Rating: 
Summary: Wrong Title and Serious Lapses in Historical Accuracy
Review: I wish that there was a more complete discussion of Alexander the Great in Herat, Afghanistan. The 'Arg', fortress, that stands in Herat today could have been the one that Alexander built subsequent to his conquest. I had the opportunity to visit Herat in March 1971 and April 1972 during my Peace Corps service in Iran. As a city, it remains in splendid isolation.
Rating: 
Summary: Good for the layman
Review: I wish that there was a more complete discussion of Alexander the Great in Herat, Afghanistan. The 'Arg', fortress, that stands in Herat today could have been the one that Alexander built subsequent to his conquest. I had the opportunity to visit Herat in March 1971 and April 1972 during my Peace Corps service in Iran. As a city, it remains in splendid isolation.
Rating:
Summary: Well conceived, with beautiful photographs
Review: I'll keep this as brief as possible. The book is a well conceived mixture of the history Alexander the Great's Asian conquests and the story of author Michael Wood's quest to follow Alexander's voyage throughout Asia and film it all for a BBC miniseries. He not only draws on the traditional sources such as Arrian and Plutarch, but also on local legends in the areas Alexander captured. The photographs are beautiful, and the maps help give a geographical perspective to the reader. An easy, interesting read, the book can be read in one evening by devoting full attention to the book.
The only criticism I have is one that is unavoidable by Wood. There are parts that tend to drag a bit, by giving casualty estimates and exact military strategies that would most likely not appeal to the average reader. The best aspect, however, is how Michael Wood gives insight to a brutal, raging alcoholic treated all too kindly by Arrian. It is worth the money to someone genuinely interested in history, but don't waste your time if you're not willing to give the attention this book deserves.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Overview
Review: I've read a lot about the man, much of it a bit academic. This book is not that but it is very entertaining and it does a very good job of taking the reader to the actual locations.The maps are poor, unfortunately, but don't be detered by that. I recommend it.
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Summary: Not accurate, historically incorrect.
Review: It is disappointing indeed to read history from people who are not historians. This book is an inaccurate work, one-sided and definitely not recommended for a person who is interested in Greek history. Alexander was a great general and a "cosmopolitan" who first implemented the vision of globalization. It is sad to read wrong interpretations and poor descriptions for the life of a great man who carried a great civilization to the world. I would advise Mr. Wood to study Greek history from some great historians before attempting such a work. But I understand that this is a trend of our times, to stuff the reader with thrill and violence, neglecting or masking historical truth. It is easier and sells better, I agree. But I personally dislike this style and would thus recommend the conscious reader to definitely avoid this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Well-researched look into the impact of Alexander the Great
Review: Michael Woods and his team have done an outstanding job at presenting the conquests of Alexander the Great and his impact on his short-lived empire. Obviously, a lot of effort has gone into researching the intricate details of Alexander's life, and the areas which he visited (then and now) and the reader is the one who ultimately benefits from this. Granted that the team had to rely on ancient Greek sources and local lore in piecing together Alexander's story,I wonder if the work could have been made more complete with more information on the Greek High Command eg. Craterus, Parmenio etc as well as the logistics planning that was required for the creation of empire. Also, information on Greece in Alexander's absence would have been useful in giving the reader understanding of the domestic situation. The book is commendable for its photographs and great attempts at historical accuracy. Strongly recommended for anyone interested in Greek history.
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Summary: This is what history is about...
Review: Michael Woods is a journalist and historian, who in past works has shown an aptitude in taking history out of the books and conveying rather pedantic research to the average person without insulting intelligence nor overwhelming with a wealth of detail (something a lot of historians, this one included, sometimes do). He does another stellar job with this work. Mr Woods example is one worth emulating for would-be historic tour guides. History is NOT dates and names; it's people, geography and events. By literally following "in the footsteps of Alexander the Great" he not only takes the viewer/reader to the actual sites of some of the most famous places in western history-Mr Woods also gives Westerners a glimpse of vibrant, ancient, and colorful societies in Syria, Iran, and Afghanistan. Places that the Western media usually stereotype as raving Islamic lunatics. These glimpses into societies where Alexander ("Iskander") is still a folk hero/devil, are fascinating, and worth the price of the book/video alone. The trip itself was historical research in that it contributed answers to some of the mysteries regarding Alexander's campaigns. Mr Woods is also an excellent writer, the prose is lively and reflects the author's enthusiasm for the subject. Is the work an exhaustive, authoritative history? Probably not and that's why I gave four instead of five stars. As another reviewer aptly put it don't use this as your only source. But, it is an excellent introduction and secondary source to a man who literally changed western (and middle eastern) civilization by the age of 33. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: This is one of the worst!
