Reviews (12)

If you miss the exhibit , buy the book
I will see the Exhibit in Chicago and have visited the Cairo Museum, but this book is like revisiting the exhibit or the next best thing to seeing it!

Zahi Hawass brings it all to life with fascinating detail
King Tut died around 1350 BC. and theories on the cause of death range from a hunting accident to murder. X-rays revealed signs of a blow to the back of his head, however. After his tomb was found in 1922, his death mask and golden coffin became among the most famous Egyptian artifacts in the world. The teenage king of ancient Egypt is best-known by his golden death mask. But a fiberglass reconstruction of Tutankhamen based on computer models generated X-rays in 1969 of his mummified corpse bear little resemblance to the golden funeral mask found in the pharaoh's tomb. But Tut's mummified head was too dried and sunken to give life-like dimensions for the reconstruction team said National Geographic.
The Original King of Bling
Tutankhamen makes the Crown Jewels look like costume jewelry.I saw the exhibit in Fort Lauderdale, and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.Everywhere you look there's another 3500-year-old masterpiece crusted with gold and jewels, and Tut was just one of many Pharaohs - they all received this kind of treatment.
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Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Antiquities    3. Archaeological Museums And Collections    4. Archaeology    5. Egypt    6. Eighteenth dynasty, ca. 1570-1    7. Eighteenth dynasty, ca. 1570-1320 B.C.    8. Exhibitions    9. Historical Archaeology    10. History    11. History - General History    12. History: World    13. King of Egypt    14. Middle East - Egypt    15. Tutankhamen,    16. African history: BCE to c 500 CE    17. Ancient Egypt    18. Egyptian archaeology    19. History / Ancient / Egypt   

Reviews (9)

A useful compendium of original source material
I obtained this volume of translations of Ancient Near Eastern texts and pictures along with its companionVolume I � An Anthology of Texts and Pictures which was first published in 1958.This volume, which was published in 1975,includes translations of more recently discovered material selected from the 1969 anthologyof Supplementary Texts and Pictures Relating to the Old Testament. A useful compendium of original source material
I bought this book along with its companion:Volume II � A New Anthology of Texts and Pictures,because it was time for me to see for myself what the the original sources had to say about the Ancient Near East. A Stimulating Resource
Volume II or "The Ancient Near East" is a good companion to Volume I, containing mythic, legal, and monumental information from the Middle East Bronze and Iron Ages. It really puts youback there to read actual letters and contracts, or to see the developments in poetic, narrative and visual arts. The only real problem is the lack of consistent dating infomation, particularly for the artwork. It makes it difficult to form a conceptual picture if things are presented in what appears to be a random order. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Bible    3. Bible.    4. Collections    5. General    6. History    7. History of contemporary events    8. History: World    9. Middle East - Egypt    10. Middle Eastern literature    11. O.T    12. O.T.    13. Oriental literature    14. Philosophy    15. Translations into English    16. ASIA    17. Ancient World    18. Archaeology and Ancient History    19. Biblical archaeology    20. History / Egypt    21. Mind, Body, Spirit    22. Reference    23. Religion   

Reviews (14)

We want more of the kind...
Probably the most pleasant book you will use, not just to learn about hieroglyphs, but also, to learn about ancient egyptian culture.

Excellent Book...but Gardiner still worth it!!

An good text book!
If you want to learn the basics of hieroglyphs. Dont buy this book first. Buy "How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Step-By-Step Guide to Teach Yourself". Then buy the text book by Allen. Read more

Subjects:  1. African Languages    2. Ancient - Egypt    3. General    4. History - General History    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Egyptian    8. Egyptian language--Grammar    9. Language & Linguistics    10. Language Arts & Disciplines / General    11. Language teaching & learning material & coursework   

Reviews (15)

Your Passport To The Next Life
What an absolute miracle we have these texts today, some four millennia after many of them were first conceived of in an ancient desert land! The story of the re-discovery in the nineteenth-century, after the last known copies were believed destroyed in Alexandria, is the recounting of an archeological miracle, and the fact that they survived the circumstances of their discovery at all amid corruption and mistrust in the black markets of Cairo is even more amazing.
A rich and interesting resource on this version of "The Book of the Dead" with fabulous reproductions of the papyri
This is book is a wonderful piece to just look at.The plates of the papyri are gorgeous and are able to hold one in an almost trancelike state just looking into them.However, the texts of the papyri are not easily understood.So, this book is also amazingly helpful by the way it is put together for those of us who are non-specialists.
Hymns for the Living; "Rise up, O. Pepi. You have not died !"

