Dr. Miller’s ‘You Can’t Do That’ book tour coming to area

From growing up as an Amish boy in rural Ohio to working through school to become a renowned emergency room doctor, Dr. Albert Miller’s life has been anything but par for the course.

After decades of living through a variety of challenges and emotions, Miller has put his lifetime of experiences, both good and bad, into a new book. “You Can’t Do That!” is out now, and Miller will travel and share his experiences in person in several tour stops promoting the book.

Miller will embark on his book tour through Lancaster, Wayne, Tuscarawas and Holmes counties from April 24 through May 10 and host a number of meet and greet signings with communities in each county.

“You Can’t Do That!” describes his journey from humble beginnings as an Amish boy, the son of an Amish bishop from Holmes County, to leaving the Amish community, defying expectations and becoming a medical doctor licensed in five states.

“You Can’t Do That!” is a memoir written by Miller and his daughter Liz Miller. The book explores their Amish heritage and the pain and triumphs that come from breaking from the fold. The narrative explores the story of Miller, an Amish child with an inquisitive mind who grew up in the heartland of Ohio. The questions of why his life was different led him to consider leaving his community at a young age. At the cost of losing the only home and faith he knew, he went beyond his eighth-grade education to become a medical doctor.

The story adds the insights of his daughter seeing this struggle as a child, a childhood in which she wasn’t quite Amish but also not raised by a typical American dad.

The book, now available in local bookstores and on Amazon, is a father-daughter collaboration that explores themes of loss of family, finding community, perseverance, faith and one’s quest to latch on to their own faith. It provides a cross-cultural and cross-generational look at Amish culture.

Miller will be available for upcoming book-signings and speaking engagements at Montavino Wine Market in Wooster on Thursday, April 27 from 5-7 p.m.; Gospel Book Store in Berlin on Saturday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to noon; Dover Alliance Church in Dover on May 4 from 4-7 p.m.; Dayspring Christian Book Store in New Philadelphia on Friday, May 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and The Gospel Shop in Sugarcreek on Saturday, May 6 from 9 a.m. to noon.

During the tour Miller will discuss the reception of his book and share stories about the outreach he received from former members of the Amish community, his own family and others.