Amish Confidential: The Bishop's Son Shatters the Silence (Paperback)

~ Chris Burkholder (Author) "The twelve hour work day was endless, and to a six year old boy born in Bowling Green, Missouri, it was unbearable during the summer..." (more)
Key Phrases: Old Order Amish, Bowling Green, Uncle Andrew (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the year’s best books. A brutally honest account of the not-so-quaint Amish lifestyle." -- Anthony K. Alfred, author of "A Lost Soul: A Collection of Poems and Motivational Articles"

"One of the year’s best books. A brutally honest account of the not-so-quaint Amish lifestyle." --Anthony K. Alfred, author of "A Lost Soul: A Collection of Poems and Motivational Articles"

"Spousal abuse, molestations, rape and corporal punishment––this should be a wake-up call to everybody." -- Felicia Williams, author of "My Life While Growing Up"

"Spousal abuse, molestations, rape and corporal punishment––this should be a wake-up call to everybody." --Felicia Williams, author of "My Life While Growing Up"

"The kind of book that comes along once in a generation. You will never forget his story." -- James E. Hough, author of "As I Remember: 1933-2005 "

"The kind of book that comes along once in a generation. You will never forget his story." --James E. Hough, author of "As I Remember: 1933-2005 "

Product Description

SCANDAL ROCKS AMISH CLAN: MURDER, SEXUAL DEPRAVITY. Forget the images of 19th century farmers, close-knit families, and hard-working craftsmen immune to the stresses of our modern times. The Amish find themselves facing ever-greater scrutiny as reports of polio outbreaks, child abuse, rape, incest, and bestiality grab the headlines. Once the symbol of better, simpler times, the closeted world of the Amish is now in the spotlight and at the center of growing controversies. Chris Burkholder, the son of an Amish bishop, has shattered the silence. At the cost of being excommunicated and ostracized by his own father, Chris reveals what it is like to grow up in a world where brainwashing, terrifying violence and sexual depravity are commonplace. In Amish Confidential: The Bishop’s Son Shatters the Silence, Chris Burkholder shares his harrowing tale of abuse and reasons that compelled him to leave his family and faith in search of a new life among the ‘sinful and condemned world’ of the rest of us Americans.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: Argyle Publishing (December 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977268004
• ISBN-13: 978-0977268009
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #461,079 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disgusting!, August 21, 2006

By	L. C. Gorr - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am not Amish but live near Lancaster County PA. I have read several books about Amish culture and lifestyles. In some of those books there is verbiage on some child abuse. Do I believe it happens, yes...do I believe that Chris Burkholder was so abused...that is not something that I can say or not say. But what I do believe is that Chris Burkholder is using this book to make a couple of bucks and I was one of the fools who purchased it! How he repeatedly discusses the sexual activites in his book is digusting. I read the entire book hoping it would get better, it never did. I would not recommend this book to anyone..please do not help in Chris Burkholders get rich quick scheme like I did.

59 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not for the squeamish...author on a mission, August 31, 2006

By	I. Johnston "The Book Bean" (Arizona) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a person who's studied the Amish for many years I was really looking forward to reading this book. I'm halfway through and have decided to write my review already.

This book is not so much about the abuse and misdeeds of the Amish as much as it seems to be a confessional of abuse and misdeeds of the author.

I'll tell you right off the bat that there's a lot of animal abuse in this book, so if that upsets you (it does me) then don't read it. The majority of the abuse comes from the author to the animals when he does things he shouldn't as a young boy and gets reprimanded for them. As a result he takes it out on various animals. I was disgusted, sickened and almost in tears at some of it.

There is some other abuse...mostly by children to other children. What the author terms "abuse" is what alot of the rest of us endure growing up as well...being reprimanded by parents or stern relatives. He makes child abuse in this country pale by comparison. My thinking is that if this author had grown up among the "Englische" (what the Amish call the rest of us) that he would have written this book anyway. The author seems like an cry baby opportunist eager for a venue.

As much as I really was looking forward to reading this book, I'm sorely disappointed. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, especially not animal lovers.
Judge for yourself but I suggest you save your money and buy a book that's worth reading.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A personal account of ONE Amish community!, October 7, 2006

By	Randi Maerz (Quincy, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I enjoyed this book very much. Although the book isn't the most eloquently written much of the time, it conveys a strong story of this man's life. Throughout, you get a glimpse of the Amish lifestyle and how it intertwines with Chris's life as a child and young man. There are very graphic details in here of brutality of various sorts, so reader should beware of this.

I have always been interested in the Amish community, and I am a huge fan of the weekly "Amish Cook" column. However, the main reason I read this book is because of the commotion it caused in my hometown. As you will read in the book, Mr. Burkholder eventually ends up in an Amish community outside the small town of Kahoka, MO. Incidentally, this is where I grew up. I remember seeing these Amish at the salebarn auctions; my mom, grandma, and I drove to one of their homes to buy homegrown peas. They may lead their lives differently than us "Englishers", but they are human. That certainly does not justify the wrongdoings mentioned in this book, but I like to think that all Amish communities are not like this.

Like it or not, child abuse/incest/beastiality can occur in families of any religious affiliation. Please read this book with an open mind as I did, and do not condemn all Amish for the poor parenting and leadership of one Bishop in one community.