Book Description

Royal jubilees, towering pyramids, face painting, and jewelry making? The sky’s the limit when you spend the day in ancient Egypt! Picture this: You get out of bed and, as you go to brush your teeth, you suddenly realize that you’ve traveled back in time over 4,500 years to ancient Egypt. The sun is shining, the Nile River is almost flooding, and everywhere you look, humongous pyramids are being erected. … You have a strong hunch that it’s going to be a truly amazing day. You’ll spend the day with a family in the land of Giza during the Fourth Dynasty and learn all about Egyptian culture with loads of exotic and fun-filled activities. Join ten-year-old Meryt as she practices playing the harp for the festival of Bastet, and make your own music with a string of menat rhythm beads. Be an apprentice scribe to the pyramid builders with Meryt’s twelve-year-old brother, lpy, as you learn to count with hieroglyphs. Join the family for a round of Senet, a traditional Egyptian board game, using a board and game pieces you’ve made yourself. Then, before your day in Egypt is through, make a delicious feast fit for a pharaoh! Ages 8 to 12 Collect the whole Spend the Day series! Spend the Day in Ancient Greece Spend the Day in Ancient Rome ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lots of fun for the kids
My stepson Jacob loved this. I came home from work one day to find him dressed as a Pharaoh! He loves Egypt and says he wants to become an Egyptologist. ... Read more

Book Description

First published in 1969 as part of a series edited by renowned Islamic scholar Albert Hourani, this book has been the standard source for the history of the revivalist Egyptian movement--the Muslim Brethren up to the time of Nasser. The Muslim Brethren are now well-recognized for their foundational role in the Islamic revival which has now taken on new, and perhaps dangerous, life in recent times. After having been out of print for over a decade, this reissue of the classic work makes it accessible to a new generation of scholars and students interested in the Muslim revival--a group whose numbers have increased dramatically in the past decade. The new paperback edition has a foreword by John Voll, a leading American Islamic scholar, discussing the subsequent history and continued significance of the Muslim Brethren. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

First of Its Kind
This work still remains one of the best ever written on modern Islamism; it also happens to be one of the first. John Voll's preface to this reprinted edition is excellent and gives the work its due place in the history of the development of scholarship on Islamism.

Mitchell's work preceded the sensationalism so characteristic of the field today and, therefore, lacks many of the vices present therein today. In particular, one notices his consciousness that he is studying a *religious* group; therefore, his work doesn't suffer from the rampant reductionism that seeks to explain Islamism merely in terms of market fluctuations and changing birthrates. As Richard Mitchell wrote just before his death, "So deeply ingrained is secularism as to make even the most sympathetic observers floundering for meaning in simplistic explanations such as 'Mahdism,' 'Messianism,' 'religious obscurantism,' 'fanaticism,' 'nativism,' 'cover for power grab,' etc. All of these things exist in the Islamic movement. But it would not be a serious movement worthy of our attention were it not, above all, an idea and a personal commitment honestly felt."

Mitchell's works shows how Islamism began as a relatively conservative movement without any explicit aims for revolution at the governmental level. Rather, they desired a religious revolution that was later protracted into a larger arenas of social reform. Political opposition and activism-of the potentially seditious kind-actually came relatively late and in the atmosphere of despotic monarchy.

The books ends with the imprisonment of the Brotherhood by Nasser-ironically after the Brotherhood provided the major popular support for the Free Officers to enter into power-and thereafter the history of the Brotherhood was chronicled mostly by francophone authors such as Olivier Carré and Gilles Kepel.

Objective, direct, accurate: Excellent
In The Society of the Muslim Brothers, Richard P. Mitchell addresses the ideology of the organization. He takes the reader from the birth of the movement that would eventually challenge the Egyptian government to it's greatest and worst moments. He writes with an amazingly objective style, neither apologizing for the members who committed crimes, nor minimalizing the excellent social welfare contributions of Hassan Al-Banna, the leader. Of particular interest in this discussion of dualities is the point made about the dual legal systems. Al-Banna felt that the Western laws "corrupted and perverted the nation's thought, mind and logic." Mitchell's point on this seems to hold vivid clarity in the idea that manmade laws and shari'a are innately incompatible. The inharmonious combination of this dual legal system "served to shatter the 'unity' of the nation." Mitchell's writing really catches the essence of a group of people struggling to come to terms with a rapidly changing society in flux in a rapidly changing world. His book was translated into Arabic and Arab scholars agree that his portrayal of this politically powerful religious movement is academically sound.

A classical work on the Muslim Brotherhood from 1928 to 1954
Mitchell's book is obviously dated by now, published in 1969 and has been republished in 1993. At first, I wonder whether it is still worth a reading given that there are a lot more recent works in the field as a result of the proliferation of literature on the Islamist movements in recent decades. Having read this book, I must admit that Mitchell's book continues to be a significant contribution in our understanding of Islamism.

The book covers periods of Ikhwan foundation in 1928 till its second suppression in 1954. The focus is on Egypt without dealing with various manifestations of the movement outside of the country. The book can be divided into three parts. The first and largest is history of the movement. It sheds interesting light on al-Banna, the founder of the movement, and the roles the movement played in political events including its attitude toward the 1952 revolution. The second part deals with the details of the organizational aspect of the movement while the third part concentrates on its ideology with special reference to its world-view as regards the West, Egypt, capitalism, communism, and Zionism. The final chapter assess the place of the movement in Egyptian social and political life. The most impressive aspect of this study is Mitchell's utilization of the sources. Through his field works in Egypt in 1953-5 Mitchell was able to witness the development first hand and to conduct interviews with many of the Ikhwan members and other Egyptians. Furthermore, Mitchell uses Arabic language sources, including the writings of the prominent figures of the movement such as al-Banna and Muhammad al-Ghazali, and Qutb along with the writings of other Egyptian unconnected with the society as well as Ikhwan's own publications and documents. In addition, the author also utilizes Egyptian newspapers and numerous Western studies on various aspects the subject.

One common (distorted) image of the movement according to the author is associating Ikhwan with violence. Mitchell dismisses the common view attributing the movement as revolutionary, and terrorist. Mitchell argues that the revolutionary image of the movement is misleading because whatever the(revolutionary) view of certain groups or members, the leadership had no wish to seize power either in 1948 or 1954. As a matter of fact, Mitchell adds that Al-Banna always emphasized that the movement primary roles were educational and to influence the policies of those in power in establishing the Islamic pattern of behavior in the society rather than to achieve power for themselves The revolutionary image of the society apparently derived from its semiautonomous "secret apparatus" which advocated violence, but this attitude was confined to this group and not the organization as a whole. In addition, Mitchell argues that tendency toward violence was not confined to some segments of the Brothers, but it was almost a universal tendency in the national politics as a result of disillusionment with parliamentary government which characterized Egyptian politics between 1942-1952.