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Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Antiquities & Archaeology    3. Future life    4. History    5. History: World    6. Incantations, Egyptian    7. Reincarnation    8. Religion - World Religions    9. Ancient Egypt    10. Ancient Egyptian religion    11. Egyptian archaeology    12. History / Ancient / Egypt    13. History of art: BCE to c 500 CE, ancient & classical world   

Reviews (36)

Loved it!
I absolutly loved this book! I recieved for my birthday a year ago and I still look at it! It is not just a reading book, its a hands on book with fasinating information. Great gift for kids, my younger sister collects the series and loves them.

For Egypt Lovers!!!
Although this was a children's book, it was amazing!I am 21 years old and it captivated me really fast.I'm gonna admit that I am not much of a reader.But, I am very fascinated by Egyptian stuff.So, when I saw this book, I knew that I had to have it! I t was a great buy!Now I want the other books in the serie! It was a great book for children to read.But, if you collect books about egypt, this might be an interesting one for you to pick up!

WOW!
This book is utterly amazing! It has many things you can pull out and open and read. For example, the game Senet is in there! Plus the story of Miss Sands is very interesting. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in egypt! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Antiquities    3. Children's All Ages - History - General History    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 3-4    6. Egypt    7. Historical - Ancient Civilizations    8. Historical - General    9. Interactive Adventure    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Middle East - Egypt    12. Specimens    13. Toy and movable books    14. Juvenile Fiction / Interactive Adventures   

Reviews (7)

Gold standard
The other reviewers have made the points that I would have liked to have made. I have read every significant book that has been written on the Egyptian economy in the last 20 years, and this is better than all of them. By skillfully combining acute technical analysis, the best available data, and insider knowledge of the thinking of international agencies and Egyptian policymakers, this book sets the standard by which all subsequent studies of the Egyptian economy will be judged.

Excellent, lucid analysis
This book is a model of what an interesting country economic study should be. The author has the perfect credentials: a long association with Egypt, a previous book on the subject, access to the leading Egyptian economic policymakers, access to the data bases and analyses of the World Bank and the IMF (as director of the World Bank's Egypt department) sound trainingin economics (affiliation with Cambridge and Harvard Universities), and the ability to write fluently. The book, therefore, is informed by acute technical analysis and pertinent personal anecdote. Excellent.

Outstanding study of Egyptian economy and policymaking
In the 1980s, as a post-graduate student in Middle East studies, I read Khalid Ikram's earlier book Egypt: Economic Management in a Period of Transition (Johns Hopkins University Press). My Cambridge University professor described it as "outstanding." Now Ikram has written another outstanding work.
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Subjects:  1. 1952-    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Economic Conditions    4. Economic policy    5. Egypt    6. General    7. History    8. History: World    9. Middle East - General    10. Economics    11. History / Middle East   

Reviews (5)

EXTREMELY PLEASANT PICTURE BOOK
I will not add too much to what the other reviewers have opined on this magnificent book.It is gorgeously illustrated with superior photographs and interesting drawings and geographical overviews. i drool whenever i look at this book
i don't have this book yet. i have already told hubby that he's getting it for me for valentines. everytime i go into the bookstore, i take it off the shelf and spend about a half hour just leafing through it and looking at the pictures. if you are not sure whether you want to put out the money to buy this book, do yourself a favor and see if they have a copy at the bookstore and look through it. i know you'll be convinced that it's worth the price. i plan on ordering my book rather than buying it off the shelf. there are several fold out sections in the book and i want to make sure they are in good shape. the pictures of the temples and tombs in the book are great. also lots of maps. i admit, i'm an egyptology geek, but i think anyone who is interested in egypt will enjoy this book. if egypt is a hobby/passion, this book is a must have. i know it's a bit pricey, but you're payig for a book full of fantastic color photographs and you defintiely get what you are playing for. you get your money's worth with this book. my only regret is that i have to wait 6 weeks til i can have my copy in my hot lil' hands. :)

