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  <title><![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]></title>
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  <description><![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]></description>
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        <name><![CDATA[William Kalush]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
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    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
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  <date_added>Tue May 05 16:51:13 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue May 05 16:55:01 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[When I set out to find resources for my in-progress novel about Houdini, I was recommended this book by a professional magician who knows an awful lot about the subject, but I was given a caveat:  &quot;Don't pay too much attention to all the spy stuff.&quot;<br/><br/>If you don't pay too much att...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55073037">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jan 09 20:36:49 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jan 09 20:41:41 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I only picked this up because my son needed to do a speech on a biography or autobiography. It was a sale book at Powell's and Joe thought it looked interesting. When he was done, I read it so that I could gauge how he was doing on his speech. I probably won't read it again, but am glad that I did t...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42533250">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42533250]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>70628126</id>
    <user>
    <id>2715942</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Rik]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Indianapolis, IN]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Sep 09 13:17:51 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Oct 23 14:07:17 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[From a little boy on up, I've always been intrigued by the great escape artist and magician, Houdini.  The authors do a good job of fully setting forth his life in words and pictures.  I wanted a bit more about the times of this superb athlete and showman, but I have no real criticism with what was ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70628126">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70628126]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>37247292</id>
    <user>
    <id>1693763</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Jessica]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[San Diego, CA]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166575001m/13944.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166575001s/13944.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Nov 09 08:33:37 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Nov 09 08:33:37 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I think this was a lot harder to read for me than it probably was for a lot of other people. I'm not sure exactly what it was, but I think it has something to do with the lack of interest the authors showed in who Houdini was during his heyday.<br/><br/>There was a lot of detail in this book...a L...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37247292">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37247292]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37247292]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>35267777</id>
    <user>
    <id>63076</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Rory]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Oak Park, IL]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166575001m/13944.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166575001s/13944.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13944.The_Secret_Life_of_Houdini_The_Making_of_America_s_First_Superhero</link>
  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Houdini fanatics]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Oct 14 07:04:50 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Oct 28 12:07:21 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[You know, I'm totally the kind of person who should have LOVED this book but...it wasn't very lovable. Yes, it was very well researched--the authors even brag about some creepily detailed computer program they built from scratch to track Houdini's life &quot;day by day, as much as possible. But the ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/35267777">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/35267777]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/35267777]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>25664106</id>
    <user>
    <id>1277176</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Amanda]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Salt Lake City, UT]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1277176-amanda]]></link>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
  </title>
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  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166575001s/13944.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13944.The_Secret_Life_of_Houdini_The_Making_of_America_s_First_Superhero</link>
  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Anyone interested in Biographys and/or Magic]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[My Father]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jun 27 09:22:15 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Sep 07 17:57:15 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I enjoyed the book.  It was a lengthy read for me because of the style of writting, but I enjoyed it throughly.  No person is perfect and Houdini made it certain that everyone knew that of himself, while also perfecting his &quot;magic&quot;.  I don't like Biographies that come across as nothing but...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25664106">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25664106]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25664106]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Miranda]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Mar 16 03:35:20 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Apr 05 05:01:13 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Zeer interessant boek. Ik kende Houdini eigenlijk alleen als boeienkoning, maar hij had nog veel meer spectaculaire stunts op zijn naam staan. In een tijd zonder tv en internet wist hij toch wereldwijd bekend te raken. Hij was er dan ook een meester in om in de publiciteit te komen, bijvoorbeeld doo...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17848872">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17848872]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17848872]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>14572170</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Lisa]]></name>
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  <id type="integer">471547</id>
  <isbn>0743272080</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780743272087</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">21</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/471547.The_Secret_Life_of_Houdini_The_Making_of_America_s_First_Superhero</link>