Mitchell also debunks the common view that the society was dogmatic, static and reactionary organization dedicated to restore the seventh century concept of the Muslim state. He states that despite its aspiration for the implementation of Islamic principles in the society, Ikhwan demonstrated its open-minded attitude toward the interpretation of Shariah as reflected in their readiness to open the door of Ijtihad. Although there is a tendency toward Hanbali strict uncompromising attitude in the movement, the author argues that there was also a strong consciousness among the brothers that they were part of Islamic reformist tradition of Abduh, Afghani, and Ridha and shared the same intent of adaptation of Islam to meet modern challenges. As a matter of fact Banna and Hudaybi are depicted as promoting a reformist role for the society. The society's dynamic commercial and welfare activities and to a lesser degree its effort to form an auxiliary Muslim sister "wing" demonstrate the "modernized" and pragmatic aspect of the society.

The success of the society can be attributed to al-Banna himself, whom Mitchell repeatedly refers to as a charismatic leader. In chapter one, Mitchell provides a brief account of al-Banna's early years regarding his gifted ability to communicate, to inspire and to influence. Furthermore, Mitchell presents considerable amount of evidence throughout the book demonstrating the charisma in Banna and his "brothers" relationship. However, the death of al-Banna and ascendancy of Hudaybi as the General Guide of the movement posed a serious challenge for the movement. Without a charismatic leader and effective leadership, the society failed in dealing with problems associated with leadership- succession, discipline, consensus and even the loss of control over secret apparatus.

My impression from Mitchell's account is that the relative success of the movement under Banna can be attributed to the leadership quality. However, the author's treatment of leadership is inadequate; primarily emphasizing the personality of Banna and leaving out the roles of elite members of the movement such as the Guidance Council and the Secretariat. In light of my own understanding that a good number of Ikhwan prominent figures are not (strictly speaking) the graduates of Islamic studies, It would also be desirable to learn something about the society's elite such as their educational training and class background. In this regard Mitchell's book is less helpful.

Despite the proliferation of literature on the Islamist movement in recent decades, Mitchell's book continues to have a class of its own, especially for those aspiring to learn about the development of the movement in Egypt from its foundation to 1954. One wish that the author could have also covered the influence of the movement outside Egypt, most notably in Palestine, Jordan and Syria. ... Read more

Book Description

This book provides a succinct overview of the past 1500 years of South African history, up to and including the government of Nelson Mandela. On the basis of a description of precolonial African societies and of colonial conquest, it concentrates on the economic and political transformations leading up to the radical changes of the past decade. Nevertheless, it also devotes much attention to the diversity of South African society and the vibrancy of its cultural life. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A bit more academic than I expected
Based on the title, I assumed that this book would be a relatively light overview of S. African history and would provide some commentary about how S. Africa had gotten to where it is today. My assumption was wrong, however, and I found it to be much more academic than I expected.

It seems to be the ambition of many historians to make their subject as dry and inaccessible as possible. I mean, why write a sentence like 'Then Bob rode his horse into the sunset' when you could write 'following, Robert employed his most favored mode of transport, equestrianism, to progress toward the sun, which was setting, as it had done ever since the Earth had formed from a rotating disk of hot dust, and was expected to do in the foreseeable future, every night."

Ross seems to struggle with the 'concise' aim of the book on a number of levels. First, as I've alluded to, he wastes a great deal of space with sentences like "He was succeeded by Balthazar Johannes Vorster, often, and surprisingly, anglicized to John, who was relatively junior in the cabinet and unforgiven by its elder members for his participation in the Ossewabrandwag, in the course of which he had spent some years in gaol during the war for nazi sympathies.' And, perhaps my favorite: 'Nevertheless, the cultures that have been developed are only local when, as is the case with certain of S. Africa's ethnicicities, they have been created in almost conscious rejection of values, which within the confines of S. Africa, are universal.' If you found those sentences clear and riveting, rush right out and buy this book.

Second, he seems bent on covering relatively minor occurrences with a single (run-on) sentence that has no real context and assumes that the reader has previous knowledge of the event. Combine that with the fact that there are no good maps to refer to and no glossary to consult when you forget the difference between an 'inboekelinge' and a 'dorp', and you have a book that seems almost intentionally obscure.

So why not one star? Ross's scholarship is undeniable, and he is as unbiased as can be reasonably expected.

The bottom line, though, is that I had to fight with this book to get anything out of it. The benefit of its conciseness was negated by my wandering mind and the fact that I had to re-read sentences constantly. Go with Leonard Thompson's 'History of South Africa' which, though twice the length, appears to have been written with the goal of actually informing and entertaining the reader.

Concise, but coherent and well written
This work by the well respected historian Robert Ross is primarily concerned with the economic, social, and political factors that influenced South African history. As the title suggests, it is a concise history and thus some topics receive less coverage than one might like. For example, the description of the Boer War takes place in a little over two pages. But the text is both coherent and highly informative, and strives to be as complete as possible given the limit on length presumably imposed by the people who publish Cambridge Concise Histories. The book begins with a physical description of the South African environment and then discusses the indigenous peoples and their societies previous to 1652, the point at which the Dutch established a base on the Cape, and where many histories begin. The next chapters are entitled Colonial Conquest, Unification, Consolidation, and Apartheid. Next follows a chapter that was of particular interest to me, The Costs of Apartheid, in which the author considers the political, social, and economic consequences of the imposition of apartheid. The book ends with the chapters Let Freedom Reign, and Epilogue: The Acid Rain of Freedom. My single complaint is that I would have found a few more maps helpful. But the careful reader will most likely find this to be an excellent book.

Did not like it
This book is hard to follow. The maps are very poor and there is no sense of historical journey. It is very fact based and hard to follow. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Provocative Book
True to form, Professor Pham - who was an influential opponent of the proposed U.S. role in military intervention in Liberia's civil war last year and a critic of this year's intervention in Haiti - paints a cautionary tale about the fallacy of believing that international force can bring lasting peace to persistent conflict regions. While his thesis - that 'each political community must accept responsibility for assuring its own viability' - will strike many as provocative, if not outright cold-hearted, it is this type of provocation that needs to be, at the very least, considered and debated openly in our public policy debates. While the author is clearly no peace activist (I suspect that his self-described adherence to 'national interest realism' might lead him to support the administration in more cases than many others) I cannot help but thinking that had someone proposed a similar argument about the Middle East, perhaps we would not be seeing American soldiers dying daily to do for Iraqis what they clearly are unwilling to do for themselves. Pham's book deserves a wide audience for it provocative thesis (introduced in the Introduction and articulated in the final chapter, "Liberia and the Lessons of a Failed State"), even if the exhaustive case study of West African country presented in the the intervening chapters may appear at first glance to be addressed to a rather limited circle of specialists.

