The History of Scotland

by History Nerds

Scotland's history is rich, varied, and full of fascinating characters and events. In this concise history book, you will discover the story of Scotland from its earliest origins to the present day. From the Picts and the Romans to the Wars of Independence and the Jacobite rebellions, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the key moments and turning points that have shaped Scotland's history. With vivid details and engaging storytelling, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in Scottish culture and history.

Genres: History, Audiobook, Nonfiction

112 pages, Paperback

Published April 12, 2022

Reviews

[Max D'onofrio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this on Spotify while wandering around Edinburgh. Great background history, kind of like a long podcast. Just quick hit history. Interesting to read the reviews that seemed to think it is biased against the Scottish in favor of the English.

[Abbey Colton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook on Spotify whilst driving around the Scottish highlands.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A straight retelling of Scottish history. This is one of those cliffnote histories that gives you enough that if you are interested you can research more.

A decent retelling of the history of Scotland

[Lucy May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great audiobook experience, a quick glimpse into Scotlands long history.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

#Audible
Conversational and casual history of the country. Wonderful accent by the narrator.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook. The best part was that it was narrated by someone who does a good Scottish accent (Graham Mack, who was born in Liverpool and lived in New Zealand and Australia). The book is a convenient overview of Scottish history, with the majority of the book treating the pre-Eighteenth Century history. The Twentieth Century gets less than half an hour in the audiobook. The book is chock full of names, places, dates, and battles, but not a lot of analysis. If you're looking for something more in depth, I'd recommend Arthur Herman's How the Scots Invented the Modern World.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book shoots through over 1500 years of Scottish history in a little over three hours. There were so many men (and women), dates, and battles that there wasn't much time for much color or description of events. However, since I plan to go to Scotland in May, I wanted to get an introduction to the history. I guess I was surprised a bit that France was a staunch ally of Scotland for many years. It makes the quote "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." England and France historically had issues and wars with each other. I also did not realize that because of marriage alliances and primogeniture, there were a few times in history when the same person who was King of Scotland was also King of England ... but two separate realms. I think an instance of it was James the VI when king of Scotland was concurrently James the I of England. I definitely would like to read more about some of the more fascinating historical figures in maybe some historical fiction. I should also watch the movie Braveheart who is a Scottish hero today, William Wallace.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Biased History

After listening to this audiobook, I wonder where those behind the History Nerds Publishing House hail from. My gut instinct is England. What makes me say that? This particular book is heavily biased against its subject. Parts of it, especially closer to the end, had me nearly gasping at the level of bias in the book. Atrocities perpetrated against Scots by the English and other crushing historical events were discussed as if they were a good thing for the Scots, including Culloden and the Highland Clearances. I was constantly shaking my head, not quite believing what I was hearing. So much biased commentary has no place in a history book. I've actually read and listened to a fair number of books by this publisher, and I don't remember noticing this level of bias by them before. Not recommended, unless you already know Scottish history and are curious about this biased historical trainwreck.

I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[Rebel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This narrative, unfortunately, seems to carry a potential bias against the Scottish while glossing over the atrocities committed by the English. Despite this bias, the story offers a captivating and informative journey through Scotland's history, spanning from ancient times to the modern era.

It's disheartening to see the atrocities perpetrated against the Scots by the English and other historical events portrayed in a positive light, such as the devastating impact of Culloden and the Highland Clearances. As someone with Scottish ancestry, it's particularly poignant to reflect on the struggles and sacrifices of my ancestors.

Nevertheless, Scotland holds a special place in my heart, and exploring its history is both fascinating and deeply personal. The narrative is rich with famous characters and iconic landmarks, and the detailed depiction of each historical event makes for a compelling read. It's truly a page-turner, difficult to set aside once you've delved into its depths.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a brief overview of Scottish history. It is short and thus does not have sufficient time to do much more than mention each of the kings of Scotland and the many wars among clans or between the Scots and English, not to mention the contributions to science and literature by 18th and 19th century Scots- but again it’s a good introduction. I learned a lot about Norwegian and Viking influences that I didn’t know before. I look forward to reading some more in depth histories.

[Jodie Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book to read. it reminds me so much of watching Outlander. I love it! The chapters on the early Medieval Ages, Saxons, the Kings, and even the Modern Scotland were great to read. There is so much more to read in this book and learning about Scotland. Well written.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short synopsis of a long history. I listened to this from Audible and didn’t get the impression it favored the English. Perhaps it helped as the reader, Alastair MacTire, spoke was inflection and passion.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adequate introductory prep that lays out the fundamental evolution of the country, highlighting some of the major battles and characters as well as some social issues that helped shape the development of the country.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short look at the peoples who created the Scotland we know today, along with the history of the ways the Scots fought for their land. Enjoyed this on Audible with a narrator with a lovely Scottish accent!

[JP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid Meh. Feels potentially biased against the Scottish and paints over many atrocities of the English.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and informative account of Scotland from ancient to modern times. I nearly swooned over the narrator's accent. It was absolutely delightful.

[Fred Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

The History of Scotland is a wonderfully informative book. I didn't know as much as I thought I knew about Scotland. Now thanks to the book, I know a great deal. The book was compelling and, at times, a page-turner. I enjoy history books, and this is one of my favorites. I am also a fan of History Nerds books. This was an audiobook, and the narrator was fantastic.

[Alayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a little break from fiction for some Scottish history - nothing special or outstanding.