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<book id="300842">
  <title><![CDATA[The Vintage Mencken]]></title>
  <isbn><![CDATA[0679728953]]></isbn>
  <isbn13><![CDATA[9780679728955]]></isbn13>
    <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173532276m/300842.jpg</image_url>
    <work>
  <best_book_id type="integer">300842</best_book_id>
  <books_count type="integer">2</books_count>
  <default_description>The anthology that spans an entire lifetime of writing by America's greatest curmudgeon, with a &quot;flick of mischief on nearly every page.&quot;</default_description>
  <id type="integer">291911</id>
  <media_type nil="true"></media_type>
  <original_language_id type="integer" nil="true"></original_language_id>
  <original_publication_day type="integer" nil="true"></original_publication_day>
  <original_publication_month type="integer" nil="true"></original_publication_month>
  <original_publication_year type="integer">1955</original_publication_year>
  <original_title>The Vintage Mencken</original_title>
  <rating_dist>total:120|5:44|4:51|3:21|2:4|1:0|</rating_dist>
  <ratings_count type="integer">120</ratings_count>
  <ratings_sum type="integer">495</ratings_sum>
  <reviews_count type="integer">188</reviews_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">13</text_reviews_count>
</work>

  <average_rating><![CDATA[4.12]]></average_rating>
  <ratings_count><![CDATA[112]]></ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count><![CDATA[12]]></text_reviews_count>
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/300842.The_Vintage_Mencken]]></url>
  <authors>
        <author id="7805">
      <name><![CDATA[H.L. Mencken]]></name>
      <role><![CDATA[]]></role>
      <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7805.H_L_Mencken]]></url>
      <average_rating><![CDATA[4.14]]></average_rating>
      <ratings_count><![CDATA[749]]></ratings_count>
      <text_reviews_count><![CDATA[105]]></text_reviews_count>
    </author>
      </authors>
    <reviews start="1" end="20" total="188">
    <review id="4057805">
    <user id="252120">
    <name><![CDATA[Christen]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
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      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
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  <read_at>Mon Aug 13 22:18:12 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Aug 03 21:24:49 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Aug 06 22:18:47 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Very fine writing, particularly when he stays away from generic... well, <em>news</em> pieces. I'm more interested in his particular opinions and expression of them than some account of 1920s zeitgeist (the articles about fish prices and police etc etc? Oh god, kill me now.), so obviously that's coloring my ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4057805">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4057805]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="40533902">
    <user id="1727063">
    <name><![CDATA[Michael]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Lafayette, LA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1727063-michael]]></url>
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      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <read_at>Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Dec 20 12:25:19 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Dec 20 12:25:19 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Mencken was an opinionated newspaper writer in the 1920s and 30s. I suspect that many of his pieces were written for shock value. I would recommend this if you enjoy old-fashioned satire.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40533902]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="39126485">
    <user id="1768505">
    <name><![CDATA[Sonny]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Dallas, TX]]></location>        
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      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Dec 02 12:19:51 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Dec 02 12:20:20 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Good Lord, this makes you want to WRITE! ...and laugh and sing and curse, but it makes you want to WRITE!]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39126485]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="65545795">
    <user id="1649003">
    <name><![CDATA[Joe]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Chicago, IL]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1649003-joe]]></url>
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      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Fri Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jul 30 10:21:42 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Aug 07 08:07:53 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[There are three or four essays that run in a row in the middle of this book-- &quot;The National Letters,&quot; &quot;Star-Spangled Men,&quot; &quot;The Archangel Woodrow,&quot; and &quot;In Memoriam: W.J.B.&quot;-- that are really fantastic. For one, the man could really write an obituary. If he wa...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/65545795">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/65545795]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="60175973">
    <user id="2412154">
    <name><![CDATA[Kevin]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Peoria, IL]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2412154-kevin-kizer]]></url>
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      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jun 18 09:41:06 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jun 18 09:42:24 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I read this for two reasons: it's on &quot;Hitchens Reading List&quot; and Hunter S. always said Mencken inspired him. When reading this, I could definitely see where Hunter S. picked up some of his writing style.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/60175973]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="44355444">
    <user id="1486862">
    <name><![CDATA[Carl]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[San Francisco, CA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1486862-carl]]></url>
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      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Mon Feb 09 09:19:22 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Jan 25 20:03:13 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Feb 09 09:19:22 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Strong, acerbic writing, though this sampler is a bit fragmentary and unfocused. It includes a fun little bit on Mencken and Knopf struggling to get a drink in a &quot;dry&quot; city during prohibition.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/44355444]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="49616397">