A needed assesment with some flaws
This book is one of few that tells the complete history of Liberia, a state founded by America as a homeland for former slaves. Although only 3000 slaves immigrated and Americo-Liberians make up only 2.5% of the population of the country today nevertheless the state has been seen as unique in its origins. This book tries tot ell the tale of this 'failed state' mostly by exploring the contemporary Doe/Taylor crises. Samuel Doe was the man who assassinated Tolbert's cabinet in 1980 and took power, becoming the countries first indigenous African leader. Charles Taylor was the Americo-Liberian who led a Libyan trained and Leone backed rebel offensive which took the capital in 1990. Liberia had been known as a safe, democratic country worthy of foreign investment, not resembling its neighbors which had a long history of corruption and coups. But today Liberia mirrors the rest of its neighbors and has descended into bloodshed. This book tries to explore the complicated topic of 'why?'.

There are several fundamental flaws in this dry read. First and foremost is a total lack of maps or figures. The early history of Liberia was one of its relations with the tribes that occupied the land, the Grebu, Kru and others. This is a history that requires maps to explain. Besides the dearth of maps, there is also no reliable figures showing population, economic or political statistic breakdowns. These types of diagrams would have helped the reader understand the quickly glossed over history of this complicated nation. Nevertheless this remains one of the few studies of this interesting nation.

Seth J. Frantzman

Unpleasant But...
The author recounts many unpleasant facts. Actually he buries the reader under a mountain of facts and documentation about the conflict in Liberia, so much so that you get the eerie feeling of becoming numb to the violence. That being said, he redeems himself by offering some very solid pearls of wisdom about U.S. foreign policy and how it made, destroyed, and can restore this war-ravaged West African country. I am glad I persevered to the end.

Rare Understanding
The author is not an African, but he has a rare understanding of Africa and Africans that permeates every page. If you're not an African - or maybe you're an African, but have not followed politics much -- you will understand the continent differently after reading this book. The author, a scholar and diplomat, recounts many of the sad, well-known stories of violence and horror. However, he distinguishes himself by arguing the need for Africans to stand up and take responsibility for the endemic problems of their homeland rather than forever waiting for others to bring them solutions. That insight, at once both respectful and provocative, is truly rare.

Lessons from a Tragedy
The disturbing tragedy of Liberia's descent from a refuge for the freed slaves and other African-Americans from the Americas into a Reagan-backed cold war dictatorship, violent civil war, and the despotism of a warlord-turned-president (Charles Taylor) is an important lesson about the very real threat that so-called failed states present not only to their own citizens, but to the entire international community. Dr. Pham lucidly narrates this history, uplifting a depressing series of facts with his penetrating analysis. While the account is not easy, it is an eloquent call for reexamining not only U.S. foreign policy with respect to Liberia, but also our perceptions of contemporary African crises in general. If some good might come from the Liberian tragedy, it might be in the salutary lessons that this profound book invites us to learn from one of the twentieth century's forgotten tragedies. ... Read more

Book Description

The classic true adventure story of a man who, by the pen, sword, and diplomatic pouch, influenced some of the most significant events of our era. Fitzroy Maclean recounts his extraordinary adventures in Soviet Central Asia; in the Western Desert, where he specialized in hair-raising commando raids behind enemy lines; and with Tito's partisans during the last months of the German occupation of Yugoslavia. An enthralling narrative brilliantly told. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Extremely Entertaining Book
...much better than any movie, although it would make a great one. A real life adventure covering the exploits of a British Adventurer, Diplomat, Soldier and Spy, before and during the Second World War.
Sir Fitzroy MacLean is today a little known personality that enabled the Allies, with the help of Tito's Partisans, to hold quite a few German Divisions tide-up in the Balkan Theater.
The book however is so much more than a depiction of guerilla fighting in the Balkans during WWII, it provides a rare glimpse into the pre-war Soviet Union, the travel restrictions binding a foreign 'traveler', the beauties of Russia, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan among many other places (e.g. France, Iraq, Egypt, North Africa, Italy, etc.). The very culmination of this great life story ends in the volatile Balkans.
This book would truly make a great movie.

Best book I ever read!
Fitzroy MacLean writes a true and entertaining story of his life as a British diplomat escapading around Russia, starting the British version of the Special Forces in the deserts of North Africa during WWII, and, of great interest to current politics, his time with Tito in the former Yugoslavia. He is funny and entertaining presenting a lesson of history. Very honest and easy to read. A must read for anyone into WWII history or anyone in the military today.

Interesting, Interesting
Eastern Approaches documents the extraordinary travels and life of Fitzroy MacLean. Maclean was a British diplomat who while in Russia became one of the first westerners to explore Central Asia during the Soviet rule. He worked with the British special forces in the North African desert and worked on behalf of the allies with the partisans in Yugoslavia during the Second world war.

Well written, this book is a worthwhile read for anybody seeking a bit of adventure in their life. These miraculous tales (true none the least) will keep you entertained throughout.

Spectacular entertainment
In the mid-thirties Fitzroy Maclean was a junior diplomat at the British embassy in Paris. Bored with the pleasant but undemanding routine, he requested a posting to Moscow, and "Eastern Approaches" opens with Maclean on a train, pulling out of Paris. Most of this first section of the book covers his repeated attempts to explore Soviet central Asia. He reached Bokhara, Samarkand, Tashkent and many other places, and though there are sadly few pictures it is a riveting story -- fighting Soviet bureaucracy; being trailed by the NKVD; negotiating with locals for food and a place to sleep. At one point he manages with difficulty to persuade the Soviets to let him cross into Afghanistan: communicating primarily in sign language he manages to obtain an escort to Mazar-i-Sharif, through a lawless area with a cholera outbreak.

Maclean was in Moscow until late 1939, and so was present during the great Stalinist purges. One long chapter is devoted to one of the largest of these, in which Bukharin, Yagoda and other stalwarts of the Stalinist regime were accused (and of course convicted) of heinous crimes. The details of the trial, and the responses of the accused, are utterly fascinating; Maclean's analysis equally so.

When war broke out, Maclean was prevented from enlisting at first because of his position as a diplomat. He eventually managed to sign up by a subterfuge, and in North Africa Maclean distinguished himself in the early actions of the newly formed SAS. He rose from private to officer rank, and Churchill personally chose him to lead a liaison mission to central Yugoslavia, where Tito and his partisans were emerging as a major irritant to the German control of the Balkans. The last third of the book recounts how over eighteen months Maclean built Allied/Partisan cooperation from nothing to a key element in the last phases of the war. By the end, Maclean was a Major-General, and a friend of Tito's.

Maclean is a fine writer, with the British gift for understatement and wry humour. His exploits are said to have formed the basis for the character of James Bond, though Maclean would never confirm or deny this. The sequence when he personally kidnaps a Persian general who is collaborating with the Germans is certainly straight out of a Bond film. The book is spectacularly entertaining: if you have any taste for history, adventure, travel writing or war-time memoirs, this is as good as it gets.

Magnanimous parachutist, Fitzroy be...
Nu omicron tau omicron sigma....

Notice... north wind..

True, MacLean came from Britain to parachute into Yugoslavia.

