Another Life is Possible is a great example of collective memory and heritage captured in print and photograph.

Through my limited interaction with the Bruderhof via their Plough Magazine and publishing house there is no doubt an attractiveness about their way of life.

This book is a great introduction to the Bruderhof and in a sense is their welcome to those picking the book up.

A most interesting read! I found the book to be good in its objective and its bias. Many people have found belonging, purpose, and joy in the Bruderhof communities, and their stories are told here. Another life really is possible, and the broader Christian church has much to learn from the communal witness of the Bruderhof.

This is a beautifully produced coffee-table book, with some gorgeous illustrations, featuring 100 stories of individual members of the Bruderhof in their own words. It’s a delightful, feel-good read and I very much enjoyed browsing through it. Not surprisingly, it’s hardly a warts and all portrait, not least because it’s published by Plough Publishing, the Bruderhof’s own publishing house, but taken for what it is, an idealistic and rather rosy selection of profiles, it’s interesting, enjoyable and illuminating.

I've always wanted to try to live the way Jesus taught us to, to truly follow Him, but while I love my church, it never seemed like enough. I have too much and so many have nothing, let alone enough. I feel inadequate to be His hands and feet. I'm too wrapped up in the world and my desires. Then I saw this book offered on NetGalley and was drawn in by the picture on the cover. Requested it and was granted it.

And wow has my life changed, just in knowing the Bruderhof exist. After this whole Pandemic thing has calmed down enough to travel responsibly and safely, I am visiting one of these communities. I want to see it for myself. "Come and see."

They've been around for 100 years and still going strong. To me, that's not a commune, that's not a cult, that's REAL.

I probably sound a tad off saying all of this, but the title of the book is so TRUE. Another life IS possible. The stories in the book aren't all about how perfect life in the Bruderhof community is, they are real people with real problems, sorrows and joys, but I've always thought it wonderful that Believer's have an invisible means of support. In this community, it's visible as well as invisible. It's beautiful.

Now, it doesn't all seem perfect, for example, the women all wear skirts/dresses, in EVERY picture, so I can imagine that's how they dress all of the time. I personally HATE skirts and dresses, so should I want to actually join a community, that will be a great way for me to get over myself and my desires. I'm good with the floor-length of said skirts and dresses, it's just the lack of pants wearing at all that irks me.

The pictures are absolutely gorgeous and, obviously, the people all appear to be happy, but would you put any unhappy mugs in a book about your community? I'm sure they are all pretty peaceful though. I want to see for myself.

5, I am so glad that I finally learned about this community of Believers now, stars. Highly recommended book, for all.

My thanks to NetGalley and Plough Publishing House for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

The Bruderhof, an Anabaptist community was started by Eberhard Arnold in the 1920s. Based on the tenets of the Sermon on the Mount and the community lifestyle of the first Christians, they now have communities in 26 countries around the world.

Another Life is Possible is a beautiful coffee-table book which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the first community created by Ebohard Arnold in the 1920s in Germany. It contains the stories of over 100 community members from diverse backgrounds, who tell what drew them to become a part of the community where each member gives up everything to (as the publisher's book blurb states) "build a life together where everyone belongs and each can contribute, pooling their income, possessions, talents, and energy."

Accompanied by pictures by photo-journalist Danny Burrows which show the members of various Bruderhof communities at work, at play, at worship and at rest, this is a book one will linger over. A most interesting read!

My thanks to NetGalley and to Plough Publishing for allowing me to read a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions stated here are my own.

The Bruderhof (German for “Brotherhood”) are an Anabaptist offshoot that began in Germany in 1920 and spread worldwide. Considering the barefoot children and women with historic dresses and covered heads, they’re easy to conflate with the Amish, with whom they share roots. But imagine the Amish with a more sanguine view of technology and the outside world, lots of multimillion-dollar businesses, and a 1960s commune’s grasp of all things in common and social justice, and you have the Bruderhof.

This exquisite coffee-table book from Plough Publishing consists almost exclusively of breathtaking photos by Danny Burroughs and personal stories from Bruderhof members, past and present, from around the world. The Bruderhof has 26 settlements around the globe, and its members are committed to a First Century vision of Christianity: owning everything in common, no poverty, no hunger, helping one another, meaningful work for all — and working for social justice so as to love their neighbors in the outside world as themselves. Meals are communal; the community has its own clinic (free, of course); employees’ families come before the Bruderhof businesses; women have their own professions; disputes are handled through mediation; children learn vocational and academic skills while getting plenty of playtime and time outdoors; lectures, sermons and school lessons openly weave messages against racism, militarism and inequality, and for universal love and unselfish devotion to God; everyone gets excellent health care; the community ensures that new mothers, the ill, the elderly, the children with special needs and the bereaved get the extra help they need; the young volunteer at local nonprofits (or donate their proceeds if they’re paid); the sect ensures that abandoned women and orphans do not suffer as they would in the greater world. This riveting book nearly brought me to tears more than once. It’s the Utopian vision that I’ve always craved: a world without war or violence (the Bruderhof, like all Anabaptists, are pacifists), poverty, racism, ignorance, greed, shallowness or inequality. So appealing.

And yet.

Plough Publishing is the Bruderhof’s own publishing house, so you might expect Another Life Is Possible: Insights from 100 Years of Life Together to gloss over some of the Bruderhof’s more problematic views. And it does. You won’t read about the lack of democracy, with a small group of men calling the shots. Neither will you find out about shunnings, banishments and rigid adherence to conformity, public shamings, nor their strict adherence to traditional gender roles at home (regardless of their leeway in the professional world), and unrelenting opposition to homosexuality and divorce. The book only hints at the Bruderhof’s adamant opposition to abortion. Lastly, those who have left the Bruderhof said, as recently as this month, that the Bruderhof punishes “leavers” by cutting them off from their families. And still, the temptation to leave this world for a better way is nearly irresistible. This lovely coffee-table book does show that another way is possible: the world of the First Century Christian church, with no inequality, racism, want or lack of medical care. That’s a great vision for anyone. And I’m still inspired to seek that heaven on this earth.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Plough Publishing House in exchange for an honest review.