Review: Sloppy, inaccurate, sensationalist, poorly researched, biased, oversimplified, and hysterical; I could go on for some time in this vein. Quite simply, Woods' effort is awful. More often than not he takes Alexander out of context, and uses his sources with a selectivity that belies belief. Worst still are his glaring falsehoods. For example (and I will confine myself to only one), he speaks of the route in Egypt that he, Woods, followed from Siwah oasis to that of Bahariya (historians aren't too sure whether A himself took this path, but it seems likely that he did). He claims that the trip took twelve hours, that the 'track' is easily lost, that after 150 kms of the 450km route there is no more water to be found, and that he passed no other vehicle all day. I know the route very well indeed, and all of Woods' claims are factually incorrect. The trip takes seven hours; the 'barely visible track' is, in fact, a road and is only obscure at one point for a distance of less than two to three km; there are six military checkpoints, each located eighty to ninety km along from the previous (a fact which our intrepid danger loving explorer does not point out), and all of them have water available; four of these checkpoints are vehicled. Finally, he seems to think that he is traversing "The Great Sand Sea." He is not; that particular portion of the Sahara lies some distance to the South of his route.So much for any attempt to present the public with some facts as opposed to this self aggrandising Indiana Jones type rubbish. I need not point out to any person of intelligence that if Michael Woods can make such colossal errors when he has actually experienced that which he is writing about, his historical expertise must be even more suspect. And it is.This is tabloid journalism brought to bear on ancient history. The result is predictably twisted and distorted. He dismisses sources when they speak well of Alexander but later thinks them quite infallible when they treat of his negative aspects. The fascination with Alexander lies in the fact that beside his flaws he also has virtues - and they are not just militaristic. Woods has failed to notice this. It is obviously impossible for any modern to access with totality the mindset of the Ancients but one should at least try, if only in an effort to understand their motives. Sadly this never even occurs to Woods. He presents facts as fiction when he finds them disagreeable, and does the reverse with uncorroborated rumours when it might make for a good headline. He persistently judges ancient events and actions with his own modern ethics and, not surprisingly, creates a monster. Not content with this, he vividly colours his picture with such exaggerations as 'drunken orgies.' No source whatsoever mentions any such thing. Drink yes; orgies never. And this is only one of over a hundred stark discrepancies that I found, with increasing exasparation, before I stopped counting! One realises, of course, that he is not setting out to create the definitive last word on the Macedonian, but nonetheless this is atrocious stuff - far too selective and personalised to make for an informative account, let alone good history.If his publication has anything to offer at all, it is its illustrations which are many and, without exception, excellent. Full credit to the team who accompanied him. Hopefully, their next expedition will be headed by a person of broader and more informed abilities! Buy this travesty only if you like pictures. Otherwise, if you wish to know about Alexander's routes, I would refer you to Engels' work "The Logistics of the Macedonian Army," available on this site.
Rating: 
Summary: Has Some Valuable Stories From The Modern-Day Spots.
Review: The story of Alexander The Great remains just as relevant today as it did when the "Alexander Romance" was published many centuries ago, consider that many of the areas he conquered such as Iraq and Iran are still international hot spots today when it comes to the current state of the world. Michael Wood's "In The Footsteps Of Alexander The Great" is an entertaining read because it plays like a cultural travelogue, documenting how the story of Alexander is still passed down from generation to generation in Greece and the Middle East. In some places he is a heroe, in others a ruthless barbarian, even a devil. Woods writes about his journey down Alexander's trek with vivid details, providing fascinating insights into other corners of the globe and the customs found therein. For readers who enjoy learning and reading about other countries and their traditions this will prove to be a fascinating trip. However, the only thing that makes Woods' book not the gem it should be is that in his actual writing of Alexander's history he subscribes to much of what has already been dismissed as propaganda by historians like Robin Lane Fox and authors like Mary Renault. It is no surprise that since Woods is after all making a TV program here, he indulges in the more wild, ear-catching legends surrounding Alexander such as the burning of a temple for the sake of doing something fun when drunk (eventhough Alexander, as was common in Macedon and Greece, enjoyed wine to excessive lengths) and the killing of Betis by dragging him from a chariot to imitate Achilles (this is ridiculous considering Alexander always honored opponents who fought bravely). Woods apparently likes using information gathered from writers like Cleitarchus, who is notorious for writing fictitous accounts with exaggerated numbers, events and even Socrates made fun of the guy for his flights of fancy. Luckily Woods is not writing a biography here but an account of the current state of the lands Alexander conquered and it's peoples. As a journey through these areas and as a look at how potent the image and story of Alexander are today there is no better book. But for an actual reading of the life and times of Alexander The Great, I recommend "Alexander The Great" by Robin Lane Fox and "The Nature Of Alexander" by Mary Renault, two others who write with a more serious sense of scholarship.
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Summary: great introdution to alexander.
Review: This is a very strongly ritten somation of a very interesting man's life. Alexander did what no one has evr done before or after his tradgic death. Mr. Wood has done a remarkable job of introducing newcomers to his story. I would recomend it to anyone who wants to know more about Alexander the great the man who changed the face of the earth. Keith chandler
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