A lovely well rounded introduction to the Quakers and a great sum up of their history for people interested in the topic. ( )

Emerging in England in the 1650s as a radical sect challenging the status quo, the Quakers are now best known for their anti-slavery activities, their principled stance against war, and their pioneering work in penal reform. And while they still maintain a distinctive worship method to achieve a direct encounter with God, which has been at the heart of the movement since its beginning, Quakers today are highly diverse: some practice protestant evangelicalism, others are no longer Christian. The author draws on the latest scholarship to chart the history of the sect and its present-day diversity around the world, exploring its unique approach to worship, belief, theology and language, and ecumenism. It concludes by placing the Quakers in the wider religious picture and predicting its future.

In many ways, "The Quakers: a Very Short Introduction" is a quite a well-built and desirable guide to Quakerism, both literally and figuratively speaking. (Its small size, good typography, modest price, and high-quality paper clearly add to its enjoyability.) Given that it's generally clear, well-researched, and wide-ranging, I concur that this is a great book for a serious student of the faith -- but only when read in conjunction with other viewpoints. Because frequent Quaker schisms over the past two centuries have led to so much complexity in the varieties of Quaker experience today, the book's ability to survey them all is a remarkable accomplishment.

Well-written introduction by a respected British Quaker scholar. An excellent description of the historical, theological, and cultural differences among Conservative, Liberal, and Evangelical Friends. ( )

Well-written introduction by a respected British Quaker scholar. An excellent description of the historical, theological, and cultural differences among Conservative, Liberal, and Evangelical Friends. ( )