American Communities: Societies, New and Old, Communistic, Semi-Communistic and Co-operative: A Look at 19th-Century Intentional Communities, Paperback

American Communities by William A. Hinds is a groundbreaking exploration of communal living experiments in 19th-century America. First published in 1878, and updated in 1902 — and digitized and re-typeset by Gems Press in 2025 — this meticulously detailed account chronicles more than 60 cooperative colonies, religious utopias, and intentional communities—ranging from the Shakers and the Oneida Community to lesser-known ventures like Aurora and Icaria.

Hinds, both a participant and observer, traveled widely and lived in several communities to report first-hand on their principles, daily life, economic models, and spiritual or ideological foundations. His writing combines ethnographic insight with economic and social analysis, making American Communities a foundational text for anyone interested in cooperative living, social reform, or alternative economies.

Paperback. Also available as an ebook.
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