Book forum?

[macgreggor]

A while back I seem to recall talk about starting a book forum or discussion group or thread. I am currently reading "How the Scots Invented the Modern World" and wondered where would be the appropriate place to bounce thoughts off other 'inquiring' minds.

Thanks
Greg

[Streetcar]

I'm going through that book a second time.

I can't say enough good things about it. I gave me a whole new insight to Scottish culture - highlands and lowlands. It is also the clearest account of Culloden that I've read.

[macgreggor]

I was expecting a light, little spoof kinda thing. Was I suprised! Quite scholarly, well written, lots of good quotes.

It does seem that none of the "Institutions" of Scotland, i.e. the clan system, the Kirk, Parliment, comes off as flexible and forward thinking. Nonetheless, by the stats given and changes cited, the Scots just EXPLODED out into the larger world.

Once more proving, as in the case of the Jews, that sheer numbers aren't the important thing!

Greg

[jhockin]

I'm just finishing this book. After almost forcing myself through the early chapters, where the authors' political bias almost had me quit, in disgust, I found it easier going. However, the thing I wanted to ask others, here, is did anyone else note ( pages 312 & 313) his description of the "breacan an feileadh, the full twelve yards of plaid baggily belted in the middle "? Not sure if he understands the difference between single width and double width ( 12 yds of single width, cut in 1/2, to make 6yds of material, for 'baggily belting'). If I had an email address, for the author, I'd likely send him a link to Matts article.

[macwilkin]

I'm just finishing this book. After almost forcing myself through the early chapters, where the authors' political bias almost had me quit, in disgust, I found it easier going. However, the thing I wanted to ask others, here, is did anyone else note ( pages 312 & 313) his description of the "breacan an feileadh, the full twelve yards of plaid baggily belted in the middle "? Not sure if he understands the difference between single width and double width ( 12 yds of single width, cut in 1/2, to make 6yds of material, for 'baggily belting'). If I had an email address, for the author, I'd likely send him a link to Matts article.

Considering the book was published in 2002, I doubt you'll get a retraction.

I have to ask, though...what "political bias"? Granted, it's been a while since I read Herman's book, but I don't remember the book being "political" in terms of modern politics.

Regards,

Todd

[jhockin]

Without getting too detailed, and trying to avoid the ban on political discussions, I'd just refer to the authors' ( mostly) uncritical praise of Adam Smith, his ideas & "free trade", etc.

[Bugbear]

All right, I located and downloaded Adam Smith's, "An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations," which is a very large book. That's the only one I found for Adam Smith. However, I have a few works in my digital library by David Hume.

I have not found "How the Scots Invented the Modern
World" yet, though.

Right now, I am reading on another subject, so it might be a while before I take a good look at the book, and that will not be a one day read (1950 pages) like some of the 2-3 hundred pagers.

* I read some of the introduction; it sounds like a counter to Marxist philosophy. Thank you for bringing up the book and author.
Smith even talks about the weaving and production of fabric. Perhaps the word "savages" is what is bothering people... Ehh, what do I know? *

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Smith's Wealth of Nations pre-dates Marx's Das Kapital by a century.

[Bugbear]

Smith's Wealth of Nations pre-dates Marx's Das Kapital by a century.

Yes, of course. It was just nice to find a source to point to that counters Marx so well; at least the introduction does. Sadly, I did not have knolege of this book back in college, and all the better that it is from a Scottish author, and pre-dates Marx's work.

* Sorry, it's just exciting that I have access to some of these books now that they are being digitized and available to me on internet libraries. That was not the case when I was going to college. *

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

This is probably WAAAY off topic, even for an off topic discussion, but what I see as the difference between Smith's Wealth of Nations and Marx's Das Kapital is that Smith saw society as constantly evolving, where as Marx's philosophy did not take into account the fact that society would continue to evolve. Hence in the century and a half since Marx penned his manifesto we have seen the rise and demise of communism, while Smith's views of capitalism have continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of society, and have even been embraced by those nations which once extolled the virtues of Marxist doctrine.