First published 2015
Lebanon Levi Stoltzfus built his reputation keeping peace among the Amish communities of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Millions watched him on Discovery Channel's Amish Mafia as he navigated the complex social dynamics of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Now he pulls back the curtain on what Amish life actually looks like when outsiders aren't watching. The community projects an image of simple living without modern conveniences like cars, electricity, or contemporary entertainment. The reality proves far more complicated. Stoltzfus reveals how community members secretly access Wi-Fi, engage with prostitutes, and use drugs while maintaining their traditional facade. He examines the mechanisms of shunning, tax obligations, attempts to blend into non-Amish society, and sexual behavior within a repressive culture. Individual expression flourishes despite rigid community rules. Members take enormous risks to enjoy modern conveniences and hide their transgressions, even when facing potential eternal consequences. Stoltzfus documents the tension between maintaining 19th-century traditions and living in the 21st century, showing how even the most devout struggle with this fundamental contradiction.
Genres: crime, non-fiction, 21st-century, amish
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: hidden-lives, insider-perspective
Setting: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Period: 21st Century
290 pages · Kindle Edition · Gallery Books
Content warnings: drug-use, sexual-content