If (like me) you have some favorite people in your life who are Irish, you will want to read this book, because it will unveil mysteries and add color and depth to your understanding of these remarkable people. If you love history, but haven’t taken the time to study the “gray” areas of the early centuries leading up the the dark ages, you will want to read this book because you you will learn things that will surprise you. If you have wondered why we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and would like to learn about this man’s amazing life and mission, you will want to read this book!
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:27:
“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”
This is what “How the Irish Saved Civilization” by Thomas Cahill is all about: how God used the bedraggled, isolated, too-remote-and-insignificant-for-anyone-to-care Irish to be the the conduit through which the great classical works were preserved while the rest of the world was conquering, pillaging and trying to “one-up” each other by destroying that which was precious. Had it not been for the Irish monks, those steady-Eddy recluses who dedicated their lives to copying the great classics and pondering their beauty, they would have perished from the earth.
This book unveils a remarkable true story, a tapestry of wonder that God no doubt had His hand in from start to finish. I had the joy of listening to the Audible audiobook, read by Donal Donnely in a delightful, animated voice with a crisp Irish accent. I was happy, by accident, to discover that the book in its entirety is available on Youtube. So if you would like to spend 7 hours and listen to this beauty, the link is below.
Delightful read![usr 5]
