The Communistic Societies of the United States / From Personal Visit and Observation

A firsthand survey of American communal experiments describes origins, creeds, internal organization, economic arrangements, daily routines, worship practices, literature, and reasons for success or failure across groups such as the Amana Society, Harmony, Zoar, the Shakers, the Oneida and Wallingford Perfectionists, the Icarians, and several smaller communes. The account combines historical sketches, descriptions of buildings and institutions, accounts of inspired leadership and printed revelations, assessments of labor, finance, politics, and social customs, and a comparative review that evaluates communal character, living conditions, and practical prospects.