Splendid book on Egypt's splendors
I first saw this book after a four-week trip to Egypt, where our travels included as much as we could see between the relocated monument Ramses II built in honor of himself at Abu Simbel to the vicinity of El-Qahira (Cairo) and its monuments and museums. This book is the one I have chosen to "keep my memories fresh" and share them with others- it is that good, and more. The illustrations are brilliant; the informative text is thorough and illuminating without being pedantic or burying the photos and drawings. I only wish the Cairo Museum had books as good as this one! If you love Egypt, this book will live an active life on your coffee table. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Ancient Egypt - History    3. Antiquities    4. Archaeology / Anthropology    5. Civilization    6. Egypt    7. Middle East - Egypt    8. Pictorial works    9. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Africa    10. To 332 B.C    11. Travel    12. African history: BCE to c 500 CE    13. Ancient World    14. Photographs: collections   

Reviews (3)

Outstanding Book -Dont miss it
This is an outstanding book, with plenty of pictures - great insider material on furniture and architecture.And I already have a design MA with my own firm.

Underwhelming and overpriced
The text of this volume is decent and well organized but in the area that most designers are interested in, visual examples, it is sorely lacking. A very minimal section of color photographs (which jump from Roman to the Renaissance. No sign of the Gothic)and a series of low contrast black and white ones are augmented with a series of uninspired drawings. All of this might still be helpful and useful were it not for the price. There are many volumes on furniture and decor that have come on the market recently which are superior in their content and priced more reasonably.

Better for furniture/antiques dealers than designers
This book is a good encyclopedia of the history of interior design going back to ancient era- it catalogues the general overview for each period chronologically, explaining the function and materiality of a space or piece of furniture.The book is particularly nice for classifying particular styles of furniture and may be more suited to an antiques dealer or furniture dealer than a professional interior designer.The major problem i have with the book is that most if not all of the photographs are black and white, and it completely skips the modern era of design, pretty much ending with the turn of the 19th century.No mention of my favorites like Mies van der Rohe or Mr. Wright.This absence somehow makes this book seem incomplete. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decoration & Ornament    3. Furniture design    4. History    5. History - General    6. Interior Design - General    7. Interior architecture    8. Interior decoration    9. Architecture / Interior Design   

Editorial Review

Open the mummy-shaped box.... Smell the must of the tomb.... Reveal the secrets within.... Included among these secrets are a 24-page booklet all about real-life mummies and the people who study them, a 10-inch plastic-model body, and four carved heads of gods to protect the Canopic jars where you'll store the plastic organs found inside the body--both lungs in a single jar, please! Find the hidden drawer containing the gauze wrappings, headdress, scarabs, and a cardboard cat you can mummify to accompany your Pharaoh in the afterlife. Wrap your mummy from head to toe, place lucky amulets in the gauze, and bury it in the back yard (soak the gauze in brine first for a more realistic mummy experience). Don't forget to seal the tomb with your "Curse of the Mummy" sticker ... and to warn your parents, so when they rent the expensive tiller to dig up the garden, they don't break the blades on your ultracool mummy.Read more

Reviews (9)

Cool, but overpriced
My kids (10 & 11) had fun exploring this. No one has yet discovered the "craft" side of it. Still it would be a nicer treat from the Clearance isle. Full price is a little much for what you get.

Time intensive cutting and gluing for assembly
Time intensive cutting and gluing of small pieces.Frustration level of trying to get all the little pieces to stay together with glue overshadowed the learning.My daughter loves Egyptian history, but became bored with this kit because of the time involved in putting the canopic jars and cat mummy together. Would have been much better if kit had come with premade canopic jars (or something easier to assemble.)

