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We are fortunate that the Scots exported their enlightened and modern philosophy so freely and universally and profitably. Herman's prose brings alive a spirit that regularly and brilliantly reformed and revitalized whatever the Scots turned the laser sharp intellects towards in the 18th and 19th century. And the effects of their various causes to modernize are still felt today.

If you are interested in how the Scots helped frame the American constitution, redefine philosophical thought, conceive and organize the British Empire, revolutionize medicine and import the first system of public education to the rest of the western world, then Arthur Herman's compelling book is for you.

This authour's ability to weave an excellent story from history is a tribute to his expertise as a writer and as a scholar. But since his theme and subject matter offer him a rich primer in how to understand and repair just about anything, abstract or concrete, it is "self evident" that anyone with Scots "common sense" could create this book.


The Bonnie Disproportion   November 21, 2002
 0 out of 5 found this review helpful

Arthur Herman has created an exaggeration. Nevertheless there have been periods when Scots have been very influential in world affairs. What Les Murray calls "The Bonnie Disproportion". As, unlike Scots in Scotland, Australian Scots own and run large chunks of it. And there is more evidence of modernity in Sydney than in Stornoway [or Dundee] - as yet. How fares our modern world? Stirling Newburry is a determined advocate for the Constitutional Republic. He writes:

"We have neither socialism nor capitalism - the entire idea of subscribing to an ism is very 20th century - whether in music, art or politics - people rushed into the arms of isms to control what they saw as an out of control world.

What we have is a new system - one which relies on the stability of institutions in ways that neither socialism nor capitalism conceived of. The question is whether this system is going to be a closed corrupt self-perpetuating set of interlocking oligarchies - largely favoring those who run the large corporations - or whether some other structure will be used.

There are two problems to face - corporatism has shrouded itself in the myth of being meritocratic and capitalist - when it is neither, merely very able to reward those it likes - and the opposition to corporatism uses archaic terms and archaic thinking. The way out of corporatism isn't socialism - because corporatism is, in fact, quite socialistic in its structure, and is therefore capable of coopting enough of any socialist critique to maintain power. The way out of corporatism isn't radical decentralization, because radical decentralization can be defeated in detail by concentrated power.

What is crucial is a mechanism powerful enough to level the playing field. If one needs an example - look at the Windows monopoly. Illegal by any standards, MS clears 85% profit margins - and that is what they are willing to admit to, the truth is higher still - on a OS whose primary advantage is that it is entrenched. On the other side of the coin is the open source movement, which, without centralized funding is rapidly rising to challenge a monopoly which is backed by the current US Government with the full force of the law. It is a David and Goliath story which should tell people that radical decentralization can work - but there must be some adjudicating power which is strong enough to go one one one with the most powerful corporations. That entity can only be government."

There is no culture without literature, remarked David Hume. While contemporary English efforts tend to the negligible, add to the dross pile - in contemporary Scotland we appear to publish mere haver-spheres of prose rising miasmically aff our bed of apathy. That is: having invented the modern world, we're not offering or proposing or experimenting remedies or cures for it, are we?

The "Bonnie Disposition" originated from a s-ketch on the back of an envelope and was sailed fictionally W of the Hebrides. Yok Finney now favors the modern schooner rig for a lower center of effort and better airflow catamaraning. For a 40' catamaran wingsail schooner to guide future developments of the Pictish Navy...


Super Read   November 16, 2002
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

I found this book most interesting and informative to read . I am an Irish person living in Scotland for over 30 years , and it did more to give me an accurate view of Scottish history between 1600 and 1900 than everything else I have read .

Its just a pity Scotland has lost so much of this " invention " in the last 100 years , and even of late , when the world has become so much more competitive . Maybe the book should become compulsive reading in secondary school , thus inspiring a confidence in our childern that they can really make a difference , and stop looking over their shoulders expecting the state to do anything for them . Also it would not be a bad thing for every MSP's to also read , and also stop blaming the English for all of Scotlands ills .


Not Just for Scots   October 31, 2002
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful


Don't let the title turn you away!

This book operates on three different levels. On one level, as the title indicates, it will give any Scottish descendant in the United States (or anywhere for that matter) a real "warm and fuzzy" about their heritage. At another level, it is a great summary of the history and foundations of Scotland from an intelectual an economic perspective.

I found, however, that the most compelling reason to read the book is to listen to the arguments made by the Scottish (and other) philosophers and writers about man, government, commercialism, and their interrelationships. The issues that they argued are with us today and may be more pronounced than ever. Perhaps this little review of how we got here will help us understand where we need to be going -- Scottish or otherwise.


Required reading for history enthusiasts   August 19, 2002
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Arthur Herman writes a convincing portrayal of the Scottish people as coming from a financially poor but intellectually rich country. In the early 1700s the Scottish Enlightenment began and with it came a greatly enhanced understanding of our world and breakthrough philosopies in economies, physics and many other sciences. From the economic principles of Adam Smith, and philosophies of David Hume to the inventions of Alexander Graham Bell and financial empires of Andrew Carnegie there seems to be no area of modern life where the Scottish influence was not felt. In relation to other countries the people and contributions presented in this book show a disporporationately larger contribution by the Scottish society to our modern life than any other single nationality.

One of the significant contributions of the Scottish Enlightenment to the United States was the teachings of Hutcheson that oppressed people have a right to rise up against their oppressor and establish a free society. In addition, many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were either Scottish or descendents of Scots. In many ways the writings of the Scottish Enlightenment period formed the underpinnings for the basic philosophies of the United States.

Herman goes on with example after example of how the Scottish Enlightenment and the concepts born there significantly influenced the modern world. A thoroughly fascinating read that kept surprising me with the magnitude of the contributions of the Scottish people to our modern world, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in history.