Reviews

How the Scots Invented the Modern World by Arthur Herman

zhelana's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

Guys, I found a dinosaur! Someone writing Great Man History in this century, and literally writing a 500 page book without mentioning a single woman! Anyway, after reading this entire book I have no idea how the Scots invented the modern world other than Adam Smith happened to be a Scotsman and a Scotsman improved the steam engine to the point that it could be used. There were a few other philosophers and artists mentioned, but no one I actually recognized I don't think (though admittedly once I got about halfway into this book I started 'grad school reading' it because I wanted to finish only because I needed a book about Scotland for a reading challenge and wasn't going to finish another book if I started one in time!) 

Honestly, I am starting to think there ought to be a limit on professors. If your phd is more than 30 years old you're required to do it again if you want to continue as a professor. Or maybe just a hard stop at 50 years. Step aside and let someone younger have a job. Because I'm sure that not only is this guy writing misogynistic Great Man history, he's also teaching it to 101 students and turning them off history forever and teaching it to grad students teaching them that it is alright to write a 500 page book without mentioning a single woman. 

Honestly, I can't even with this book. I regret giving this guy the pennies he earns from royalties on the book

statman's review against another edition

4.0

I really like this book about Scottish History. Even though Scotland is a small country, Herman in this book explains the large impact that they've had on the United States and Western thought. Not a detailed history of Scotland but it covers well the major figures from Scottish history and its major events.

wethefoxen's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

3.0

shrewd52's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

mcmurdoc97's review against another edition

challenging informative slow-paced

3.75

A very thorough look into the progress that stemmed from Scotland. More involved than I originally anticipated. The author not only tells of the Scottish visionaries in a myriad of fields, but details their theories in depth. I appreciated the stories that the author kept alluding back to in each chapter as it gave a grounding point for me. 
Love all the fun tidbits I now have to pull out at a random party if the conversation ever steers towards the Scottish Enlightenment, the Highland Clearances, the Scottish Tobacco Lords, or Adam Smith’s many theories. 

sshabein's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

2.5

3 stars would be a bit generous, but I did learn some things. This look at Scotland's history and influence as it relates to the modern world (well, as of 2001, when this was published) is a dry read, and I didn't always agree with Herman's assessments. He takes too light a hand in matters of colonialism and capitalism, and there's barely a woman to be found. However, he does lay out a timeline well, and it's interesting to learn about the ways in which Scotland prioritized education and freedom, and I could see some through-lines when it comes to my own family's ancestry (those ex-Orkney Canadians/New Englanders and Carolina/Tennessee "rednecks" are both in my background). So, for a book I picked up because I happened to notice it at the library, it's not bad, but it definitely wasn't love.

annalieegk's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

3.0

This book reads as a list of Scottish accomplishments. While interesting, lists are not profound. The book lacks a thesis—the title is as close as it gets to making an argument. Herman also really downplays the violence done to and by Scots which really does everyone a disservice. Herman got close to making a good point when he hinted at America as an experiment in Scottish philosophy and invention but didn’t pursue that thought. I learned a lot and found some of the info useful but without defining HOW Scottish culture was conducive to this innovation, the content does not actually show “How the Scots Invented the Modern World”. 

kbrujv's review against another edition

to-read

dadia's review against another edition

4.0

This is a troubling book, particularly in the seemingly laudatory gloss over colonialism. For a few chapters, it felt like a celebration of 'The White Man's Burden'. The book is brilliantly written and certainly makes the case for the many and extensive effects the Scottish Enlightenment had around the world and I came away with great interest in many historical figures I will certainly go on to study on their own. However, it feels rushed in its conclusions and rarely takes a look at any negative impacts Scots may have had (most notably the Ku Klux Klan), leading to the book coming off as a bit of a whitewash. A slightly more balanced book would not have diminished one's idea of the overwhelming accomplishments of people of Scottish descent.

aimeewoodworks's review against another edition

challenging informative slow-paced

5.0

This took me four months to read, as it is so dense- but I was absolutely riveted, just fascinated, the entire time.