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Selected Readings on Quakers and Quakerism *

Overview—Who Are Quakers?

Brinton, Howard.  Friends for 350 Years (2002).  This revision of Friends for   300 Years is a bit dated, but still a classic explanation of who Quakers are and how we function.

Cooper, Wilmer.  A Living Faith: An Historical and Comparative Study of

Quaker Beliefs (1990).   A readable, theological and historical exploration of Quaker beliefs over the full spectrum of contemporary Quakerism.

Cope-Robinson, Lynn.  The Little Quaker Sociology Book (1995).  All the major branches of the    Religious Society of Friends are reflected in this lively, intelligent introduction to Quakerism.

Hamm, Thomas.  Quakers in America (2003).  A concise history of the Religious Society of Friends, an introduction to Quaker beliefs and practices, and a vivid picture of the culture and controversies of Friends today.

Guides for Entry into the Quaker World

Birkel, Michael.  Silence and Witness: The Quaker Tradition (2004).  An introduction to Quaker thought, practice, and spiritual life.

FGC Religious Education Committee.  The Quaker Way (1998).  An easy-to-read faith and practice handbook.

New York Yearly Meeting.  Faith and Practice (1998).  The basic text describing spiritual beliefs   and process in New York Yearly Meeting. 

Peck, George.  What is Quakerism? A Primer  (1988)  A 48-page pamphlet for beginners.

Punshon, John.  Encounter with Silence: Reflections from the Quaker Tradition (1987).  A small, rich, readable book on Quaker worship.

Pym, Jim.  Listening to the Light: How to Bring Quaker Simplicity and Integrity into Our Lives   (1999).  An accessible, contemporary introduction to Quakerism by a well-known British Friend.

Smith, Robert Lawrence.  A Quaker Book of Wisdom: Life Lessons in Simplicity, Service and         Common Sense  (1998).  Personal reflections by a lifelong Friend who came of age in the World War II generation, looking back on his roots in a Quaker family and community. 

Willcuts, Jack.  Why Friends Are Friends: Some Core Quaker Convictions  (1984).  A helpful      introduction to Quaker faith dedicated to young pastors and new Friends.

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Inspirational

Ambler, Rex, ed.  Truth of the Heart—An Anthology of Selections from George Fox (2001).  Brief              selections, arranged by subject, from a man called the founder of Quakerism. 

Birkel, Michael.  A Near Sympathy:  The Timeless Quaker Wisdom of John Woolman  (2003).  A   study of the spiritual practices of a man whose patient non-violence changed the world.   

Bill, J. Brent.  Holy Silence:  The Gift of Quaker Spirituality (2005).  A reflection on Quaker use    of silence in and beyond worship, written primarily for a non-Quaker audience.

Kelly, Thomas.  A Testament of Devotion  (1941).  A short book of devotional essays, still widely read among Friends.

Moulton, Phillips, ed. Journal and Major Essays of John Woolman (1989).  An 18th century Friend  records his efforts to follow his Quaker faith, a classic of American and Quaker literature. 

Steere, Douglas.  Prayer and Worship (1988).  A discussion of private and corporate prayer and   devotional reading.

Trueblood, D. Elton.  The People Called Quakers (1985).  An introduction to Quakerism with a  lively historical summary, including chapters that depict the Quaker experiment in radical Christianity as a life option for contemporary men and women.

West, Jessamyn, ed. Quaker Reader (1990).  Selections from writings of well-known early Friends.

History

Bacon, Margaret Hope.  The Quiet Rebels: The Story of Quakers in America (1985).  Light, readable.

Newman, Daisy.  A Procession of Friends (1972).  Quaker history and principles related as a series    of short narratives.

Punshon, John.  Portrait in Grey: A Short History (1984).  More scholarly than the other two, but       still very readable.

Practice

Brinton, Howard.  Guide to Quaker Practice (1955).  A classic pamphlet on worship, structure,   business, committees, traveling ministry, queries, teaching, social testimonies, and advices, which places practice in the context of belief.

Sheeran, Michael J.  Beyond Majority Rule (1996).  Also a classic.  A Jesuit priest’s study of voteless decisions in the Religious Society of Friends.

Periodicals

Friends Journal. 1216 Arch Street, 2A, Philadelphia, PA 19107, (215) 568-1377,                         www.FriendsJournal.org.  Published monthly.  Includes a wide array of articles on Quakerism with emphasis on the unprogrammed branch.

 

Quaker Life, 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond IN 47374-1980, (765) 962-7573, www.fum.org/QL.  Published ten times a year by the pastoral branch of Quakerism.  Includes articles on Quakerism around the world.

           Compiled by the New York Yearly Meeting Advancement Committee, 2005