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<book id="103749">
  <title><![CDATA[Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West]]></title>
  <isbn><![CDATA[0385513119]]></isbn>
  <isbn13><![CDATA[9780385513111]]></isbn13>
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  <original_publication_year type="integer">2005</original_publication_year>
  <original_title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</original_title>
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  <authors>
        <author id="52292">
      <name><![CDATA[Tom Holland]]></name>
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      <average_rating><![CDATA[3.92]]></average_rating>
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    <user id="263750">
    <name><![CDATA[Reid]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
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  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
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    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <read_at>Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Dec 19 08:08:32 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 19 08:08:48 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Tom Holland scored some major points with Rubicon, a terrific, narrative account of the fall of the Roman Republic. His clear prose, entertaining characterization and solid research and diverse use of sources can be apppreciated by all levels of readers. Holland may not have improved between his two...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10682807">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10682807]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="19983239">
    <user id="628371">
    <name><![CDATA[Tim]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/628371-tim]]></url>
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  <ratings_count type="integer">46</ratings_count>
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  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
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    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <read_at>Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Apr 11 21:44:46 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun May 11 20:12:21 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[An engaging overview of the Persian Wars. The author's style is more along the lines of standard fiction rather than your typical academic history. My chief complaint is that, contrary to the description of the book and its aims, it neglects the Persian side of the story. The vast majority of the bo...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19983239">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19983239]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="14753077">
    <user id="772250">
    <name><![CDATA[John]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Washington, DC]]></location>        
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">821563</id>
  <isbn>0349117179</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780349117171</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">47</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">5</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178680840m/821563.jpg</image_url>
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    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <read_at>Mon Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Feb 06 13:43:22 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Feb 06 13:43:28 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Comprehensive look at the battles between the Greeks and the Persian Empire: Thermopylae, Salamis and Plataea.  Not so much comprehensive as to the battles themselves but more about what brought these two forces into conflict.  So you get a lot of backstory which is good.  <br/>Slightly less effect...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14753077">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14753077]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="70376082">
    <user id="95171">
    <name><![CDATA[John]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Canada]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/95171-john]]></url>
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  <ratings_count type="integer">46</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171225790m/91019.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/91019.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Sep 07 12:22:08 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Sep 07 12:27:01 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This is a narration of the events of the war between Persia and Greece around 485 BC.  It begins with portraits of Persia, Sparta and Athens before discussing the progress of the war and the decisive battles of Marathon, Thermopylae, Artemisium, Salamis and Plataea.  What is good about the book, in ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70376082">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70376082]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="4781746">
    <user id="242652">
    <name><![CDATA[Phillip]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/242652-phillip-jones]]></url>
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  <id type="integer">821563</id>
  <isbn>0349117179</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780349117171</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">47</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">5</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178680840m/821563.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/821563.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Aug 19 17:01:06 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Aug 19 17:05:58 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A wonderful evocation of a great empire, culture and religion which is systematically neglected in Western history. Holland concentrates on Persia's interactions with the European world and how they have been represented since then (mainly due to greek/macedonian sources). Read this if you want to u...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4781746">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4781746]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="39297095">
    <user id="580732">
    <name><![CDATA[Patrick]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Middletown, NJ]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/580732-patrick]]></url>
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  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171501730m/103749.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103749.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
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    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Dec 04 10:55:54 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 04 11:22:10 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Ok, perhaps I shouldn't be reviewing this since I didn't finish it, but here goes. I was all excited to read about the war but after a weeks reading we still haven't made it there yet. First we get the back story of Persia pgs 1-62, which was good, I was still into it, then we get the back story of ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39297095">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39297095]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="29549284">
    <user id="664812">
    <name><![CDATA[Picoroco]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Belfast, Ireland]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/664812-picoroco]]></url>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">268828</id>
  <isbn>0316726648</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780316726641</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">5</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">1</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/268828.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Anyone who likes a great story well told]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Aug 07 15:14:17 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Aug 15 11:11:54 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This is a great book, one that I would recommend to any number of people.This may be a 2500 year old story, but it is a tried and tested one, and one that Tom Holland tells brilliantly. Anyone familiar with the Histories of Herodotus, or the awful film 300 for that matter, will know the story of how...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/29549284">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/29549284]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="20010991">
    <user id="129055">
    <name><![CDATA[Ann]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Alameda, CA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/129055-ann]]></url>
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  <ratings_count type="integer">46</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171225790m/91019.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/91019.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Apr 12 11:44:24 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat May 17 09:47:11 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Probably one of the first pieces of non-fiction I have read voluntarily in quite some time...and I actually finished it!  Pretty good- it seems to give a pretty balance view of the Persians and the Greeks, pointing out the strengths of each, as well as the stupidities and follies of each.  It covers...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20010991">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20010991]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="8792900">
    <user id="164842">
    <name><![CDATA[Don]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/164842-don]]></url>
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    <book>
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  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171225790m/91019.jpg</image_url>
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</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Nov 07 09:46:30 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Nov 07 09:54:45 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This is not quite as good as Holland's previous book, &quot;Rubicon&quot;, perhaps because the material here is more familiar and has been covered in any number of other histories aimed at the general reader. <br/><br/>Having said that, this book was very good.  As with &quot;Rubicon&quot;, Hollan...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8792900">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8792900]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="1655056">
    <user id="115473">
    <name><![CDATA[Siria]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Ireland]]></location>        
