Born Fighting

How the Scots-Irish Shaped America

By: Jim Webb

Narrated by: Allan Robertson

Born Fighting shows that the Scots-Irish were 40 percent of the Revolutionary War army; they included the pioneers Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark, Davy Crockett, and Sam Houston; they were the writers Edgar Allan Poe and Mark Twain; and they have given America numerous great military leaders, including Stonewall Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, Audie Murphy, and George S. Patton, as well as most of the soldiers of the Confederacy (only five percent of whom owned slaves, and who fought against what they viewed as an invading army). It illustrates how the Scots-Irish redefined American politics, creating the populist movement and giving the country a dozen presidents, including Andrew Jackson, Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. And it explores how the Scots-Irish culture of isolation, hard luck, stubbornness, and mistrust of the nation's elite formed and still dominates blue-collar America, the military services, the Bible Belt, and country music.

Both a distinguished work of cultural history and a human drama that speaks straight to the heart of contemporary America, Born Fighting reintroduces America to its most powerful, patriotic, and individualistic cultural group - one too often ignored or taken for granted.

©2004 Jim Webb (P)2015 ListenUp Production, LLC

Wonderful, informative, compelling book!

The author does an outstanding job of clearly laying out Scot-Irish history. Never boring, always enlightening!

President Webb May Have Been The US's Last Chance

No other major voice within the Democrat Party understood American Greatness nearly as well as Webb demonstrated in this book. He was a product of unique circumstances that will not be repeated. Whatever shortcomings I may ascribe to his worldview as expressed in this book stand as nothing when compared to the apparently inevitable rhyme with The Thirty Years War that will be for freedom from a top-down quasi-theocracy.

Well Researched and Well Written

I am recommending this book to my family, my friends, and anyone else who will listen.

A truly illuminating and inspiring book

This is among one of the best books I have ever read. It was illuminating and inspiring. The use of narrative aided the ability of the author to convey passion and clarity on complex issues. As a Leader, it has served to deepen my understanding of our America. I look forward to reading Jim Webb’s next book.
I highly recommend it to all.

Will Archer
Dumfries,Virginia

A light shown upon a forgotten people

Well narrated to emphasize the author's well written points. The personal stories and accounts from historical figures add depth to history taught in classes across the nation. Excellent book