The mission of this man was to meet the resistance leader,
Tito, head of the anti-Axis forces in the Balkans, Yosef Broz Tito... Tito... Tito.. read the book, and you'll understand
how this man, Tito, was addressed by crowds before speaking.

later this man, Tito, succumbed to the loss of a limb, if i
remember, correctly, this was after the war, and related to

prion Kreb's deficiency, a medical malady incurred of Tito of
his own temple, his own body, by living.

It was white camouflaged Yugoslavians who were laying outside
Auschwitz the day it was liberated. This I read in a little
yellow paperback about Auschwitz at the Norwood, Ohio
Media Play store.

My name is Douglas... you may call me mr. nemo.

Call me Ishmael.

This is the voyage of a vintage WW I Torpedo Patrol Channel
boat, parked under wharfs oeuvre between sorties in the English
channel.

spotter on board

mgm.comp.mgm

reg. penna dept. agric. ... Read more

Book Description

The 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which more than 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were massacred in just 100 days, was an unparalleled modern-day slaughter. How does a nation pick up the pieces after the killing has stopped?

In a gripping narrative that examines the power of the press and sheds light on how the media turned tens of thousands of ordinary Rwandans into murderers, award-winning author and journalist Dina Temple-Raston traces the rise and fall of three media executives -- Ferdinand Nahimana, Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, and Hassan Ngeze.

From crime to trial to verdict, Temple-Raston explores the many avenues of justice Rwanda pursued in the decade after the killing. Focusing on the media trial at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, she then drops down to the level of the hills, where ordinary Rwandans seek justice and retribution, and examines whether politics in the East African nation has set the stage for renewed violence.

In the months leading up to the killing, two local media outlets, Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) and the tabloid newspaper Kangura, warned that a bloody confrontation was brewing. No one would be spared, they said. Observers said later that fearmongering from RTLM and Kangura played a key role in igniting the genocide, so much so that the three men behind the media outlets became the first journalists since Nuremberg to be tried in an international court for crimes against humanity.

Drawing on extensive interviews with key players, Dina Temple-Raston brings to life a cast of remarkable characters: the egotistical newspaper editor Hassan Ngeze; hate radio cofounders, the intellectual Ferdinand Nahimana and the defiant legal scholar Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza; an American-led prosecution team wary of a guilty verdict that might bring a broadly written judgment muzzling the press the world over; the bombastic American defense attorney John Floyd; heroic Damien Nzabakira, who risked his life to drive forty orphans to safety only to spend eight years in prison accused of their murder; and Bonaventure Ubalijoro, a Rwandan diplomat and politician who believed in miracles.

An extraordinary feat of reporting and narrative, Justice on the Grass reveals a Rwanda few have seen. A searing and compassionate book, Justice on the Grass illustrates how, more than a decade later, a country and its people are still struggling to heal, to forgive, and to make sense of something that defies credibility and humanity. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Subtle, Frightening, and Wise
This is a highly nuanced book that deals with all the complexities of an impossible situation.The characters are almost Shakepearean, some of them good, some of them foolish, some of them manipulative, some of them darkly evil.The situation is extraordinary.Temple-Raston has a wonderful ear and is able to let people tell their own stories, and make their own judgments.This is elegant, brilliant journalism, written with great moral clarity but without ever moralizing. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You need no previous experience reading hieroglyphs to benefit from this book. This is a hieroglyphs guide for the layperson, tourist, or museum enthusiast who'd like to have more of a clue when it comes to understanding Egyptian hieroglyphs. Focusing on the funerary symbols one would be likely to see in Egypt or at a museum, and illustrated with hieroglyphs that are on display in the British Museum (drawn by Richard Parkinson, curator in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum), How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs makes possible a deeper appreciation not just of museum displays but of the Egyptian culture that used this writing system.

Both experts in Egyptology (Collier teaches Egyptology at the University of Liverpool, and Manley teaches the subject at the University of Glasgow), they explain how most hieroglyphs are used to convey the sound of the ancient Egyptian language, then go on to teach, in easily digestible segments, the basic phonograms (sound-signs) used in inscriptions a traveler or museum-goer would be most likely to encounter. Each chapter teaches a new portion of hieroglyphic script and a new aspect of the Middle Egyptian grammar, with a section to practice the new reading skills and exercises to solidify the lessons taught. It provides a wonderful opportunity to sit at home and learn about the pharaonic administration, ancient Egyptian family life, and the Egyptian way of death, while building a firm understanding of the most common features of hieroglyphs. --Stephanie Gold ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Best introduction to hieroglyphics available!
This book fills the gaping hole between the large reference grammars such as Gardiner's, the popular introductions that don't really teach any of the language, and the out-of-date material by Budge.

Written at the British Museum, this is a textbook for learning to read hieroglyphs such as you find on the walls of a museum. It is not a complete grammar and won't teach you how to read complex literture, but will give you a complete enough command of the language to read most common material.

The book is well-printed and nicely bound, and is small enough to take to the museum with you! It contains a wealth of material, a glossary, king lists, and information about Egyptian gods.

Many of the exercises are drawings or pictures of wall paintings or carvings, making the book fun to use. Answers to exercises are given at the back.

If you don't know which hieroglyphic book to pick, this is the one!

Not perfect, but the best for beginners
Having had 2 semesters of Egyptian studies at SFSU, one of which was specifically in Egyptian Literature and Language, I can say that I was very impressed with this book. The authors share their expertise in an engaging and easy to learn step-by-step way, and their complete comfort with hieroglyphs is apparent partly by what they have omitted. A simple but important rule (three vertical lines indicates multiples of the item depicted) may seem obvious or familiar to the authors, yet it was not included and may confuse the absolute beginner. At other times the lesson seems more advanced than the information provided, or overly simple, so the book is not perfect. But if you are determined to teach yourself how to read and understand Egyptian hieroglyphs, the exercises and lessons of each chapter will definitely teach you this difficult skill if you can make it to the end of the book. The sizeable dictionary, hieroglyphic sign list, pronunciation guide, transliteration key and other well-designed tools are invaluable helpers on your journey.

The best introduction!!
If you want to learn hieroglyphs and you want more than the basic simple books that are available on the market... buy this book!!!

It begins with offering formulas and the names of pharaos and thereby you will instantly be able to read simple texts and get much joy out of the studies. The offering formulas are somewhat alike in all instances and is excellent to begin your studies with!

In short! Buy the book!

m htp

Very Good Book
This book was really helpful for me when I wanted to learn how to read heiroglyphs. It focused on some pretty hard stuff and explained it step by step. It's an excellent book for beginners.

Cat Square Squiggle God-symbol
Well, what title should I give for a book on Egyptian hieroglyphs?

Actually, the information blurb from the Library Journal linked to the book's entry here states: 'Reference collections desiring more complete coverage will want Alan Gardiner's Egyptian Grammar (1957. 3d ed.) despite some obsolescence in the treatment of the verbal system.'

I actually learned hieroglyphs using that text at the University of London in the 1980s. But I have assembled a collection of more accessible books on how to learn hieroglyphs as refreshers and for sharing. I have four texts, and this was the first of the lot.