    <user id="1258773">
    <name><![CDATA[Douglas]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Moscow, ID]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1258773-douglas-wilson]]></url>
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      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 1995</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Mar 17 19:15:03 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Mar 17 19:15:36 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Great. Vintage Mencken.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/49616397]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="25594027">
    <user id="912150">
    <name><![CDATA[Jeremy]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/912150-jeremy]]></url>
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      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jun 26 14:48:06 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jun 26 14:48:22 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[What can I say that critics haven’t been saying about him for a hundred years?  Mencken lacerates more nonsense and makes more sense--common and uncommon--than everyone else that has lived or is to be born.  Possibly the most respected journalist of all time. Father of muckraking, destroyer of pop...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25594027">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25594027]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="6474590">
    <user id="396866">
    <name><![CDATA[Michael]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Channahon, IL]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/396866-michael-tarm]]></url>
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      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Sep 19 20:56:12 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Sep 19 21:45:14 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The curmudgeonly, incomparable Mencken is always a sheer delight to read _ a breath of fresh air amid so much writing that's so canned and predictable. Even when he's wrong about something, he's wonderfully, delightfully wrong _ and only wants to make you read more. ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6474590]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="8434241">
    <user id="588504">
    <name><![CDATA[Kyle]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Brooklyn, NY]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/588504-kyle]]></url>
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      <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Oct 30 08:50:43 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Oct 30 09:17:41 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[my coworker gave me this book with a high recommendation and it didn't disappoint. it's full of strange words like calaboose and cleverly written commentary. it did drag a bit when mencken got onto topics that weren't so interesting to me.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8434241]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="25992144">
    <user id="732308">
    <name><![CDATA[Amy]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Irvine, CA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/732308-amy]]></url>
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      <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jul 01 00:27:06 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jul 01 00:29:18 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This is a must read for anyone read crap like Krugman or David Brookes.  Like Mesmer, Mencken should be given an adjective all his own.  ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25992144]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="2279832">
    <user id="138031">
    <name><![CDATA[Anna]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[New York, NY]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/138031-anna]]></url>
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      <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jun 22 16:44:36 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jun 22 16:45:13 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[His reviews of books and times long gone are still strangely relevant. Not to mention biting and hilarious.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2279832]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="25706535">
    <user id="1235457">
    <name><![CDATA[Morgan]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Baltimore, MD]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1235457-morgan-stanton]]></url>
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      <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jun 27 17:19:11 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jun 27 17:23:28 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The greatest hater's beautiful, acid prose. The best intro to the Sage of Baltimore's work. ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25706535]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="78711777">
    <user id="1902230">
    <name><![CDATA[Khanh]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
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  <date_added>Sun Nov 22 23:46:28 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Nov 22 23:46:28 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
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    <review id="78373667">
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    <name><![CDATA[Gott]]></name>
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      <rating>4</rating>
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  <date_added>Thu Nov 19 17:48:57 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Nov 19 17:48:57 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
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    <name><![CDATA[Catherine]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Los Angeles, CA]]></location>        
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  <date_added>Sun Nov 15 11:10:01 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Nov 15 11:10:01 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
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    <name><![CDATA[Steve]]></name>
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  <date_added>Wed Nov 11 07:40:38 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Nov 11 07:49:58 -0800 2009</date_updated>
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    <name><![CDATA[Christopher]]></name>
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  <date_added>Tue Nov 10 14:33:03 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Nov 10 14:33:16 -0800 2009</date_updated>
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