Introduction to Quakerism

I read John Punshon's Portrait in Grey and liked it very much, but the most recommended intro in my meeting for a number of years has been Geoffrey Hubbard's Quaker by Convincement. I've just completed his brief historical section, and I like its brevity and clarity, as well as its realistic portrayal of George Fox. I haven't yet read the new Introduction to Quakerism by Pink Dandelion, but two people who have found it too academic and tough reading.

What' your favourite introduction to Quakerism?

For enquirers and those attenders who turn up to meeting, Harvey Gillman's A Light that is Shining has the advantage of brevity. Geoffrey Hubbard's Quaker by Convincement is more for those who have attended for a few months.

*nodnods* I'm very fond of the Harvey Gillman.

It sounds like I should probably have a go at the Hubbard pretty soon though. :-)

Dear WARM.
Hubbard's little book was one of the first I read, also. Very readable and pretty realiably accurate for many Q's in the Eastern part of the United States. Where are you located?

Even if you are not in the U.S., I would recommend Howard Brinton's _Friends for 350 Years_ (even better, in my opinion, is the original _Friends fro 300 Years_ because I don't agree with all that Marjory Post Abbot added about the last 50 years!).

Another very readable book is Michael Birkle's _Silence and Witness: the Quaker Tradition_; Thomas Kelly, _A Testament of Devotion (5*); and Thomas Hamm, _Quakers in America_ (which deals with the myriad types of Quakers in the U.S. Of course, if you aren't in the U.S., you may not be interested in Hamm. He is very readable, but he is a historian, not particularly writing from a Quaker spirituality point of view).

Peace thru grace,
Susan

also good is The Quiet Rebels by Margaret Hope Bacon.

My favorite intro to Quakerism is the unassuming little book The Quaker Way: http://www.quakerbooks.org/the_quaker_way.php

I am in Australia. All of the books mentioned are in our library, and I hope to read them all eventually. I have finished Hubbard and have enjoyed it immensely. It is a wonderful recommendation for the seeker. I, too, like The Quaker Way. I judge it to be the best among those of the same size.

Thanks for your responses.

My favorite intro to Quakerism is a little book entitled The Quaker Way.
http://www.quakerbooks.org/the_quaker_way.php

It's extremely simple -- actually written for young adults (although I'm not sure that they'd get the cartoons ... I think the cartoons feature some very self-deprecating humor that only someone who's been a Quaker for awhile would get.)

Ben Pink Dandelion has just published a small (28 pp) book titled Celebrating the Quaker Way published by Quaker Books in England. I think it costs something under $4.00 US.

A gentleman in our Meeting with a deep sonorous voice read it aloud for an Adult Religious Education session. It was quite moving to hear it read so well. And, it provoked good discussion afterwards.

ps: this is NOT an academic pamphlet.