Best of the Best
Like many kids his age, my seven year old son is VERY interested in mummies. (I think it's one of those ways kids cope with beginning to understand the concept of death and death rituals, so I figure it's okay to indulge his macabre interests!!) Anyways, I paid $19.99 for this kit at a local museum, and even at five dollars more than the Amazon price, it was a great value! The enclosed book that comes with the kit is terrific on it's own. It starts by explainging about ancient Egyptian mummies, the rituals surrounding their production, and why these rituals were important to the ancients. As the book describes the rituals in very kid-friendly but still no-holds-barred kind of way, your child can follow along with the enclosed kit pieces to make his own super-cool mummy. There are even canopic jars! The book then goes on to describe where else mummies can be found and discusses how some are intentionally made by man while others occur naturally due to environmental conditions. Top notch all the way through! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Science    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. History - Ancient    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Science & Nature - General    6. Social Science - Archaeology   

Reviews (19)

Amazing and Interesting Book
I have been searching for a book all over the Internet on all Egyptian pharaohs from the beginning to the end.However, it was quite hard until I came to Amazon and found this book.
expensive but good
an excellent book for anyone who is interested in ancient egypt. I have to say I could do without black and white photos because those photos would have been so much more effective in color.

Best "starter" book available
I have a whole library of books on ancient Egypt and the dynasties of pharaohs ruling from 2664 B.C. to 345 B.C. and i consider this book to be the best encompassing book available for people who want to learn about ancient Egypt. This book should be the first you buy and read as a neew scholar to ancient Egyptian history. You will not regret it and it will allow you to decide how to procede with your interest. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Ancient Egypt - History    3. Antiquities    4. Art    5. Egypt    6. History    7. History - General History    8. Pharaohs    9. To 640 A.D    10. African history: BCE to c 500 CE    11. Ancient World   

Reviews (3)

Magnificent collection of essays and photographs.
This is one of the best books that I've seen on the art, symbolism and life in Ancient Egypt. Set within the reign of Hatshepsut, a royal wife and queen who transformed herself into Pharaoh, it looks at the lives of royal women from the images and personal artifacts that have been left behind.
Catalog of the Exhibit Regarding a most unusual woman
Think of early Egypt and you think of King Tut and Cleopatra. Those two, however, are not the sum total of Egyptian history. This book is basically a catalog of the collection regarding Hatshepsut a most interesting woman. She wasthe daughter of a king, and was married to her half brother. Upon his death the kingship transferred to his son by a secondary wife with Hatshepsut as regent for her nephew. Later she became co-ruler and king in her own right. Got all that?
The Mysteries and Secrets of Ancient Egypt Continue to Emerge
Once again the Metropolitan Museum has enriched the history and art of Egypt books with the publication of this very impressive catalogue that accompaniesthe exhibition 'Hatshepsut : From Queen to Pharaoh'. While many other museum exhibitions have been inundatedwith people attending the King Tut behemoths, this exhibition focuses on Hatshepsut, daughter of King Thutmose I, and wife and half-sister of King Thutmose II, who in the mid-15th century BC gradually acquired kingly status and power for herself.Her reign was twenty years in length as a woman pharaoh.
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Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Archaeology    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. General    5. History    6. History - Ancient & Classical    7. History: World    8. African history: BCE to c 500 CE    9. Ancient Egypt    10. Art / General    11. Biography: historical   

Reviews (6)

An Extraordinary Woman . . .
Jehan Sadat is an extraordinary and courageous woman. I was amazed to read about all of the wonderful programs she created for her country, including cooperatives for women, educational facilities, communities for the disabled, and home communities for orphans. She served tirelessly on local political committees and charitable committees, including Egypt's version of the Red Cross. The fight for women's right to divorce and vote in elections was so important to her that she risked her own family relationships but constantly asking her husband (to his annoyance) to support her agenda until he gave in. Sadat accomplished all these things and much more while raising three children, pursuing a graduate degree in Arabic literature, and supporting her husband, president of Egypt. _A Woman of Egypt_ is not just about Sadat, however; the book discusses Egyptian politics, especially Egypt's relationship to Israel and the US. After reading Sadat's book, I've come to understand the complexities between US-Israel and Arab relations. Sadat is even-handed and fair in assessment of the political situations--she does not condemn her enemies just because they are her enemies. I found her to be an admirable woman and her husband to be an incredible man--the first Muslim leader to actively seek peace with Israel. My favorite line from the book is (paraphrased): They say my husband was ahead of his time, but how can a man who lived only for peace be ahead of his time?

