A Reforming People

“[A] captivating study...offers aglimpse of a small slice of American religious history, challenging prevailing ideas about the nature of reform in Puritan New England." — Publisher’s Weekly

“A bright history... and [a] reminder that we have inherited more than a few of our forefathers' growing pains.” — Boston Globe

“A remarkably sophisticated and lucid work that ultimately shifts the established paradigm and opens up numerous avenues for further research.” — Library Journal

“This book presents a well-argued thesis that will be of value to both specialists and well-informed general readers.” — Booklist

“Hall effectively dispels the stereotype of Puritans as authoritative, intolerant, and repressive...an excellent study for any reader seeking a precise account of Puritan New England’s accomplishments.” — Magill Book Reviews

“Hall’s book is persuasive, thanks to his detailed research...[his] prose helps to elucidate complex issues.” — Providence Journal Arts Blog

“A lucid and tightly argued account of the institutions, laws, and lives forged by the earliest colonists in New England. . . . [A] challenge to the scholarly status quo on the relationships that existed among puritanism, science, and politics in early modern North America.” — William and Mary Quarterly

“A lucid and tightly argued account of the institutions, laws, and lives forged by the earliest colonists in New England.” — William and Mary Quarterly