About Us

Circle of people planting a tree together

An independent religious publisher with a wide array of offerings, The Plough Publishing House has been the literary mouthpiece of the Bruderhof, an international movement of Christian communities, since the 1920s. With a longstanding reputation for high-quality books, our catalogue is comprised of spiritual classics, devotional collections, seasonal anthologies, and titles that address specific topics from a biblical perspective, including prayer, illness and death, forgiving, child-rearing, sex and marriage, economic justice, and community.

Plough is well known as the supplier of choice for churches, religious non-profits, and other organizations looking to purchase large quantities of low-priced books for distribution at retreats, workshops, conferences, prayer breakfasts, and the like. (To learn about our involvement in a program promoting non-violent conflict resolution in schools, visit www.breakingthecycle.com.)

An integral part of the Bruderhof, the religious community that stands behind it, Plough is not merely a publisher but a forum, or gathering place of ideas, for writers and readers who seek to live by Jesus' teachings. In a culture of competing theologies and often contradictory religious outlooks, Plough books encourage a simple, practical way of discipleship.

With its roots in post-World War I Europe, Plough is almost 100 years old. Its history, like the history of the Bruderhof, has been shaped by the political upheavals of the 20th Century; its growth has been haphazard; its program marked both by award-winning bestsellers and little-known gems. In the last ten years, it has focused on making many of its resources accessible online, for free.

Given the volatile nature of the publishing industry and the book-buying market, it is anyone's guess what Plough will look like another decade from now. One thing will not change, however: our commitment to nurturing (and hopefully challenging and stretching) every reader who hungers for real food – that is, everyone who seeks guidance and direction in the ageless truths of the Gospel.

Contact Us : We welcome all feedback - critical or favorable - on our books and articles.

Ebooks on our History

Against the Wind

Markus Baum

A journalist's biography of Eberhard Arnold, a man who, in his search for Christ, ended up turning the Christianity of his day on its head. Markus Baum looks at the forces that shaped Arnold's life, recreates the colorful era in which he lived, and shows Arnold's connection with other thinkers of his day.

A Joyful Pilgrimage

Emmy Arnold

If life was a battle for Emmy Arnold, it was also a celebration. This is the secret to her joy: she lived an undivided life, a life where the practical and the spiritual, the personal and the political, were one. Her memoir is a challenge to faith and commitment against all odds, and a testimony to the leading of a uniting Spirit stronger than everything that keeps people apart.

No Lasting Home

Emmy Barth

As Hitler’s armies turn mainland Europe into a mass graveyard, a little group of 300 pacifist refugees – half of them babies and young children – looks for a new home. Where should the refugees try to resettle next? This is one year of their story.

Homage to a Broken Man

Peter Mommsen

Those who knew J. Heinrich Arnold later in life wondered at the way people were drawn to this strange man with a thick accent and easy smile. In his presence, complete strangers poured out their darkest secrets and left transformed. Others wanted him dead.

Why We Live in Community

Eberhard Arnold

In this time-honored manifesto, Arnold adds his voice to the vital discussion of what real intentional community is all about: love, joy, unity, and the great "adventure of faith" shared with others along the way. He does not describe (or prescribe) community here, but provides a vision to guide our search.