Book: How the Irish Saved Civilization

Cahill, Thomas. How the Irish Saved Civilization. 0-385-41849-3 (1995).
The initial offering in the "Hinges of History" series, Cahill explores the the fall of the Roman Empire and the role of the Irish in bridging the gap between the failing of classical civilization and the birth of the Middle Ages. Full of interesting characters, lovely images, and great overview, the book is a nice introduction to late classical history. In typical Cahill style, the narrative is a bit harried -- but it accomplishes the task of making history an appealing component of thought in an age overwhelmed by modern media.