A Woman of Egypt
I was living in Saudi Arabia with my husband for several years. Last summer, a German friend of mine gave me this book translated into German. I was completely captivated by the contents of which I knew very little and the interesting way Ms. Sadat wrote about her life. It was definitely a revelation to me how deeply rooted the problems in the Middle East between Egypt and Isreal were already at the time. Whether this my suggestion belongs into this review or not:I wished the book was made more public - I could not find it this past summer anywhere in a bookstore. (Competitive store)only showed the German title. Every American should read the book in order understand the unsurmountable problems between Jews and Arabs in the region to this day. Very Good Book
I've never wrote a review before but I thought A Woman of Egypt was so interesting that I couldn't resist. This book gives you an inside look at a lady who was constantly in the public eye in Egypt and wanted to see change. I thought it very courageous some of the things she did and tried to do in Egypt as the first lady. I believe Jehan Sadat spoke from her heart. You will find it hard to put this book down, I know I did! I have resided in Cairo for some years now and I can see what Jehan Sada was trying to do from a different light. Well done Mrs. Sadat! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Historical - General    5. Presidents & Heads of State    6. Women    7. Literary Criticism & Collections / General   

Reviews (10)

FortheBellydanceAfficionado
Lots of colour pictures ... past&present ...includingoldpaintings, quotes & accounts of the people who actually watched belly dancing...&thentriedtodescribeit! FOr the Pictures, if Nothing Else
I can't speak to the accuracy of Wendy Buonaventura's history of belly dancing, though I found no evidence of the most controversial complaint, that she fails to note the role of European Orientalists in fabricating our notions of Middle-Eastern dance. In fact, she discusses this very thing at length. Inspirational, but Flawed
Wendy Buonaventura obviously loves raks baladi ("country" or folkloric belly dance) with a passion. As sometimes happens with authors passionate about a subject, she unfortunately treats her opinions as facts upon occasion. As a dancer, I love the glorious Orientalist pictures, early 20th-century photos and fascinatingly slanted accounts from Western travellers, and I love her feelings for the dance. It's a beautiful book to peruse, and you can get some marvelous ideas for theatrical costuming from it. But like the Orientalists she reviews, Buonaventura presents an exotic and monolithic Middle East, where Egypt represents this entire diverse region and where nothing changes over time. She also perpetuates the popular myth that this is a *women's* dance, whereas in truth both sexes dance at private functions, and in both Egypt and Turkey, men historically performed as well. (Western tourists just weren't interested!) Read this for its lovely artwork and, if you're a dancer, for a feel-good spiritual connection with earlier dancers--but if you're interested in the subject of dance history, do some further research. And if you are involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism, PLEASE don't use this book for costume documentation. Egyptian clothing pre-1600 was very, very different. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arab countries    2. Dance    3. Dance - Folk    4. Dancing    5. Egypt    6. Folk Dancing    7. History    8. Middle East    9. Performing Arts    10. Women dancers    11. Arabian peninsula   

Reviews (3)

An essential set of insights.
Students of ancient or Jewish history will find MAIMONIDES an important biographical study, telling of a rabbi, physician and philosopher whose works blended science with spirituality, and who has served as a model for Jewish doctors since the 12th century. Chapters provide a focus on Maimonides' works and perspective with an eye to drawing connections to the modern world, and make for an essential set of insights.
Dr. Maimonides
Dr. Nuland "biography" of Maimonides focusses mostly on the sage as a physician, with much of the rest of his life sketchy at best. In fact, the first chapter virtually ignores the subject and instead describes the author's views on why so many Jews became physicians over the centuries.That being said, Dr. Nuland's book is well written, gives historical insights into medicine in the 12th century period, and is easy to read.I have not read any of the other biographies of Maimonides, several of which are cited by Dr. Nuland, and therefore cannot judge whether the paucity of details of Maimonides life presented other than medical is a intentional or the result of the actual absence of data.

