Reviews

Crowded with Genius: The Scottish Enlightenment: Edinburgh's Moment of the Mind by James Buchan

ccallan's review

3.0

Equal parts history, philosophy, and gossip, the book covers the major players and developments in Edinburgh through the second half of the eighteenth century. That was when Adam Smith, David Hume, James Hutton, Adam Ferguson and other leaders of the Scottish Enlightenment set the pace for much intellectual development in Europe. It helps to have a basic sense of Edinburgh's streets and layout, because Buchan won't help you much as he reels them off in telling his tale. He writes in an informal style and brings the characters to life, sketching out the points of brilliance and silliness, all with a wry sense of humor.

miamickut's review

3.0

2.5 stars. Too dry to be a pop history but too academic to be interesting.

karenangela_1's review

3.0

This was an interesting read, but the one thing I am curious about is when did George Heriot's, George Watson's and the Merchant Maiden Hospital(The Mary Erskine School) stop being schools for indigent or fatherless children and become private schools?