It’s like all sensationalist book titles it’s bullshit but with a grain of truth. “How a small & poor nation had a hugely disproportionate impact on philosophy, economics and science & a huge role in creating & running the world’s biggest empire” is more of a mouthful, but far more accurate. So they’ve gone for a more controversial title to sell books.
Surely wales and especially Ireland were poorer than Scotland?
It’s actually a pretty good read. Very interesting and informative. I should re-read it.
Enjoyed it. Well written, informative, and often entertaining.
This book should be retitled to “How Chuck Norris invented the Modern World” and its like the story of God and the first days of creation but its Chuck Norris and his insane chest hair.
It’s definitely a facet of Scottish character that we all think of our country as simultaneously small, poor and unimportant, and also glorious, god’s own country secretly populated by supermen. It sort of depends on the context and what mood we’re in. Probably not unique to Scotland but quite strong here.
The contents cover a period of Scottish intellectual history that is barely know by the population. Ditto work by Tom Devine about the Scots global emigration experience.
It’s a good intro to the period and it’s commendable that it doesn’t seek to make the average reader feel dumb.
I much rather read books about this or perhaps the democratic radical movement on the early 1800s – than another boring af rendition of Mary queen of Scot’s, bonnie Prince Charlie, William Wallace and some twee outlander tartan stuff that King a Charles likes.
I heard an interview about it. Seems better than the kind of aggressive title
It’s probably very good wanking material for some.
For others, just a nice bit of information about Scotland’s role in history.
Man the clickbait has gotten so back they are making books with it /s
Every country has a book like it
HEY!!! scots wanna go empire building><
It’s a good read.
It’s a shame that through the 20th century to today “Britain” abandoned Scotland in its popular concept of its history turfing out any one of note who isn’t English.
(This is a reddit post, so I won’t elaborate, but look at both popular and academic British histories written in the 20th and 21st centuries and you’ll find an absence of even post-union Scottish history. 19th century books from the ‘imperial age’ tend to include anything from England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales that’s good to support “British supremacy”. So you find far more about Scotland in those.)
I thought that said “seals” rather than “Scots”.
From the act of union Scotland was no longer poor
Despite the sensational title the book is actually quite a good read and is easily digestible. I study Scottish history and it’s quite accurate and well sourced, only issue being with some sections it does exaggerate a bit. However that’s to be expected within pop history made for large audiences.
Isn’t it kind of equal parts infuriating and humiliating that we already figured out how to be a small but successful culture, and just stopped doing it. The fuck is wrong with us. Liberals I reckon.
I’m sure it’s a little more complicated than this, but the broad brushstrokes are universal basic education and world class specialties. Just do that. Please.
I would love to read it but it seems like it’s unavailable
Western Europe’s poorest nation, indeed.
By no stretch of any imagination is Scotland now or at any time in the last 300+ years has ever been one of the poorest countries in the world, the sub tells me this book is a piece of nonsense
Title seems like a *smidge* of ego stroking icl
It’s an exaggeration Scotland isn’t and never was Europe’s poorest country
It started with the Protestant Reformation. Each parish had to have a school. Scotland was the most educated country in Europe. Leading to the Scottish Enlightenment.
I don’t want to be rude but most people not from England think about Scotland when you mention “Trainspotting” or “Filth” after “Braveheart”. I never have an idea of your country as a scientific or political powerhouse.
This audio book is free on audible. Well, if you have a subscription. FYI
Adam Smith, alone, can be credited with forgoing the modern economic system.
i thought it was a great read. stretching things in some cases but still a good book.
My father’s copy sits atop my shelf, time to see…
Found a hardback copy in the sale (essentially free) section at the library this week, got it home to discover another tattered copy in paperback on my bookshelf. There was a time when the idea we created the modern world appealed wholeheartedly to my patriotism as a Scot (Wha’s like us?!), but do we really want to be laying claim to the shiteshow going on right the now?
