It is amazing how fresh this account seems given that it was written some 2½ thousand years ago, although how much that is pure Herodotus and how much the hand of the translators I can not say.
I find the mix of closely observed descriptions of geography, biology, and culture are mixed seamlessly with what we see as wild myths and fantasies (although it has to be said that Herodotus does at time qualify some of those more outlandish stories that he is recounting on mere hearsay).
One comment that tickled me was in the description of the habits of the Persians when feasting "They are very fond of wine, and no one is allowed to vomit or urinate in the presence of another person." The fact Herodotus feels the need to note vomiting in front of another person is not allowed seems to imply that the audience to which he is writing would not have taken that as a given!
I do recommend these Penguin sets of extract, this one is part of the Great Journeys, they are great way to cover a lot of ground.
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