If you are truly interested in learning Egyptian hieroglyphs for an upcoming trip to Egypt or to visit a museum with a collection (I amazed a friend once by being able to read an inscription at the museum; I confessed that of the hundreds of 'paragraphs' of hieroglyphs in the collection, that that was one of only two I could decipher without my notebook), Collier and Manley's 'How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs' is a good choice for learning.

It begins with a basic description of the way in which hieroglyphs are used (some signs are words, but actually very few, and others are sound-meaning symbols). Collier and Manley introduce a transliteration system to ease your way into pronunciation (and pronunciation is very sketchy, given the fact there are no recordings from ancient Egypt). Symbols can vary occasionally for sound, meaning, and determinative value.

The pattern of hieroglyphs is also variable. Generally, you always want to 'read into the face', i.e., the picto-glyphs will be facing the direction from which to start -- more often right to left than left to right, and columns go top to bottom. There are no punctuation marks and no word breaks -- this can make meanings hard to decipher.

Consider the example:

IAMNOWHERE
which could be broken into
I AM NOW HERE
or
I AM NOWHERE
and in this case, context might not help provide which meaning is the true one. Or perhaps the author is poetical and sees the trouble of distinction and means that trouble to be present.

No wonder hieroglyphs are hard!

Collier and Manley's book is excellent in basic vocabulary building and basic grammar. And, if you're like me and will make flash cards, you'll become a better draw-er too.

There are exercises, and pictures of inscriptions to practice on, and a key to the exercises in the back of the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (16)

Innocent and Compelling
Nine hills is a journey. You follow Sarah who is in the peace corps and her struggle to help the village of Nambonkaha, in northwest Africa, learn about health, their bodies, disease and most important AIDS. Many of the villagers do know about the dangers of disease, AIDS and female circumcision, but they do not try and stop it. Sarah finds the village people fascinating. She educates them in traditional ways, flyers and classes, and nontraditional ways with plays and having the women preform in front of the whole village. You learn about the small village of Nambonkaha, but also of the larger country of Africa because Africa is made up of so many of these small villages. This book is great for people who are interested in joining the peace corps, like helping people, or love to read. It's a story that never ends, because you'll still want to learn more about Africa and these simple yet intriguing people.

Nine Hills to Nambonkaha : Two Years in the Heart of an Afri
In this complex debut, Peace Corps worker Erdman, who lived in eight countries growing up, takes the reader on a vivid and compelling journey into the colorful world of a small village in the Ivory Coast. Arriving in early 1998, she faced extraordinary challenges as she taught children how to read and women about nutrition and birth control, overcoming superstition, language barriers, ignorance, diseases, lack of funding, and her own personal fears. The lecherous gendarme; the many children; the old women of the village, who raise money to begin building a clinic; and Erdman's friends, local nurse Sideb‚ and his wife, Abi, are all wonderful, three-dimensional characters that liven up the narrative. Erdman's eloquent descriptions allow the reader to appreciate the scenes of cautious yet excited village women who show up each month for the healthy-baby contest and then to desperation at the description of a baby dying of AIDS. The author's sensitivity to the traditions of the villagers, the unique ways she found to overcome and incorporate those traditions in her work, and the despair she sometimes felt over the intrusion of the modern world make this a complicated but also contemplative book. Highly recommended for all libraries.-

The gripping facts about life in Africa !!!
Nine Hills To Nambonkaha is one of the best true stories I've ever read! I give this book five stars because Sarah Erdman has a brilliant talent for writing what she sees, but also writing what she feels. Nine Hills to Nambonkaha is about her wanting to help the village with their health problems. She comes from within the Peace Corps, just one woman, but in the end that's all this village needs. She opens up the eyes of the villagers by talking about issues that nobody else would dare speak outloud about. Issues like malnutrition, how to be a good mother, and the biggest " silencer" of all AIDS!! I was touched greatly when I finished this book, knowing that an outsider to the village of tradition could be known as one of their own, like a sister. Also she was welcomed and will always be remembered by the people of Nambonkaha. I was very sad when i finished the book because I was so wrapped up in all the emotions that were expressed at the end, that i never wanted her to leave. If you want a story about real poeple and what they go through every day to stay alive, Nine Hills to Nambonkaha is the one your looking for!!! A Excellent read !!!

Experience the Culture/Politics/Life in an African Village
Experience the sights, sounds and rhythms of an African village as Sarah Erdman, armed with a four year US college degree and three months of training to be a healthcare worker ... describes two years of her life spent with the Peace Corps, in Nambonkaha, on the Ivory Coast of Africa. Ms Erdman proves up to the task of learning the customs/traditions of the village, utilizing the protocols of local politics to achieve her goals. She is understandably irked/outraged by the concept of embezzlement (" bouffer") that is rampant wherever government funds/large business transactions occur. She is touched to the core by the village's response as they present her with gifts ("cadeau") when she runs out of funds while her house is being built. Sarah Erdman proves to have an indominatable spirit and courage to face the tasks and challenges before her ... she wants to make a difference in the lives of this village. She understands the realistic obstacles she faces. The main tangible obstacle is lack of funds, making due with what is available and the realities of poverity. The intangible obstacles are local customs, cultural beliefs and the religious underpinnings of animism despite the outward stated religion of Islam (Muslim).

Working within the system, Ms Erdman recognized she could not change long-standing social norms and life-styles. She accepted polygamy and the problems associated with raising an extended family. Certain social norms/duties were ingrained in the culture that can not be changed despite the fact they created deeper problems for the survival of individuals and society as a whole. One man in the village was obligated to accept the widow of his cousin as his fourth wife. It was an unquestioned duty and norm for him to receive the widow of his brother or cousin as his wife. It was a benefit to him and his family to have more wives who provide for more workers to farm the local cash crop, raise the children within the family, and who provide needed help and respite for the other wives during their pregnancies. The new wife had a beautiful doe-eyed baby who developed fevers and a rash called "boutons" ((English, "buttons"). When the routine of antibiotics did not cure the fever ... AIDS was suspected and confirmed. Essentially, the social obligation of accepting the new wife (who did not know she had this disease) became a death sentence for this husband and all of his wives. Perhaps, the children will survive but *only*if precautions are followed (known).... they would be accepted into *another* extended family, after their parents died. This is one example of the cycle of illness/death/despair/poverty which is difficult if not *impossible* to break and overcome despite the help of outsiders. The ultimate reality is: the villagers themselves need to change and break the cycle. Ms Erdman asks the BIG QUESTION, "How do you promote behavior change so that people have more control over the state of their bodies but stop at
the threshold where important traditions get destroyed?" [p. 48] Perhaps, she provides the answer by writing this book, demonstrating that one young white woman daring to go to the heart of an African village and living there for two years, *CAN* and *DOES* make a difference. She received honor, acceptance, and recognition by the village mayor and elders, in that she was allowed to sit and eat with the men during village meetings and cermeonies. The village mayor thanked her in his own way, by approving/appreciating her "healthy-baby contest" efforts to improve the nutrition and health of the African children. He allowed AIDs education, which broke taboos, because unementionable body parts were discussed and shown on film (by a regional government group). Ms Erdman's approach for AIDs education was to write a play with local villagers chosen as actors to fulfill roles to teach the concepts of how AIDS is spread and to teach 'safe sex' practices. In this book, Sarah Erdman shows how one person who truly cares, can touch the hearts, souls, and lives (bodies, health) of a village through knowledge, sensitivty and respect for the culture of a people who are different from her own. She shows the value of getting involved and doing something to help humanity. My highest recommendations. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

