The Scottish Enlightenment!
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This is a very well-organized book on the intellectual influence Scottish culture has had on the western world, most notably the United States and the United Kingdom. Despite the misleading title, this is not one of those "ethnic pride" books. Instead, Herman focuses on the specific intellectual achievements of specific, Scots and identifies that they were successful not because of some miraculous Scottish gene but because they were brilliant thinkers who were committed to scientific inquiry, productivity and sound morality.
In this book, you will learn about the Scottish Enlightenment. In particular, you will learn about how Scotland, prior to its enlightenment, was dominated by the Presbyterian Church (called the "Kirk"). At this time, the Kirk routinely executed blasphemers and promoted the world-view that man is an inherently sinful creature who can never truly redeem himself. Fortunately, a great thinker named Francis Hutcheson promoted the idea that men are generally moral creatures and shifted the focus of philosophical inquiry towards matters of concern to individuals living on earth (e.g., how men can be moral, how men can coexist in a society, etc.) as opposed to focusing on God, Church or Monarchy. Thus with Hutcheson, argues Herman, was the beginning of the Scottish Enlightenment.
In this book, you will also learn about many other great thinkers of the Scottish Enlightenment. This includes Lord Kames, who wrote extensively on the importance of property and trade to allow societies to flourish. This also includes the pioneering economist Adam Smith, whose 'Wealth of Nations' became the first great work of capitalism.
The chapter on the great scientists and inventors of the Scottish Enlightenment is amazing. In this chapter you will learn about James Watt, the inventor of the steam engine. Watt is a man who is so confident in his brilliance and productivity that he agreed to build an organ for a church before he knew anything about organs or music. However, Watt displayed that his confidence was indeed rational, as he learned everything he needed to know to successfully build the organ by the original deadline.
You will also learn about the "colossus of roads" Thomas Telford, whose prodigious accomplishments in the construction of roads, bridges, canals and dams gave England an interconnected transportation network, making it ripe for the British Industrial Revolution. You will also learn about John MacAdam, whose "macadamisation" process allowed for smooth, stable roads to be efficiently built and to replace the network of soil-based roads in England.
Herman does a great job in painting a great historical context. This is particularly good for readers who may not be too keen on their British history. In this book, you will learn about the political/religious monarchical disputes between the House of Hanover and the House of Stuart and the Scottish infatuation with exiled British throne claimant Bonnie Prince Charlie. You will also learn about the Act of Union, which originally created the United Kingdom, and how Scotland was motivated to support it during a crushing economic depression. Finally, you will learn good context of the 13th/14th century Wars of Scottish Independence, including brief overviews of the celebrated Scottish warriors such as William Wallace (Braveheart) and Robert the Bruce as well as the Scottish bitterness over the English capture of the Stone of Scone.
This book has a few shortcomings. The major flaw is overkill. Much of the most exciting information is diluted by being tossed into an ocean of less interesting stories. Moreover, Herman advances a few claims, which are not that convincing. For example, Herman argues that David Hume had an enormous influence on American revolutionary thinkers such as James Madison, when it seems more appropriate to credit British empiricist John Locke. Nevertheless, none of these questionable assertions are major linchpins of Herman's book.
Overall, a very good read!
