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booksrockcal's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
I truly enjoyed this book that examines the impact of Scots on the modern world. I really appreciate the book because most of what I’ve been reading to prepare for a trip to Scotland provides a litany of kings and feuds and battles that is often confusing. This book does cover that history but its focus is on intellectual history. It discusses the influence of Scottish enlightenment figures Hume and Hutchison and Smith’s influence on the development of Democratic ideas that led to the American Revolution and formed the basis of the US Constitution- and similar governments developing in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It looks at Scottish inventors and businessmen like James Watt and Alexander Graham Bell and Andrew Carnegie and focuses on their contributions to science, technology and education. Similarly Herman considers Scott and Burns and their impact on literature- he also looks at Stevenson, Barrie, and Conan Doyle but not with as much reverence as he accords to Burns and Scott. What really came through for me is that the Scottish emphasis on education - all towns had compulsory school for all children beginning in the 17th century and the universities welcomed all not just Anglicans (like Oxford and Cambridge)- led to an educated populace even among those without means to become educated in other countries. A really interesting and enlightening read.
donnaadouglas's review against another edition
3.0
This is a well-written, well-researched study of Scotland's role in shaping modern society. This is an important book that more Scottish people should read (I'd be surprised if the greater percentage of Scots know who people like Adam Smith and David Livingstone are!)
Did this book make me feel proud to be Scottish? Sure it did, but I couldn't help but notice the fact that most of the people whose contribution to the Scottish Enlightenment was detailed in this book were from privileged families. I also felt that Arthur Herman at times couldn't but aside his own, clearly Liberal opinion, and certain signs of bias were evident on various occasions throughout the book.
QUOTATIONS I LIKED:
"Religious belief is a matter of private conscience, and no public authority has the right to interfere in how it is exercised."
"'Can there be a greater disorder in human affairs'...than having human beings jammed together in cities, earning their living by 'the exercise of a sedentary and unmanly trade, to foment the luxury of a few?'"
"The Scottish Enlightenment presented man as the product of history. Our most fundamental character as human beings, they argued, even our moral character is constantly evolving and developing, shaped by a variety of forces over which we as individuals have little or no control. We are ultimately creatures of our environment: that was the great discovery that the 'Scottish school', as it came to be known, brought to the modern world."
"Postmodern morality tells us constantly 'Don't be judgemental' - yet Adam Smith was saying that being judgemental is the essence of what makes us moral beings."
"Better to be a poor man in a rich country than a rich man in a poor one. It was a lesson in comparative advantage that Smith and his generation saw played out in the Scottish Highlands. Later on, the modern West learned it again as it watched floods of Third World emigrants gladly give up their homes in Bangladesh or Guatemala for the most menial jobs they could find in London or New York."
Did this book make me feel proud to be Scottish? Sure it did, but I couldn't help but notice the fact that most of the people whose contribution to the Scottish Enlightenment was detailed in this book were from privileged families. I also felt that Arthur Herman at times couldn't but aside his own, clearly Liberal opinion, and certain signs of bias were evident on various occasions throughout the book.
QUOTATIONS I LIKED:
"Religious belief is a matter of private conscience, and no public authority has the right to interfere in how it is exercised."
"'Can there be a greater disorder in human affairs'...than having human beings jammed together in cities, earning their living by 'the exercise of a sedentary and unmanly trade, to foment the luxury of a few?'"
"The Scottish Enlightenment presented man as the product of history. Our most fundamental character as human beings, they argued, even our moral character is constantly evolving and developing, shaped by a variety of forces over which we as individuals have little or no control. We are ultimately creatures of our environment: that was the great discovery that the 'Scottish school', as it came to be known, brought to the modern world."
"Postmodern morality tells us constantly 'Don't be judgemental' - yet Adam Smith was saying that being judgemental is the essence of what makes us moral beings."
"Better to be a poor man in a rich country than a rich man in a poor one. It was a lesson in comparative advantage that Smith and his generation saw played out in the Scottish Highlands. Later on, the modern West learned it again as it watched floods of Third World emigrants gladly give up their homes in Bangladesh or Guatemala for the most menial jobs they could find in London or New York."
jbzar's review against another edition
5.0
Ahead of my upcoming trip to Scotland, I found this book to provide an engaging discussion of both the internal history of the country and its immense influence on the world. Learning about the contributions of its culture and ideals to the founding of the United States was particularly interesting. I know that when I hear news in the future about nationalist developments in Scotland, I’ll have a greater appreciation of the history behind the underlying arguments.
bupdaddy's review against another edition
2.0
See, because THE UNITED KINGDOM is the most important country in the history of everything, and because a bunch of people from there are SCOTTISH, Scotland invented the modern world! Like, the United States had a bunch of Scottish people, and they declared independence from Great Britain, which was not coincidence, but causative! And Canada and Australia were the most loyal colonies of Great Britain, and they had a bunch of Scottish people, and that was a direct causation too! Scots both are loyal and break away. And every good idea ever had is traceable to the University of Glasgow, and you're not going to believe this, but James Bond is half Scottish! And Sherlock Holmes is based on a professor from the University of Glasgow!
Scotland was the first modern country. That's where the enlightenment happened, and nowhere else, unless it was because there were Scottish people there. We clear?
Scotland was the first modern country. That's where the enlightenment happened, and nowhere else, unless it was because there were Scottish people there. We clear?
secreteeyore's review against another edition
5.0
Informative and full of interesting facts. The Scots are truly the builders of modern society.
jsisco's review against another edition
5.0
To be completely honest, it's hard to find a better written book out there, regardless of the obviously hyperbolic title. This text was so fastidiously researched, so utterly fascinating, and so easy to read that I can't fathom another work that could do the job better. Herman backs up his incredible title with myriad evidence that really supports how Scottish blood has invigorated and established some of the best concepts and inventions that have come out of the past three centuries or so. He stretches a bit at the end when he discusses Scottish descendants in America and Canada, but the intent is true and the rest of the book makes up for this slight weakness. Yes, the thesis is far-fetched and basically impossible to prove, but Herman really tries his hardest and at least entertains. Besides, anyone who takes the title seriously shouldn't be reading academic texts in the first place.
Basically, this is one of the best books I've ever read in my life. Seriously.
Basically, this is one of the best books I've ever read in my life. Seriously.
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
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.