An awesome book
A beutifully written book that was so descriptive it felt like I was there. If you are curious about African life and culture it is a must read. ... Read more

Book Description

A brilliantly produced volume on one of the most intriguing historical figures ever-oversized and lavishly illustrated with 8 pages of gatefolds, 400 color images, the highest quality paper, and a three-piece linen-bound cover!
Until Howard Carter finally discovered Tutankhamun's tomb, the magnificence of the young king's legacy, left behind more than 3,000 years ago, was merely legend. What Carter unearthed in 1922, after years of painstaking work, exceeded anyone's expectations--and created a worldwide sensation. Come along on Carter's groundbreaking archeological adventure, courtesy of the British Museum's longtime keeper of Egyptian antiquities and author of several books on the subject. From the first shovel that dug into Egyptian earth to the uncovering of Tut's body, you're there every step of the way, enlightened by knowledge of the life and background of the Boy Pharaoh, this incredible historical significance of his brief reign, and an overview of his world. Renowned art photographer Araldo De Luca brings us virtually inside the tomb with over 400 pictures all taken especially for this book: from pendants, bangles, and collars to furniture, royal regalia and weapons, this is a dazzling display in both words and all-new photographs of the most breathtaking treasure trove in the history of the world.

... Read more

Reviews (3)

Mask of Beauty
This book is just WOW!!! I started reading this after his Ramesses II book. The photos of his objects are great. I own The Complete Tutankhamun and Howeard Carter: Tomb of Tutankhamun also,but the photos in this are far better. 80 Pages of history and the rest photos and explanations of each piece. I highly recommend it as well as his Ramesses II book. These books are well worth the bucks. Howard Carter would be well pleased. The Boy King Lives On!!!

WOW!!
I don't actually own this book, however, I spent no less than an hour and a half staring at the pages, wishing I had sixty dollars to spend on it. Now I'm glad I didn't have that money, considering I can buy the same book for twenty dollars less!

Anyways, this book is literally filled with beautiful photos, and information about each one. I am sure that if I had been given the opportunity to read it, page by page, I would have other wonderful comments to make. However, I only know the bare minimum about it, and I strongly suggest anyone who is truly interested in Ancient Egypt, and Tutankhamun, to buy this astounding book.

Fabulous volume!
This new volume is a refreshing addition to any collection on the subject of Tutankhamun. For those of us who have not been able to actually visit the Egyptian Museum and see the treasures of the king for ourselves, Tutankhamun, by T.G.H. James is essential. There have been many publications on the subject, and many fine photographs of the objects of the tomb reproduced. T.G.H. James has collected a totally new set of images, many of objects which are not published previously. The reproductions are superbly done, the accompanying text is refreshing and illuminating. If you have read everything you could find on the subject, and perused each object until the page begins to wear, this book is for you. I am totally delighted with this book! ... Read more

Book Description

This book examines a series of processes (Islamization, Arabization, Africanization) and case studies from the Muslim societies of Africa over the last thousand years. In contrast to traditions suggesting that Islam did not take root in Africa, David Robinson depicts the complex struggles of Muslims throughout the continent: in Morocco and the Hausaland region of Nigeria; the "pagan" societies of Ashanti (Ghana) and Buganda (Uganda); and the ostensibly Christian state of Ethiopia. "Further reading" sections suggest how undergraduate readers can pursue research, and illustrations and maps supplement the text. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Freedom:Photographic History/African American Struggle
This book is a gorgeous coffee-table volume. It is divided into sections by time periods beginning in the 1840s and continues to the present. Each chapter is introduced with an in-depth discussion of what was happening at that time, then moves to captioned photos. The book is large, 10"x12", and is presented on heavy, high quality paper; a pleasure to hold and look at! My only criticism is that readability was sacrificed for design. The type is very small and, therefore, difficult to read, and the caption reference number below each photo is mircoscopic. Also, even though I'm sure the photos were reproduced perfectly, some are hard to make out (what do I expect for 100+ year old photos!) I recommend this book whether you are interested in this subject, interested in photography or just love beautiful books. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Be Cautious of the Title
I purchased this book because I was looking for an in-depth study of Ethiopian culture, both past and present. However, it soon became apparent that the book's subtitle "A Cultural and Historical Guide" was somewhat misleading. Rather, Mr. Munro-Hay provides a detailed and scholarly analysis of Ethiopian historical sites. The publisher would have been well-advised to use the subtitle "An Archaeological Survey" instead. If that is what you're looking for, then this book is ideal. But if you want information on contemporary Ethiopian culture, it would be best to look elsewhere.

An explorer's companion
Although not a "tourist guide" this book is a handy reference for anyone with interest in this land. Munro-Hay's subtitle: The Unknown Land provides a clue to the problem he faced in summarizing the history and culture of this ancient country. Known to early Christians as the land of "Prester John," Ethiopia's nearly landlocked location and rugged terrain has made it a challenge to scholars for millennia. Munro-Hay makes an earnest effort to enlighten us on many aspects of Ethiopian history and culture. Rather than provide a surface overview, he divides the country into regions based on ancient kingdoms. It's an effective means of organizing the complex store of research he's brought to the task.

After an opening overview of Ethiopian history, the author provides a survey of the role of the Church in the society. For Ethiopia, this element cannot be overstated. Churches and their rituals are a fundamental part of Ethiopia life. He details the structure of church hierarchy and the roles assigned the various officers. Rituals and other aspects such as religious art are also described. Munro-Hay then gives a brief survey of the foreigners who entered the country, evaluating their published accounts. Foreign impact played a major role in how Ethiopia came to be a modern nation, with Portuguese, Arabs and others providing architectural expertise, trade and political developments. Some lasting impact of the Italian invasion in this century is added.

The theme of this book relates the histories of ten important regions making up historical Ethiopia and into modern times. While all had their impact, three are of particular import. Gondar, situated near Lake Tana, was considered to be ruled by descendants of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Munro-Hay sees the political patterns set in ancient Gondar to carry through Ethiopia history until modern times. The heritage was so important that even usurpers found ways of establishing legitimacy by claiming descent from those origins. Munro-Hay provides diagrams of ancient Gondar and vivid descriptions of what remains from a glorious imperial city.

