The Gift to Be Simple by Edward Deming Andrews is a beautifully illustrated and historically rich exploration of Shaker life, art, music, and spirituality. Drawing on firsthand documents, Shaker hymns, and photographs of furniture, architecture, and crafts, Andrews paints a vivid picture of this unique American religious community whose values of simplicity, equality, celibacy, and communal living still inspire today. The book reflects the essence of the well-known Shaker hymn of the same name—celebrating the beauty of simplicity and inner peace.