legacy."--Donald B. Kraybill, author of The Riddle of Amish Culture"By synthesizing a phenomenal amount of scholarly work with popular portrayals, he tellingly documents the evolution of US perceptions of rural life."--CHOICE"Garden Spot provides an incisive and fascinating look at the changing meanings of rurality during the twentieth century. By exploring the different perspectives of Lancaster County businessmen, suburbanites, and exurbanites, as well as the farmers themselves, David Walbert integrates the new rural history and cultural studies to show how our understandings of the countryside have been constructed and reconstructed in a modern and urban society. Thisfine book opens a new direction in rural studies that others are sure to follow."--Hal S. Barron, Harvey Mudd College and the Claremont Graduate University, "A lively and engaging reflection on the battle to save one of America'sfavorite places and peoples, this superbly crafted text probes the lure of rurallife in the hearts of postmodern Americans. Blending historical perspectiveswith provocative analysis, Walbert explains the selling of Amish images on theculture markets of America and tells America's love-hate story with its rurallegacy."--Donald B. Kraybill, author of The Riddle of Amish Culture, "Garden Spot provides an incisive and fascinating look at the changing meanings of rurality during the twentieth century. By exploring the different perspectives of Lancaster County businessmen, suburbanites, and exurbanites, as well as the farmers themselves, David Walbert integrates the newrural history and cultural studies to show how our understandings of the countryside have been constructed and reconstructed in a modern and urban society. This fine book opens a new direction in rural studies that others are sure to follow."--Hal S. Barron, Harvey Mudd College and the ClaremontGraduate University, " Garden Spot traces the history of an ambivalent American attitude aboutrural life. There is grist for both the scholar and the interested layperson awonderful addition to the literature on the Amish."-- The Pennsylvania Magazineof History and Biography, "By synthesizing a phenomenal amount of scholarly work with popularportrayals, he tellingly documents the evolution of US perceptions of rurallife."--CHOICE, " Garden Spot is a very well written book and fills a vital niche in Amish literature by examining the crisis of encroaching urbanism in rural America." -- Utopian Studies
