Dr. Frau: A Woman Doctor Among the Amish [Paperback]

Grace H Kaiser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 2001

With poignancy and humor, Grace Kaiser details a part of rural America that few people ever see or understand; the life and land of the Amish and Mennonites of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where she spent 28 years as a family doctor.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

During the course of a 28-year medical practice near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Grace Kaiser, known as Dr. Frau, treated Amish and Mennonite patients. Since the Plain People do not practice birth control, most of the stories in this book relate to the joys and sorrows of home baby deliveries. Kaiser bucked mud and snow, suffered through heat waves, and answered calls at any time of the day or night to assist her birthing mothers. She tells about humorous incidents, describes the home furnishings and garments of the Amish people, and gives us many insights into their everyday activities. Her collection of reminiscences is amusing and entertaining, an intimate written account of life in an Anabaptist community. Evelyn G. Callaway, California Native Plant Society, Ridgecrest
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

Simple and riveting, humorous and touching." -Country Living

"A loving, clear-eyed look at life in the Amish farm communities." -Friends Journal

"Amusing and entertaining; an intimately written account." -Library Journal

"It's hard not to compare [these] stories with those of veterinarian James Herriot with a little bit of Sherwood Anderson thrown in. Dr. Frau definitely knows the Amish. This is surely one of the best books about them I have read." -South Bend Tribune

"A good-humored recollection with appropriate doses of pathos, humor, sadness, and insight into the lives of a very private community of people." -Kirkus Reviews

"A fascinating, nonvoyeuristic glimpse into the lifestyles of Kaiser's Amish and Mennonite patients." -Booklist

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: Good Books; Revised edition (November 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561482161
• ISBN-13: 978-1561482160
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #981,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Medical

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, interesting, comforting book., July 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dr. Frau: A Woman Doctor Among the Amish (Paperback)

I used to live near the Amish, growing up in Illinois, and so ordered this book. How comforting it was to read about a lifestyle that hasn't changed in hundreds of years. It is somehow comforting to know that there are still places in America where life carries on like this. The book was humerous too, especially if you grew up on a farm. She does a great job of portraying some of the more subtle differences in how the Amish regard money, work and life. This is a terrific read and I would recommend it to anyone. (I can almost see my German-descended grandfather in here - in some ways, he was not too different than the Amish when it came to squeezing a penny.) Anyone who had grandparents who worked the farm, particularly around some of the old German communities, will love this book. It would also be a great book for schools, I think, when the children are studying history and/or different cultures.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Stories of Amish Life As It Is Lived Daily, August 24, 2001

By 

Sandra J. Lefler (Sanford, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dr. Frau: A Woman Doctor Among the Amish (Paperback)

A truly educational experience in the first person. Grace Kaiser has done an excellent job of documenting her many years of experience as a Practicing Physician living amongst the Amish people. She leaves nothing to the imagination on her birthing experiences. Learned much from reading this book of short stories.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A country doctor delivers babies for the Amish, November 22, 2003

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dr Frau: A Woman Doctor Among the Amish (Paperback)

Dr. Kaiser was a no-nonsense country doctor for many years in the Pennsylvania Dutch country. She delivered babies at home for the Old-Order Amish and Mennonites, sometimes arriving at the farmhouse by sleigh, if necessary. She writes with astonishing detail about her patients, their humor and lifestyle. Dr. Kaiser got stuck in mud, snow, was sometimes unavoidably to late to get the baby delivered, but she always treated her patients with deep respect and loving care.