Next in significance is the ancient site of Aksum. Certainly, as Munro-Hay notes, it's of vital archaeological importance and worth any visitor's time and effort. Well north of Addis Ababa and on the way to the Red Sea, Aksum nearly disappeared until extensive excavations during the 1970s revealed its importance. The remnants of the city are dotted with numerous stone stelae, possibly inspired by similar constructions in Egypt, Ethiopia's
neighbour. Munro-Hay conducts us on a tour of these and other historical sites in a compelling chapter. As a participant in some of the exploratory work, the author is well-suited to describe what has been revealed. He does so with verve and close detail.

In his Forward, Munro-Hay reminds us that at the time of writing, Ethiopia had provided the oldest representative of our ancestry, Don Johanson's "Australopithecus afarensis," the 3.6 million-year old "Lucy." It's somewhat of a surprise that Ethiopia's other prehistory doesn't emerge for another 350 pages. In Yeha, "the beginnings of Ethiopian civilization are rooted," including the distinctive script still in use. Close to the Red Sea, Yeha appears to have adopted Semitic languages and religious artefacts from its Arabic neighbours. Pre-Christian temples and other buildings may still be seen there.

Munro-Hay is an acknowledged leader in the study of Ethiopia. This book is a monument to his scholarship. Rich in detail and presenting both ancient and modern aspects of Ethiopian life, it provides excellent resource material for anyone wishing to pursue the topic. At less than 400 pages, the book is also a worthwhile companion to the traveler. Clearly written and beautifully organized for both scholar and tourist, this book will remain useful for some time. ... Read more

Book Description

"Peterson melds his eyewitness accounts with considerable research. His reporting is fresh with colorful observation.it makes for powerful reading."-Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk Down
As a foreign correspondent, Scott Peterson witnessed firsthand Somalia's descent into war and its battle against US troops, the spiritual degeneration of Sudan's Holy War, and one of the most horrific events of the last half century: the genocide in Rwanda. InMe Against My Brother, he brings these events together for the first time to record a collapse that has had an impact far beyond African borders.
In Somalia, Peterson tells of harrowing experiences of clan conflict, guns and starvation. He met with warlords, observed death intimately and nearly lost his own life to a Somali mob. From ground level, he documents how the US-UN relief mission devolved into all out war-one that for America has proven to be the most formative post-Cold War debacle. In Sudan, he journeys where few correspondents have everbeen, on both sides of that religious front line, to find that outside "relief" has only prolonged war. In Rwanda, his first-person experience of the genocide and well-documented analysis provide rare insight into this human tragedy.Filled with the dust, sweat and powerful detail of real-life, Me Against My Brother graphically illustrates how preventive action and a better understanding of Africa-especially by the US-could have averted much suffering. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

revealing
This book written by Scott Peterson who is a journalist that covered the events of the 3 countries in the 90's.The title appropriately comes from a Somali proverb.It is divide into 3 parts each dealing with a Country. Somalia He describes in harrowing detail the events that led a UN humanitarian mission to derail and become a tragedy.He shows how a series of initially small misteps became a catastrophe with the UN gradually being drawn in as a combatant in a fatricidal civil war.He introduces us to the various dramatis personnae including General Farah Aideed.A historical perspective is also given to the conflict starting from Precolonial to Colonial times. SUDAN He discusses the 45 year old fatricidal civil war between the largely Arab North and the African Chritian and African Traditional religionists in the South.He also shows that both sides have been dependent on AID and also committed atrocities.He interviewed the 2 factions in the South.He also illuminates the discussion with a quite brilliant historical perspective to the conflict.However since oil has recently been exploited in commercial quantities this has fueled the conflict,but this was not discussed probably since it was not an issue when he was in Sudan. RWANDA The genocide of 1994 by the largely HUTU government and Hutu citizens agains the Tutsi minority is discussed.He also describes the events that led to these problems.The involvement or lack thereof of the UN,French,Belgians,Catholic church and Mass media is also discussed.He discusses the conditions in the camps in Congo and also the Tutsi Kibeho massacre of the Tutsi's. This book is highly recommended.My take is that unless the root cause is addressed history will repeat itself.

The Dark side of humanity on the Dark
Scott Peterson has written a first hand reporter's account of his experiences in Somalia, Sudan and Rwanda. It is a compelling read for all interested in war, ethnic conflict, genocide and international relations. If you are interested in only one of the three debacles, the book is broken into three sections that make it easy to focus on, say, Sudan, and ignore the other two. Finally, the book includes three maps, one of each region, that are helpful in reading the text.

The most detailed section (fully half the book) focuses on Somalia. Other books and monographs have given a good view of the difficulties of United Nations mandated versus authorized Peace Operations, and of the tactical details of various battles (Mark Bowden's "Blackhawk Down.") The advantage of Peterson's work is that it is fresh, almost unedited, and thus a grisly look at war, tribalism, ethnic conflict, scarce resource competition and the inability of international will to alter these stark realities. The last chapter "Back to Zero" is a damning indictment of President Clinton his foreign policy, especially Presidential Decision Directive 25. The most salient lesson in all the revealed savagery of Somalia, though, is in the story of British Colonel "Somali" Smith-after a camel-seizing raid in 1947, he left the country for several years. When he returned in 1967, he was stabbed to death the day after his arrival by the son of one of the men killed in the 1947 raid. It seems Somalis DO bear a grudge a long time-regardless of where the problem originated, Americans would do well to remember this before returning to Mogadishu.

The second part of the book tries in some detail to come to grips with the endless bloodletting of Sudan's civil war between (alleged) Christians and Muslims. This section is not as well written as the first, and the reader begins to tire of one dusty corpse and massacre after another, but Peterson makes his point. The would be "solver" of this religious quagmire, fueled by poverty and generational cycles of violence, will have untied a modern Gordian Knot. Peterson gives a quick overview of the history of Sudan, the tides of fortune sweeping back and forth, raiding for slaves, attacking Sufism, a mystical sub sect of Islam, and always, always fighting for control of the Nile. In some ways, then, nothing has changed, only the technologies for spreading propaganda and death. A new twist to which Peterson pays particular attention, and wrestles with well, is the dilemma of aid organizations. If you are providing aid that "others may live" many of them shall live to fight, and either live some more, or die at the hands of others. Second, your very aid shall become a resource worth fighting over, so your provision of sustenance is actually an incentive TO fight, rather than not.

The last part of the book focuses on the carnage of Rwanda. Peterson jumps into the fray of whether or not a "Peace Operations force" could have averted the carnage, or at least slowed it down. Peterson sides with Monsieur Prunier, a French scholar who believes that as few as 20 armored vehicles would have made the difference. I think this understates the calculated assault, led by a military sometimes called "the Prussians of Africa." I think it would have taken tens of thousands of soldiers, with helicopters and fixed wing transports, lots of communications gear and fierce political resolve to staunch the flow of blood here.

All in all, a good "raw" book, well worth the read, but by no means a definitive scholarly work on the central African swamp of the last 20 years.