A Hero for Our Time
The great philosopher, physician and leader is brought vividly to life by Sherwin Nuland, himself a writer-physician.Although this is a relatively brief book, it touches on all the points of Maimonides's life with authority and clarity.Nuland positions his subject's writings within the issues of his time and ours.With a well-annotated bibliography this is a fine entry into a fascinating life. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1135-1204    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Egypt    7. Jewish Theology    8. Jewish philosophers    9. Jewish scholars    10. Judaism - General    11. Judaism - History    12. Maimonides, Moses,    13. Medical - General    14. Philosophy Of Judaism    15. Rabbis    16. Religious    17. Biography & Autobiography / Religious    18. Jewish studies    19. Judaism   

Editorial Review

People love secrets. Ever since the first word was written, humans have sent coded messages to each other. In Read more

Reviews (223)

Rich history and nice technology review
Singh has done a wonderful job of making a dry subject fascinating.The history is amazing and well written.The technology of code making and code braking is quite complete, and could not be made more interesting of read.The end of the book may get too technical for the non-technical reader, but even they will be more than pleased with the first 3/4 of the book.The nature of the subject forces recent history to be left uncovered, but you will be amazed at what has recently become known from fifty years ago.

Accessible Summary of Codes, Etc.
Simon Singh has done an excellent job of narrating the history of codes and ciphers, covering material in quite a comprehensive manner, yet explaining it in a fashion that even readers who are not particularly gifted in mathematics will understand.His narration of the (frequently military) history surrounding some important events in the history of cryptography added considerable interest for me; there's just enough of it to add another dimension without there being so much that it detracts from the main story.His decision to include the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphics and Cretan Linear B script was a wise one, as well.As he notes, neither was an attempt to conceal the meanings, but the methods used are exactly parallel to many used in deciphering codes and ciphers.
Makes cryptography entertaining
This book is an excellent one that intertwines the history, strategy, and mathematics ofthose dedicated to encrypting messages and those dedicated to exposing the encryption strategy and thus the message. It explains the idea behind several kinds of encryption strategies starting with Mary Queen of Scots and how her personal involvement in the plot against Queen Elizabeth I of England was exposed when her correspondence that was encrypted with simple monoalphabetic substitution was decyphered.
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Subjects:  1. Cryptography    2. Data encryption (Computer science)    3. History    4. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    5. Linguistics    6. Military - Intelligence/Espionage    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Science / History   

Reviews (2)

breathing life into history
This book is not meant to provide a detailed history of ancient Egypt.Rather, it is meant to breathe life into that history.The book show snips of life (musical entertainment, feasts, marriage and courtship, crafts, etc)that most history books gloss over.It is richly illustrated in vivid color photography so that there are examples of almost everything discussed.It also provides a wonderful timeline that you can reference while reading.It's certainly not the only book you'll want to read in learning about ancient Egypt, but it is definitely to be included.Something like this went out of print?Grab one before they're all gone.

One of the most creative....
...ways I've seen to talk of ancient egypt. This is a great book, for beginer and expert alike. The stories of common everyday people will show what life really was like back then.... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 332 B.C.-638 A.D    2. Ancient - Egypt    3. Ancient Egypt - History    4. Antiquities    5. Archaeology / Anthropology    6. Civilization    7. Egypt    8. History    9. History: World    10. To 332 B.C    11. African history: BCE to c 500 CE    12. BCE to c 500 CE    13. Modern period, c 1500 onwards    14. c 1000 CE to c 1500    15. c 500 CE to c 1000 CE   

Reviews (2)

a knowledgeable big-picture view about an underserved topic
After reading this book, you will laugh at newspaper reports that describe the conflict in Sudan as between "the Muslim north and Christian and animist south".Johnson not only has extensive academic publications in Sudanese ethnography and historiography, but also worked in the aid field in the country.He is also, in a well-sourced, calm and clearly presented manner, outraged at how thoroughly misunderstood the situation in Sudan is.The detail in this book is amazing.I consider myself fairly knowledgeable in an armchair kind of way about southern Sudan, and was consistently being presented with either facts of which I was unaware or, better yet, syntheses tying togethervarious fields in a historical perspective.The offensives, famines, factionalism within southern groups, agricultural schemes, external mediators, forced displacement patterns, and competing aid agencies are all here, and presented so one can see the linkages.This is one of the rare books in which, for example, the connection between the timing of government offensives to seasonal rainfall is convincingly fit within framework of underdevelopment as a political strategy.