Before Scotland: The Story of Scotland Before History

This was without doubt the most enthralling history of a place that I have ever read - and that's a broad statement from someone who loves biographies. It was readable, not at all stilted in language or style, and very hard to put down. Moffat tells the story and describes the people - and although a lot is conjecture and extrapolation, it has never been done better.

Alistair Moffat has produced an excellent introduction to Scottish prehistory. Moffat reviews the archeology and history of Scotland from roughly 11,000 years ago until the beginning of the Middle Ages. He is at his best when he examines the archeological evidence and what it tells us about how these early inhabitants lived--what their homes were like, what they ate, how they obtained their food, the material culture they produced, and what we can guess about their religious practices. Many of the descriptions of actual historical events (with the exception of the Roman period) are covered in too little detail to be satisfying. Although readers with training in the hard sciences may wince at some of Moffat's comments--his brief description of the Big Bang and formation of the solar system, for example--and everyone except for native Scots will wish that a good map had been included, this book is well worth the time spent. Sit back, pour a wee nip of single malt, and enjoy this journey into the past.