Review of "The Amanas," a promotional brochure

Review of

The Amanas, a promotional brochure

Four out of five stars

 The descriptions in this brochure were valid when it was published. Years ago, it was a great treat to eat in one of the famous restaurants in the Amana Colonies in Iowa. All the choices were delicious, and the portions of the side dishes were unlimited. There were many choices for dessert, all of which were made in the colonies. Working at the Amana Refrigeration factory was considered one of the most desirable jobs in the area and the local crafts and food products were praised for their quality by all purchasers.

 However, those days are largely gone. Eating at a restaurant in the Amanas is now largely routine, no longer worth the effort of driving thirty miles. The factory was purchased by an outside corporation and shortly after that there were massive layoffs, working there is now considered just another factory job in an area where the numbers are declining. One local paper ran a story in August 2017 about a massive round of hiring at the plant and that same paper ran another story in February 2018 describing upcoming layoffs.

 While the content of this brochure was correct at the time of publication, it is now largely in the past. Much of the charm is gone, like so much else in the world, the corporate mentality has won.