  <average_rating>3.70</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>47</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Handcuff King. Escape Artist. International Superstar. Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in books, in film, and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman team up to find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever-more-dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy, and a pernicious plot to subvert his legacy.<p><p> <em>The Secret Life of Houdini</em> traces the arc of the master magician's life from desperate poverty to worldwide fame -- his legacy later threatened by a group of fanatical Spiritualists led by esteemed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Initiating the reader along the way into the arcane world of professional magic, Kalush and Sloman decode a life based on deception, providing an intimate and riveting portrayal of Houdini, the man and the legend.<p><p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Sun Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Feb 04 18:20:18 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Feb 10 16:26:09 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Houdini had a fascinating life, no questions asked, but this biography brought his story to a whole new level.  The authors include extensive research and citations from period newspapers, magical collections, diaries, and government records to bring the man who arguably will always be our foremost ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14572170">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14572170]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>12480886</id>
    <user>
    <id>780845</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Matt]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Provo, UT]]></location>
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  <isbn>0743272080</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780743272087</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">21</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Handcuff King. Escape Artist. International Superstar. Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in books, in film, and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman team up to find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever-more-dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy, and a pernicious plot to subvert his legacy.<p><p> <em>The Secret Life of Houdini</em> traces the arc of the master magician's life from desperate poverty to worldwide fame -- his legacy later threatened by a group of fanatical Spiritualists led by esteemed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Initiating the reader along the way into the arcane world of professional magic, Kalush and Sloman decode a life based on deception, providing an intimate and riveting portrayal of Houdini, the man and the legend.<p><p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <date_added>Mon Jan 14 09:18:43 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jan 15 14:01:30 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[i knew next to nothing about harry houdini (the erstwhile erich weiss) before reading this book. after reading it, i felt like i'd know houdini my entire life. such is the incredible detail the authors injected into the book. and i think i can honestly say he's the coolest dood ever.<br/><br/>more...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12480886">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
  <id>59130733</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Jason]]></name>
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  <isbn>0743272072</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780743272070</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">63</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
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    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jun 10 06:40:30 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jun 10 06:44:02 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The sub-title of this book is &quot;The making of America's First Superhero&quot;. I found that to be perfect for the life of such an enthusiastic and driven American.  Houdini lived in a time period that I now virtually nothing about, and reading this book made me feel like I was really learning so...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/59130733">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/59130733]]></url>
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      <review>
  <id>47417669</id>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
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    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Feb 24 15:49:44 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Feb 24 16:04:20 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Houdini was an interesting character.  It's like he conjured his life and career out of nothing (conjure = hard work, persistence and self-promotion).  Side-stories about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and spiritualism surprised me.  Who knew that the creator of Sherlock Holmes, the ultimate empiricist/logi...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/47417669">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/47417669]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>18989180</id>
    <user>
    <id>923535</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Greg]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/923535-greg-pettit]]></link>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Handcuff King. Escape Artist. International Superstar. Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in books, in film, and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman team up to find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever-more-dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy, and a pernicious plot to subvert his legacy.<p><p> <em>The Secret Life of Houdini</em> traces the arc of the master magician's life from desperate poverty to worldwide fame -- his legacy later threatened by a group of fanatical Spiritualists led by esteemed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Initiating the reader along the way into the arcane world of professional magic, Kalush and Sloman decode a life based on deception, providing an intimate and riveting portrayal of Houdini, the man and the legend.<p><p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Mar 30 09:19:24 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Jun 01 15:28:40 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I just couldn't get through it. Although I am very interested in Houdini, the style of this book made it difficult to get into. I found myself struggling to get through chapters, and not looking forward to picking it up each time. That's not the kind of book I want to read, especially about a charac...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18989180">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18989180]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18989180]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>26842968</id>
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    <id>133277</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Emily]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Austin, TX]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jul 10 07:12:50 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jul 10 07:15:39 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I really wanted to love this book -- Houdini has been one of my favorite characters from history since childhood. I watched the Tony Curtis movie about him over and over again, got really into magic (had my parents take me to see David Copperfield live, I bought many magic trick kits), and was alway...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/26842968">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/26842968]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>22915737</id>
