Rating: 
Summary: entertaining, but...
Review: This book was an enjoyable book and entertaining, but it didn't really discuss too much of how the Irish saved civilization. Sure we learn about the saints and other influences in Irish history, but it didn't live up to my expectations (of the title). I do recommend this book, but you need to pick up something else as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Scholarly, poetic report on Irish action to save literacy
Review: Cahill's review of the fall of Roman civilization and actions taken by the ancient Irish to save literature, especially the Gospel, is a scholar's view, but the book is valuable to all who have an interest in history and the Christian faith. Although his anecdotes are sometimes far afield, he covers the principal theme in an engaging style that brings an appreciation of Irish historical-mythical figures with which most Americans are unfamiliar. He tells the story of the Irish conversion by the efforts of Patrick and others who followed, and the concomitant evangelistic fervor that followed. The remarkable aspect of the missionary efforts of the converted was their respect for the secular Irish folklore and poetry, resulting in the "true" Gospel being spread without coercion. He weaves into the tale many examples of early Irish poetry which illustrate the lusty, yet gentle nature of the people. I feel the book is required reading for all who plan travel to Ireland or other Celtic enclaves in Scotland or England because of the somewhat different perspective of history and of the Church in the British Isles.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but incomplete and poorly cited survey.
Review: This book has a wonderful premise, and the author an engaging style. Unfortunately, it fails to deliver on its promise. Cahill seemingly wants to keep this book to a size pleasing to popular readers, and to avoid direct citations of facts, theories, and other key historical elements.The book feels like the synopsis of a more carefully researched and cited, but lengthier tome. This could easily have been a 5 star book, if only the author had been willing to take more time with the details and better documented his facts and theories.
Rating: 
Summary: great book
Review: An excellent book for the fans of Irish History and all those who believe that the Irish are good for more then drinking and fighting. I only wish it were longer.
Rating:
Summary: a fun and interesting read
Review: a quick reading, entertaining and informative book--the way history should be written!
Rating:
Summary: What happened between then and now?
Review: While it's always interesting to get a short refresher course in classicism, "How the Irish..." seems hardly a balanced work. He briefly mentions other sources, like the moorish library at Toledo, as possible other contenders for the revivals of the classics, while trumpeting the role of the open-minded, scholarly Irish. If he's right about this, there's another book waiting to be written--about what happened to the Irish Catholic church between the time of the vikings and its current state--one only needs to hear the name Parnell to remember its regressive role in more recent history. What happened to make that worldly, scholarly society decay into the painfully unenlightened and reactionary church that has tormented both old and new worlds in more recent years? Cahill avoids a seeming contradiction between his view of history and our common notion of the present.
Rating:
Summary: Great book! Very enjoyable.
Review: A fine example showing that history need not be dry and boring; this book was truly a delight. Starting with the end of the Roman Empire, it is a book about the transition from the Classical to the Medieval, the bringing of Roman-influences (read: religion and literacy) to Ireland, and the subsequent use of those newfound passions by the Irish to preserve the great works of the West from the general chaos following the fall of Rome. I'm not a specialist in this time period -- my historical interest generally ends sometime in the late Roman Empire, then picks up again around the Peace of Westphalia -- but this book seems well-researched, despites its meager pagecount. It is not hard to see why this book is a bestseller.
Rating: 
Summary: Catholic doctrine masquerading as history
Review: This book purports to be about Ireland, but it is really about Catholic doctrine in Ireland. The historical material concerning the Roman Empire is already well known. There is some Irish history, but only as much as one reads in the lives of the saints. The title is misleading and the book, at least up to page 127 where I quit reading, is not worth buying. A one star rating is too high.
Rating:
Summary: So it's not deep...but it's still interesting
Review: I'm a little dismayed by the number of negative comments about this book. I'm not an historian, so I can't comment on the accuracy of what Cahill says (though I suspect what he really meant was "How the Irish saved *Western* Civilization"). And yeah, the book is full of trivia tit-bits. But that's what makes it fun to read! I've tried reading other British/Irish history and bogged down in it (do forgive the pun, it was totally unintentional). I only get a chance to read right before bed, so a book needs to be fairly interesting and written in a way that is "light" or "intriguing" or I'm asleep before the end of the page. Give Mr. Cahill a break. He wrote an interesting book, you can take the history with a grain of salt (As I take all history that I read), but he did do something to dispell the idea of early Christian Ireland as an absolute backwater....I think this book was worthwhile for three reasons: I learned some stuff, it made me think, and it engaged my imagination. So there. I'm not giving this book more stars because it's not the best thing I ever read, but I still think it's worthwhile. (Unlike some people I don't rate every book I like as a 5 out of 5)
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful for anyone who loves history.
Review: I love history, especially medieval and religious history. This book (on tape) was absolutely riveting. I had a little trouble with Liam Neeson's Irish accent and soft-spoken style, finding myself raising the volume very high and rewinding the tape often. That speaks well for the book content, however, because I didn't want to miss a word. I purchased a copy of the book for a friend after listening to the tape. I'll probably borrow the book from him eventually, so I can read the unabridged version.
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