Sarah's review
Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America
by James Webb
Sarah's review
Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America by James Webb
Sarah's review
rating:
bookshelves:
history
I have a number of caveats about this book. It's more of a paean to the author's own culture than a true history, and as such, it presents some pretty sweeping generalizations. Some would challenge his readings of Scots-Irish and American history or even be offended by them. It might be, as I've seen in other reviews, that Webb's narrative is "self-indulgent" or a "mythologizing" of Scots-Irish and Southern cultures.
But for all that, I truly enjoyed reading it. Even though my forebears settled farther North than most of Webb's subjects, I saw traces of my own family throughout. And I definitely appreciated his passionate effort to help readers see the heart of a culture that too few try to understand or respect. For that reason alone, I found it a highly worthwhile read. I learned a lot.
But for all that, I truly enjoyed reading it. Even though my forebears settled farther North than most of Webb's subjects, I saw traces of my own family throughout. And I definitely appreciated his passionate effort to help readers see the heart of a culture that too few try to understand or respect. For that reason alone, I found it a highly worthwhile read. I learned a lot.