31 comments
It’s like all sensationalist book titles it’s bullshit but with a grain of truth. “How a small & poor nation had a hugely disproportionate impact on philosophy, economics and science & a huge role in creating & running the world’s biggest empire” is more of a mouthful, but far more accurate. So they’ve gone for a more controversial title to sell books.
Surely wales and especially Ireland were poorer than Scotland?
It’s actually a pretty good read. Very interesting and informative. I should re-read it.
Enjoyed it. Well written, informative, and often entertaining.
This book should be retitled to “How Chuck Norris invented the Modern World” and its like the story of God and the first days of creation but its Chuck Norris and his insane chest hair.
It’s definitely a facet of Scottish character that we all think of our country as simultaneously small, poor and unimportant, and also glorious, god’s own country secretly populated by supermen. It sort of depends on the context and what mood we’re in. Probably not unique to Scotland but quite strong here.
The contents cover a period of Scottish intellectual history that is barely know by the population. Ditto work by Tom Devine about the Scots global emigration experience.
It’s a good intro to the period and it’s commendable that it doesn’t seek to make the average reader feel dumb.
I much rather read books about this or perhaps the democratic radical movement on the early 1800s – than another boring af rendition of Mary queen of Scot’s, bonnie Prince Charlie, William Wallace and some twee outlander tartan stuff that King a Charles likes.
I heard an interview about it. Seems better than the kind of aggressive title
It’s probably very good wanking material for some.
For others, just a nice bit of information about Scotland’s role in history.
Man the clickbait has gotten so back they are making books with it /s
Every country has a book like it
HEY!!! scots wanna go empire building><
It’s a good read.
It’s a shame that through the 20th century to today “Britain” abandoned Scotland in its popular concept of its history turfing out any one of note who isn’t English.
(This is a reddit post, so I won’t elaborate, but look at both popular and academic British histories written in the 20th and 21st centuries and you’ll find an absence of even post-union Scottish history. 19th century books from the ‘imperial age’ tend to include anything from England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales that’s good to support “British supremacy”. So you find far more about Scotland in those.)
I thought that said “seals” rather than “Scots”.
From the act of union Scotland was no longer poor
Despite the sensational title the book is actually quite a good read and is easily digestible. I study Scottish history and it’s quite accurate and well sourced, only issue being with some sections it does exaggerate a bit. However that’s to be expected within pop history made for large audiences.
Isn’t it kind of equal parts infuriating and humiliating that we already figured out how to be a small but successful culture, and just stopped doing it. The fuck is wrong with us. Liberals I reckon.
I’m sure it’s a little more complicated than this, but the broad brushstrokes are universal basic education and world class specialties. Just do that. Please.
I would love to read it but it seems like it’s unavailable
Western Europe’s poorest nation, indeed.
By no stretch of any imagination is Scotland now or at any time in the last 300+ years has ever been one of the poorest countries in the world, the sub tells me this book is a piece of nonsense
Title seems like a *smidge* of ego stroking icl
It’s an exaggeration Scotland isn’t and never was Europe’s poorest country
Reminds of [this sketch from Absolutely](https://youtu.be/ND-SVKrvCxs?si=uKWTqHjRKKkij4IW)
It started with the Protestant Reformation. Each parish had to have a school. Scotland was the most educated country in Europe. Leading to the Scottish Enlightenment.
I don’t want to be rude but most people not from England think about Scotland when you mention “Trainspotting” or “Filth” after “Braveheart”. I never have an idea of your country as a scientific or political powerhouse.
This audio book is free on audible. Well, if you have a subscription. FYI
Adam Smith, alone, can be credited with forgoing the modern economic system.
i thought it was a great read. stretching things in some cases but still a good book.
My father’s copy sits atop my shelf, time to see…
Found a hardback copy in the sale (essentially free) section at the library this week, got it home to discover another tattered copy in paperback on my bookshelf. There was a time when the idea we created the modern world appealed wholeheartedly to my patriotism as a Scot (Wha’s like us?!), but do we really want to be laying claim to the shiteshow going on right the now?
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