How the Irish Saved Civilization

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Summary: How the Irish saved civilization...
Review: An elegant synthesis of history, contemporary issues, and humor, brings the story of the role of Irish monks in saving the classic literature of Western civilization to life. Cahill's prose is precise, and his genuine affection for historic figures shines through. Highly recommended.

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Summary: Provacative but coming up very short
Review: I approached this book from a scholarly point of view, though I realize that this book was not inteneded for the erudite reader concerned with the preservation of antiquarian culture in the early Middle Ages. Though this book does give much helpful information on early Irish civilization and the twilight of Late Antiquity, Mr. Cahill is often given to exaggeration and simplistic explanations. His treatment on Rome's fall is relegated to a mere 40 pages, hardly sufficient for a subject which dictated a good deal of political, social and religious changes for the next 500 years before Europe managed to acquire a sense of itself. Cahill is also prone to exaggeration. His numbers of commentaries, exegesis on the Scriptures and other writings composed and published from the Irish established monasteries are simply impossible. His lack of footnotes and citations only further raises his conclusions to general scrutiny. Also, if this book is intended for the general reader, why bother quoting the Latin of Ausonius, which even for the experienced Latinist is difficult? What purpose does this serve if not Cahill pandering to the scholarly community for whom he did not intend to write this book? In itself, the book reads like a fairy tale, a nice bedtime read, but beyond basic facts the book has little to no value. No corroboration only can fuel more criticism towards it. I await a sequel where Mr. Cahill, if he so chooses, can answer such questions and concerns with more detail.

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Summary: Extremely Well Done!
Review: Cahill's book is superb and despite what his detractors may say, this easy to read style may be instrumental in getting a broader spectrum of readers interested in his book and in the Irish. The chapter on St Patrick made me think of him in a new light...as the man he was as well as the Saint he became. Much better than the ridiculous statues of him in Green robes chasing the snakes with a shamrock. Mr Cahill has become one of my favorite authors!

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Summary: The unabridged audio is poor
Review: I won't weigh in on the merits of the work itself--it is fine for my taste, though not to others. But you ought to be warned that the narration for the unabridged edition, by Donal Donnelly, is deplorable. He reads with almost comically exaggerated vocal inflections. He often pauses after ever few words (sometimes after every single word) so that you can hardly follow the flow of the ideas. I found it so annoying that I had to stop listening, though I was engaged by the book itself. This criticism does not apply to Liam Neeson's reading of the abridged edition--I haven't heard it, but it seems to get good reviews. This is the rare instance when I wish I had bought the shorter version.

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Summary: A thrilling read
Review: Having read some of the other less favourable reviews, I just couldn't resist putting in my tuppence worth. Those that claim that the book is misleading, have either not read the book or have missed the whole point. At times Cahill claims, that without the Irish we might not have available to us, the great wealth of Greek and Romain classics which we do now, but you have to remember the great exaggerations which the ancient Celtic story tellers used to make their stories more thrilling, enchanting and enjoyable. In this book Cahill remains true to his Celtic heritage and employs the same tools as the origional Celtic story tellers, telling us that modern civilization owes everything to the Irish of the dark ages. This may not be completely true but it is the Irish way of saying that we did our part. I think that this book gives a great insight into the Irish and how they got that way. The accuracy of the historical facts or their significance plays second fiddle to the main message of this book. A great read with great insight into the Irish psyche.

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Summary: fun encounter with history
Review: Although I minored in history in college, There's a bit of a mystery in my knowledge, I'm not expert enough to know the actual and factual, from the exaggerated of just plain "agitated," Nevertheless I enjoyed Cahill's book, And the whimsical roads (far from Rome)it took, The protesters, me thinks, are overzealous, Of the Irish they're probably just jealous.

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Summary: How Cahill rewrites history
Review: Cahill is rewriting history to appeal to the Irish American public. His thesis has no supporting facts and he ignores hard evidence of civilization in Europe. For example, Cahill says that theIrish saved civilization through the monastic work of copping books. However, there were monasteries in Gaul and scattered throughout the Germanic Tribal wilderness who were also copying books at the same time as the Irish. Cahill also states that with the fall of Rome, civilization lost the ability to "think, read and build." He again ignores buildings like the Haga Sophia, and men like Charlemagne who built his palace in Aachen and brought back classically humanism. In short, Cahill is rewriting history to sell books to people of Irish descent who want to hear good things about their ancestors. His thesis holds no water and is laughable to anyone who knows the actual history of that era.

Rating:
Summary: sloppily done in every way
Review: This is one of the worst books I ever read. It is inaccurate, poorly documented, racist, and calculated to appeal to ethnic pride alone. He even compares "hordes of unwashed barbarians" to Mexican immigrants! He denies to give many sources, saying they are all in his head "like radiation from the big bang." He compares Confucius' lack of personalization to "a Chinese fortune cookie." He says without the Irish we would have "a world without books"! This book does a disservice to the Irish, whose contribution to Western culture is considerable, by its exaggerations, sloppy documentation, condescension and outrageous statements. This is not a history. He mixes legend and fact and opinion, without making clear which is which. One star is too high a rating.

Rating:
Summary: Insightful yet readable
Review: Thomas Cahill takes what could be a very dreary subject and does a masterful job describing the history of Ireland and the critical role played by Irish monks in restoring civilization to Europe after the dark ages. Key to the effectiveness of this book is Cahill's light and often humerous writing style. However, don't be fooled by either the tongue in cheek title or Cahill's style, this is a very comprehensive and serious treatment of Irish history. Topics included are the migration of the Celts to Ireland by way of Spain, the key role of women in early Irish society, St Patrick and how differences between Irish and European Christianity evolved.

Rating:
Summary: Chalk one up to the Irish
Review: Thomas Cahill's "How the Irish Saved Civilization..." is the kind of written history that was born in the oral tradition. This is a book not only scholarly in content, but eminently readable by all. Certainly, it has become a monument to the Irish monks who one can see painstakingly copying the ancient books of the Greeks for posterity. Cahill's recounting of Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, brings this Roman slave's life to the people without compromising his inherent holiness. Thomas Cahill does great honor to his ancestors with his book, a must read for anyone interested in the history of Western Civilization.