Customer Reviews:
 Readable, well researched history... March 4, 2002
As a second generation American with emigrant Scottish grandparents, this book is both extremely readable (I am reminded of Guns, Germs and Steel; a work that easily flowed through hundreds of years of ethno-political development,) and also sufficiently balanced and scholarly. As a resident of South Boston, an Irish American enclave and major source of support for the IRA and NORAID, it is easy to be seduced by anti-English sentiment as someone of Celtic descent. This book elevates Scottish culture and contributions without flogging the anti-English horse. Very important is the explanation of the Darien disaster, subsequent bankruptcy of Scotland, and the economic boom Glasgow and the country as a whole enjoyed after unifying with the mercantile power that was England. A great read for anyone, and particularly great for descendants of the Caledonian diaspora.
 Och! he's a wee bit of a blether March 3, 2002
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Some of his more dour Scottish readers may very well tell Arthur Herman that he's mixing in a little bit of nonsense here. HOW THE SCOTS INVENTED THE MODERN WORLD is a glowing tribute to the Scots but he does go over the top a bit in giving them credit for more than they actually achieved, and also more than the Scot's ever claimed for themselves. This book however is a serious study of Scotland in the 18th century, particularly the period following the Act of Union with England in 1707 known as the Scottish Enlightenment. THE SCOTTISH ENLIGHTENMENT is actually the book's UK title but that doesn't mean too much to us here. Far more eye-catching and interesting sounding is the title used for the US edition. This however creates a problem for the author. Its pop-culture sounding theme gives the impression that we will be engaged in competitive national chest-beating such as HOW THE IRISH SAVED CIVILIZATION and comparing lists of who accomplished what as in SPREZZATURA: 50 WAYS ITALIAN GENIUS SHAPED THE WORLD. Here the Scots supposedly not only CREATED OUR WORLD [but also] EVERYTHING IN IT!. Such claims don't allow the book to be taken very seriously but that is exactly how Herman wants it to be read. It's therefore a credit to him that his presentation of the facts and his arguments are good enough to allow him to make his point. If we were to compile lists, one that would show Scottish prowess would be that of great thinkers of the 18th century. Start with Adam Smith, David Hume, Walter Scott, James Watt and Lord Kelvin. There is also John Stuart Mill. Those who were less thinkers and inventors but doers were David Livingstone and Scottish-Americans such as John Muir and Andrew Carnegie. It is the presence of transplanted Scots like Carnegie which underlies one of the authors main points. They are the "true inventors" of "modernity" because they carried their beliefs with them as they settled around the world. Thus the roots of the Western traditions of individualism, democracy, and capitalism can all be traced back to Scotland. It's an interesting argument carried off with much bravado and assured writing on the part of the author. To the extent that he stays away from the stereotypes such as the thrifty, penny-pinching Scot we can be thankful. This is a guid book and as a bairn of the Campbell's of Argyll on my mother's side I am pleased that this book has helped me ken a lot more about Scotland.
Interesting book, a little uneven March 2, 2002
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I found the first half of "How the Scots Invented the Modern World" to be very informative and entertaining. The portraits of Hutcheson, Kames, Hume and Smith were interesting both by themselves and in the way in which the author explained the connections (both personal and intellectual) between these thinkers of the Scottish "Enlightenment." I was convinced that in one sense these Scots really did invent the modern world, or at least the modern mindset.The book weakens, however, as it becomes in the second half a fairly pedestrian retelling of accomplishments of Scotsmen and their descendants. It was refreshing not to read any excessive English-bashing in this account, in fact, it might be the most pro-English book about Scotland I have read.
 A grand title for a book that is so anti-Scottish March 1, 2002
This book flatters to deceive. Despite its grand title, rather than offering a new take on Scottish history and culture, it simply repeats tired old prejudices and down-right lies about Scotland's gaelic past. There is no historian who can offer an accurate account of Scotland's history, without having a proper knowledge of her gaelic/celtic heritage, and this author has evidently allowed his prejudices to get the better of him when commenting on the gaelic part of Scotland's history, using far too many quotes by British imperialist agents designed to negate and excuse their attempts at cutural and ethnic genocide.
 Well...maybe February 14, 2002
The Scots:
Great education system, undoubtedly great intellectual and scientific history. But did they lose their soul?
Unlike the Irish, they hitched their wagon to the British empire, and gained all the benefits in that Empires golden age. They shared in the industrialisation and the dividends flowing back from that part of the world colored red.
However, where are they now? Their oil revenues keep the UK in funds as it loses its manufacturing base. Is Scotland much more than a province (albeit a distinctive one) of the UK?
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