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4 Stars • "How the Scots Invented the Modern World" by Arthur Herman is a historical exploration of the profound impact Scotland and its people have had on the development of the modern world. The book delves into the significant contributions of the Scots in various fields such as science, philosophy, literature, education, medicine, commerce, and politics during the 18th and 19th centuries. ⬇️

Same strengths and weaknesses as the book about the Picts: strong in wars and names, sometimes a bit dry, but highly informative. I wish there would've been more about the daily lives of people, their cultures etc. But if you're looking for a good overview of the early days of Scotland (or the British Isles generally), I can highly recommend Tim Clarkson. It was a fascinating ride through history.

If you want to learn about the Picts, this is the book to go for. But I'd only recommend it if you're a history buff, because it's heavy on wars and names and the writing style a little dry. I wanted to learn more about the normal folk, but it seems like there isn't a lot of data just yet. There is a bit of this in the afterword of the 2016 edition.
I may have or have not ordered another book by this author 😉

#roll100 @PuddleJumper

I just finished #thefirstworldwarretold, now I‘m debating whether I should read this next 😄 #prettycovers

I found this bio pretty fascinating -- by which I mean I could barely put it down even while trying to meet a work deadline. James VI and I was a terrible husband, an indifferent father, & a fickle, feckless romantic companion to several men (although he did enrich & elevate his favorites). His reign wasn't a disaster, but he wasn't a great king & it's easy to see how it opened cracks that led to the English Revolution only a few years later.

So, I've gone a bit down the rabbit hole of family history! My great-grandma's maiden name was MacLean, and I've learned a bit more about the MacLean clan in Scotland. Does anyone have any recommendations for books about Scotland's history, the Isle of Mull, or the MacLean clan? Thanks!

I read this (gasp) thirty-five years ago in high school and decided to revisit it. I was really pleased with how well it holds up! Meticulously detailed, so you have to really commit to understanding the finer points of Scottish history, but well-written. And it's hard to be bored when there are so many moments that feel like they were ripped from a modern soap opera.