Xenophon's Cyrus the Great

by Larry Hedrick, kourosh zaim (Translator)

Language : Persian Size : 5½ x 8½ inch. Publication Year : 2008 Edition : 1 Weight : 1.5 lbs. Volume 1 : 233 pages.

Genres: History

233 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Phillip Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cyrus the Great must have been an amazing leader since his ideas on war and government involve much insight into human psychology. Not only was he a military genius but he knew how to win influence over others by being honorable and rewarding his best men in his ranks. Cyrus knew that it all could fall apart if leaders become luxury loving and out of touch with the needs of the people and he was right. Later Persian rulers failed to follow his example and the empire fell due to poor decision making and leadership not attuned to reality. The book also reads like a success story that ignores the role of luck on his ascent to power. Cyrus could not conquer the Assyrians if they were not as unpopular as they were within and without their empire. Other than that Cyrus was shrewd enough to realize that the empire needed to respect religious diversity to become popular among his subjects.

[George Sr. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book on leadership disguised as Xenophon’s biography of Cyrus the Great, and the author butchers the text of Xenophon’s work. I purchased this book believing I was getting a modern translation of Xenophon’s text. Instead I got a “paraphrase” of an old public domain translation liberally rewritten to make Cyrus speak in the first person and critique modern management practices.

[Jerome · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book on leadership, which is where the four stars come from, but I'm not sure I like the decision made by this author to change the focus to first-person. It's difficult to know how much is added or removed. I'll likely read again if I can find a more direct translation of Xenophon's actual version in third-person.

[David Hickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and interesting. However, it is very short and would be more useful as an introduction to Cyrus the Great rather than an in-depth analysis.

[Zain Khan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short and informative guide to one of Persia's greatest Kings.