SKU: 18736127401

How the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe's Poorest Nation Created Our World and Everything in It

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How the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe's Poorest Nation Created Our World and Everything in ItAn exciting account of the origins of the modern world Who formed the first literate society? Who invented our modern ideas of democracy and free market capitalism? The Scots. As historian and author Arthur Herman reveals, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Scotland made crucial contributions to science, philosophy, literature, education, medicine, commerce, and politics contributions that have formed and nurtured the modern West ever since.

An exciting account of the origins of the modern world

Who formed the first literate society? Who invented our modern ideas of democracy and free market capitalism? The Scots. As historian and author Arthur Herman reveals, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Scotland made crucial contributions to science, philosophy, literature, education, medicine, commerce, and politics--contributions that have formed and nurtured the modern West ever since.

Herman has charted a fascinating journey across the centuries of Scottish history. Here is the untold story of how John Knox and the Church of Scotland laid the foundation for our modern idea of democracy; how the Scottish Enlightenment helped to inspire both the American Revolution and the U.S. Constitution; and how thousands of Scottish immigrants left their homes to create the American frontier, the Australian outback, and the British Empire in India and Hong Kong.

How the Scots Invented the Modern World reveals how Scottish genius for creating the basic ideas and institutions of modern life stamped the lives of a series of remarkable historical figures, from James Watt and Adam Smith to Andrew Carnegie and Arthur Conan Doyle, and how Scottish heroes continue to inspire our contemporary culture, from William "Braveheart" Wallace to James Bond.

And no one who takes this incredible historical trek will ever view the Scots--or the modern West--in the same way again.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Broadway Books
Published: 09/24/2002
ISBN: 9780609809990
Pages: 480
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 7.90h x 5.20w x 1.10d

Review Citations: New York Review of Books 09/26/2002 pg. 71
Christianity Today 10/01/2008 pg. 104
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SKU: 18736127401

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patricia
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 3
the height is only 16"
Size: coffee table leg
The height is only 16". From the description it appears to be 24" wide and 24" high.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2026
C
CMC20
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 4
Good DIY Pipe Legs but Powder Coat Quality Lacks
Size: side table leg, Size: side table leg
These industrial style pipe legs make building a DIY end table easy and the kit saves a trip to the hardware store. The fittings go together normally and assembly is simple. Comes individually wrapped. My main issue is the powder coating looks and feels cheap and rubs off easily. The pipes already had marks from touching each other from unboxing. If you do not mind some wear on the finish over time this is a decent purchase. The metal at the hardware store will be thicker and more durable but will cost more. I’d recommend based on ease of having a kit and it being delivered saving me a trip.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2025
M
Mark Weinberg
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Stable, attractive, and easy to turn into a table with your choice of top
Size: side table leg
The X-shape of the table legs - constructed with solid metal flanges, T-joints, X-joints and 1-inch diameter pipes - provides a strong and sturdy base for a wood top. The legs have adjustable feet pads to prevent scratches and ensure stability. Assembly of the legs is relatively simple (the instructions are clear) but you will need your own tools to attach a top. The industrial design is especially well suited to rec room or finished basement use. I am adding a 28" diameter raw edge slab of wood from a recently felled tree as the top and it is very attractive. (Photo unavailable because after I made certain it would work I sent the slab out for drying and finishing.) If you want a custom table and have a particular piece of wood you want to use, these legs are an excellent choice.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2026
G
Grammar Guru
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Very nice kit: Beware it is NOT heavy duty plumbing pipe though!
Size: side table leg
I want to give this kit a high rating, but I need to address the "truth in advertising" bit since there may be an important disconnect between what you think you are getting and what actually comes in the box. Black plumbing used for shelving or table legs is part of an important niche in interior design. I like the industrial loft look myself and have a variety of glass, steel, and masonry elements in my home. This kit fits that look and provides plenty of "strength" for most domestic uses, like shelves or coffee tables. But they are NOT "industrial pipe" or "maximum durability pipe." Note the phrase "cast iron finish feet," which together with the other claims might lead you to think these are cast plumbing fittings. They are NOT! The feet and flanges feel like electrical conduit fittings, and the pipe sections are likely aluminum. They might be electrical or they might be multi-use, lightweight pipe. While all this might lead you to think that you're getting a truly retro, heavy-duty pipe kit made of black plumbing pipe, you are not. But, does it matter? Depends. I find the lighter pipe's smooth finish a nice "tone-down" from the rough plumbing look. All together, this kit provides plenty of strength for most furniture and the rustic pipe look, but with a nicer, lighter finish. To me that is a plus--this is a very nice kit and costs less that if you'd pieced it together from real plumbing parts (I priced it out to compare), and looks retro but cleaner. I knew what to expect because while I got this kit free on Vine, I had purchased a nearly identical kit from another seller last year. So, I'm giving it 5 stars for what it actually is and for the price, JUST BE AWARE THE NARRATIVE IS MISLEADING. Which is unfortunate because just like some people might want the heavier pipe, I'm betting more would be attracted to the look with a cleaner, lighter feel.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2025
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Verified Purchase
Travon Watson
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Stacking shelves
These work perfectly, even in rooms with high ceilings. One thing I didn’t really see mentioned or highlighted anywhere is that they can be stacked. I decided to try it anyway, and it turned out awesome. I purchased two units and placed one on top of the other, which essentially created one tall shelf. It ended up being a great way to maximize vertical space and made the setup look much more custom and intentional
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Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2026

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