This book is delightful. It really lives up to its title and gives a good overview of the history, life, and worship of the American Shakers as well as a museum-worthy consideration of the design and evolution of their furniture and material culture. All this plus measured drawings from which a skilled woodworker could recreate a great many historic and elegant pieces. Profusely illustrated throughout with the aforementioned drawings, photographs of furniture and buildings as they exist today, and contemporary prints showing the Shaker life. ( )