    <user>
    <id>684393</id>
    <name><![CDATA[John]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Reston, VA]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166575001m/13944.jpg</image_url>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13944.The_Secret_Life_of_Houdini_The_Making_of_America_s_First_Superhero</link>
  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Tue May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun May 25 07:33:34 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun May 25 07:40:30 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This was a nice read-- especially interesting as you begin to feel for the time period, when popular entertainment all took place on the local stage. <br/><br/>It is not necessarily a book that will change your life, but it is an interesting read. It does share a lot of the magician's secrets but ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22915737">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22915737]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Sep 19 05:45:15 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Sep 19 10:34:08 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This guy, seriously, was a brilliant magician, and a very shrewd businessman.  He performed a trick called &quot;needles.&quot;  He would take a handful of needles, stick one in his face and then walk around the audience members, letting them insert needles anywhere in his face they wanted to (excep...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6429681">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">21</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[Handcuff King. Escape Artist. International Superstar. Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in books, in film, and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman team up to find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever-more-dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy, and a pernicious plot to subvert his legacy.<p><p> <em>The Secret Life of Houdini</em> traces the arc of the master magician's life from desperate poverty to worldwide fame -- his legacy later threatened by a group of fanatical Spiritualists led by esteemed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Initiating the reader along the way into the arcane world of professional magic, Kalush and Sloman decode a life based on deception, providing an intimate and riveting portrayal of Houdini, the man and the legend.<p><p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
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  <read_at>Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Wed Jun 03 20:22:26 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count>1</read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This is a fantastic biography of a particularly interesting man, a man who pushed himself beyond the limit rather than admit defeat, who used his skills in the aid of spy and police agencies as well as for entertainment, and who devoted his later years in attempting to hold fraudulent spiritualists ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/56532055">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
  <id>54689577</id>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">63</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2006</published>
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    <rating>2</rating>
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  <read_at>Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat May 02 08:32:20 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat May 02 08:37:29 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[An interesting insight to Houdini's life. The story was interesting and enjoyable but at some point in the latter part of the book it became less interesting and somewhat boring. While I enjoyed learning about Houdini the less interesting segments of the book dragged down my rating of it.]]></body>
    
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      <review>
  <id>28694749</id>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
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    <rating>3</rating>
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  <read_at>Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jul 29 19:43:15 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 17 07:45:10 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This book is only worth a read because Houdini was such an interesting guy. I did learn a whole lot about him and he has an amazing story. The authors get along okay for the first 2/3rds of the book (although it is a bit dense at times) but then it gets painfully slow when they get to the section on...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28694749">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
  <id>18100361</id>
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    <id>217152</id>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>323</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Handcuff King. Escape Artist. International Superstar. Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in books, in film, and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman team up to find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever-more-dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy, and a pernicious plot to subvert his legacy.<p><p> <em>The Secret Life of Houdini</em> traces the arc of the master magician's life from desperate poverty to worldwide fame -- his legacy later threatened by a group of fanatical Spiritualists led by esteemed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Initiating the reader along the way into the arcane world of professional magic, Kalush and Sloman decode a life based on deception, providing an intimate and riveting portrayal of Houdini, the man and the legend.<p><p></p></p></p></p>]]>
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  <read_at>Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Mar 19 09:51:46 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Jul 07 20:30:30 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I can't be certain whether I'm rating the book or my own fascination with this odd and marvelous man.  Either way, the book offers up a feast of detail for even the hungriest Houdini follower.  Sometimes, even, the level of specificity borders on tedium. The authors are as infatuated with their own ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18100361">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero]]>
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  <average_rating>3.69</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in numerous books, films and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and bestselling writer Larry Sloman find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever more dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a pernicious plot to subvert his kegacy. It is an intimate and riveting portryal of Houdini, the man and the legend.]]>
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  <read_at>Thu Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Jan 03 15:01:37 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Jan 03 15:03:04 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This was a FABULOUS book. So very interesting. Houdini had an incredible life. This book is chock full of fabulous retro pictures and information about this amazing magician. *One of my favorites!]]></body>
    
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