How the Irish Saved Civilization

How the Irish Saved Civilization

1996 • 274 pages

Ratings16

Average rating3.4

15

If clickbait articles on the internet became a novel, it would be this book.

It appears to be an interesting historical view about the Irish, but is incredibly disjointed. The argument that the Irish saved civilization fits better in a pamphlet than a book. The author attempts to write it as a “story” but fails to bring the pieces together.

An example of this is the description of Augustine of Hippo. I know his story, so I know that it was not described eloquently. The author doesn't talk about Augustine's life in chronological order, but jumps around to make specific points. It was really, really confusing. For those historical figures I didn't know, this style makes it difficult to follow.

I have read academic books designed to be to-the-point and dry. Still, I prefer that style to this attempt to describe history with this narration and flow.

October 16, 2016Report this review