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  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171225790m/91019.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/91019.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Jun 04 13:18:12 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Jun 04 13:18:34 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I picked this up because although three years of a degree in Ancient History mean that I know the history of this conflict quite thoroughly from the Greek side, I think I'm less informed about it from the Persian point of view. I'm not sure that this did an awful lot to correct that—while the earl...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1655056">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1655056]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="49369000">
    <user id="300895">
    <name><![CDATA[Leif Erik]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Portland, OR]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/300895-leif-erik]]></url>
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  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103749.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Mar 15 15:08:11 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Mar 15 15:08:11 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A really good entry level book about the rise of the Persian Empire and Greek resistance to encroachment along the Aegean Sea.  The only problem I had with it is Holland doesn't hedge a lot of the source material on which he's basing his account.  Can't really fault him on that as it's clearly a pop...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/49369000">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/49369000]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="321803">
    <user id="4373">
    <name><![CDATA[bryan]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Tustin, CA]]></location>        
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  <id type="integer">103749</id>
  <isbn>0385513119</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780385513111</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">148</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">38</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171501730m/103749.jpg</image_url>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Mar 19 10:55:13 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Mar 19 11:39:15 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[James Lileks writes: &quot;Last summer I read an excellent book about the Persian / Greek conflict – it’s a wonderful primer if you know nothing, and a merry refresher if you know the basics. The author reminded us that the Greeks were not all Noble Philosophers who spent their time sitting on t...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/321803">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/321803]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="48854472">
    <user id="2114853">
    <name><![CDATA[Don]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
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  <ratings_count type="integer">148</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">38</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171501730m/103749.jpg</image_url>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Mar 10 16:57:02 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Mar 21 09:50:55 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Great book about the history of the Persian Empire, Athens, Sparta and the Greek peninsula culminating in the war between the allied Greek city states and the Persian Empire.  Author’s premise is that if Persia had won there would be no “west” because western society is based on the Greek cult...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48854472">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48854472]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="14143010">
    <user id="761281">
    <name><![CDATA[Mike]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">103749</id>
  <isbn>0385513119</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780385513111</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">148</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">38</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171501730m/103749.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103749.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Thu May 29 09:28:16 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jan 31 05:56:10 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu May 29 09:28:16 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Very readable and entertaining, this book tackles a fairly a topic that has been covered by many historians and attempts to give a balanced view of the events leading up to and following the war between Greece and Persia, as well as of course covering the war itself in detail.  The striking thing ab...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14143010">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14143010]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="70622141">
    <user id="2696558">
    <name><![CDATA[Periklis]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Southampton, The United Kingdom]]></location>        
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  <id type="integer">103749</id>
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  <isbn13>9780385513111</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">148</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">38</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171501730m/103749.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103749.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Sep 09 12:27:57 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Sep 09 12:34:00 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Vivid description of the Persian and Greek worlds. An interesting approach to the Persian Empire (which I have not encountered previously), and focus on the Persian wars and the glory of the Greek civilisation. A good history book.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70622141]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="10874955">
    <user id="84487">
    <name><![CDATA[Ron]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Los Angeles, CA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/84487-ron]]></url>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">103749</id>
  <isbn>0385513119</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780385513111</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">148</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">38</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171501730m/103749.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103749.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
</book>

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  <read_at>Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Dec 22 11:33:12 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Dec 22 11:39:15 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[this is one of those history books that you probably shouldn't dwell on whether or not it's an accurate conveyance of history.  i understand that it's well-respected, popular and what do i know.  but it's told in this very flowing, cinematic kind-of-way, with broad themes and these over-arching ebbs...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10874955">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10874955]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="10080766">
    <user id="260413">
    <name><![CDATA[Christian]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/260413-christian-clymer]]></url>
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  <ratings_count type="integer">148</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">38</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171501730m/103749.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103749.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[anyone trying to understand the world today.]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Dec 07 06:12:20 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Dec 07 06:22:27 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[It's easy to look at the state of the world today, throw your hands in the air and say... &quot;This is as bad as it gets.&quot;  Trying to understand the differences between the Western and Middle Eastern worlds is a better start at trying to find our common ground and new ways to heal old hurts.<br/>...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10080766">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10080766]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="48093043">
    <user id="56328">
    <name><![CDATA[Paul]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Peosta, IA]]></location>        
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  <isbn13>9780385513111</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">148</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">38</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171501730m/103749.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103749.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Sat Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Mar 03 05:48:12 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Mar 16 14:29:01 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[ A great historical narrative of the voracious King Xerxes and his attempt to gobble up his first major Western alliance, that of classical Greece in the Greco-Persian Wars. Here is Herodotus monumental History brought to life along with the archeological records of the past century. The battles of ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48093043">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48093043]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="65429554">
    <user id="214910">
    <name><![CDATA[Sarah]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
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  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171501730m/103749.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103749.Persian_Fire_The_First_World_Empire_and_the_Battle_for_the_West</link>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jul 29 12:11:13 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jul 29 12:11:50 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Found via the notes in <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3488337.The_Ayatollah_Begs_to_Differ_The_Paradox_of_Modern_Iran" title="The Ayatollah Begs to Differ  The Paradox of Modern Iran by Hooman Majd">The Ayatollah Begs to Differ</a>.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/65429554]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="78340401">
    <user id="2945951">
    <name><![CDATA[David]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Somerville, MA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2945951-david-rude]]></url>
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  <isbn13>9780385513111</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">148</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">38</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West</title>
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</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Nov 19 12:52:48 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Nov 19 12:55:17 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Very good. Tom Holland always does a good job of researching and delivering the full picture of what was going on during the period and the people that were involved. Highly recommended.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78340401]]></url>
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