A Must Read Regarding Our Future & Our Past
Peterson has written an excellent report on the atrocities that have taken place under our eyes in Africa. Most Americans know about Somalia from "Black Hawk Down" but Peterson reports from a different perspective and brings new light to an old meaning. He reports on what both the UN and the US did wrong while on a "peace mission." I would have hoped we would have learned our lesson but some aspects Peterson describes ring much too true for our involvement in Iraq as well.

The most horrifying account that Peterson writes so vividly about is the genocide in Rwanda. How does a world ignore such atrocity? I cried often during the reading of this section. I can't imagine how any country could ignore the pleading of such a dying nation in such a beautiful part of the world. To read about a man living in a wall for months to avoid being murdered, a child hiding under her parents while they were hacked to death, and see pictures of streets lined with death is beyond understandable. This is where our billions in defense should have gone!

I believe this book to be a must read for all humanity. From each horrible account something is learned. Africa is a beautiful country on the verge of catastrophe while the rest of the world ignores its pleas. From such anger, bitterness and hate comes furure generations of the same unless the world steps up with bravery and defends a peaceful solution. A billion dollars of understanding would go alot further in this country than the others we chose to toy with. Peterson has brought the injustices to life masterfully. This book NEEDS to be read by anyone who cares about a global existence and our future.

Famine, combat, and mass graves
A very brief review of Scott Peterson's macabre book would simply say "Chilling, gruesome, and violent". This book is a must read for anybody curious about the UN or US missions to Africa and the seemingly endless violence that occurs there on massive scales. As I write this, Rwanda is struggling to hold an election after the 1994 Genocide and Liberia seems to be on the brink of spiraling down into a conflict marked by massacres. Mr. Peterson's book makes you wonder how humanity could sink to the level that it has over and over again, but make no mistake, the conflicts in this book devoured women and children as quickly as male combatants. Even the definition of a combatant is blurry in a world where 10 year olds are trained as shock troops. Famine is used as a weapon as the countryside is deliberately ransacked by warlords. Disease and starvation soon join the fray. The scale of the violence becomes unreal. In Rwanda approximately 800,000 people were exterminated in few months. Mostly with machetes and clubs, not machineguns or gas chambers. It is hard to comprehend the personal face to face orgy of destruction that lead time and time again to children being grouped together and beaten to death.
This book raises questions about the usefulness of food aid to refugees as it is hijacked by combatants and refugees are forced to move around to allow "combat units" access to the food that the world ships in. It would seem that the meddling of the world isn't helping the larger geo-political situation in these countries and indeed that the only real solution will have to be an African solution as the citizens in these war torn countries decide that peace is worth more than war.

Sobering and thought-provoking
In "Me Against My Brother," Scott Peterson tells a terrifingly too-real tale of three ravaged African countries. On its surface, "Me Against My Brother" concerns the events in the war-torn countries of Somalia, Sudan, and Rwanda. Familiar concepts like war, genocide, and famine are prominently discussed, but they are really just a backdrop for the true story. For all the talk of battles, massacres, and starvation, "Me Against My Brother" really tells a very human story about the ethical failings of people. At its heart, the book examines the culpability for the horrific events it describes, and finds plenty of people to blame, Americans included. Ultimately, the issues discussed in this book are not just African issues, but universal ones.
The first segment of the book, covering events in Somalia, mainly addresses the failures of US and UN peacekeeping missions (tellingly, Peterson frequently puts the words "Peacekeeping" and "Peacekeepers" in quotation marks). Peterson describes how what was supposed to be a simple mission to keep the peace and alleviate a famine turned into an all-out mission on the part of the US and UN to catch warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid, whatever the price. Quickly, and without a clear-cut reason, the US and UN forces conducted a bungling military campaign that resulted in the deaths of countless innocent Somalis, foreign press, and 18 American servicemen in the firefight immortalized in "Black Hawk Down." Through the examination of the ridiculously excessive and unncessary measures taken by forces who were allegedly to keep peace, Peterson provides a glimpse into the reasons for anti-American sentiment that seems chillingly relevant in these times.
The section on Sudan focuses mainly on the endless cycle of violence between the Muslim north and Christian south. Peterson tells of how certain hardline factions in the north hijacked the political process and used religion to justify a never-ending war (this should sound familiar to anyone who reads headlines). The relentless cycle of violence and the tales of unthinkable suffering that come from it only serve to underline the utter pointlessness of the conflict. As the book says, the war has now become an end unto itself; people live solely for the war and know no other way of life.
The concluding section on Rwanda concerns itself mainly with the 1994 genocide in which as many as 1 million Tutsis were massacred by the Hutu majority, often with nothing more than clubs and machetes. Perhaps even more depressing than the genocide, however, are the stories of the American politicians who skirted the obligation to act by playing word games in order to avoid using the word "genocide." Ultimately, though, the story of Rwanda turns into a rumination on the very nature of evil. So many Hutus were involved in the killing, often butchering women and children by hand, that one can only conclude that there are a great deal of people capable of perpretating such atrocities under similar circumstances. The tales of the Rwandan genocide force us to confront the fact that a similar dark side lies in most, and perhaps all, people. As British doctor Ian Palmer says in the book's final chapter, the genocide exposed the dark side that we are all afraid to see, and Rwanda is within every one of us.
All in all, "Me Against My Brother" is a terrific and illuminating book. Peterson deserves to be commended for providing an unflinching potrait of events in Africa during the 1990's. The issues discussed here can be applied to pretty much any conflict, though, because they're part of what it means to be human. If more people would think seriously about the events described here, then perhaps such tragedies could be prevented in the future. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is the definitive guide to the birds of Kenya and, indeed, to all of Eastern Africa. For the first time, each of the 1,114 species of the region is described and illustrated. This long-awaited book includes detailed information for every species, including appearance, plumage, vocalization, habits, status, and distribution, as well as detailed treatments of habitats and ranges. The product of more than ten years of development and field testing, Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania renders obsolete all other guides to the area.

The Republic of Kenya is home to more bird species than any other African nation, with the exception of Zaire, which has a land area four times greater than that of Kenya. This book serves as both a handbook and a field guide to this fascinating region--one that will meet the needs of professional ornithologists and amateur birders alike. It is the only guide to this region that is truly comprehensive. In 112 color plates and numerous line drawings, every one of Kenya's 1,080 bird species is illustrated. In addition, 34 species from northern Tanzania are illustrated and described. In all, approximately 90 percent of Tanzania's birds are included, as are more than 85 percent of the birds of Uganda and a majority of all species endemic to the entire area.

"In East Africa, where Kenya alone boasts nearly 1,100 species, scarcely more than half are figured in the most widely used field guide. Because there has been so much guesswork by traveling birders about the hundreds of unfigured species, a superb team has finally done something about it and filled the gap. There will be no more guesswork.... The present volume should be hailed not only by birders but by conservationists aware of the urgent need for African governments to establish strong strategies to preserve their rich natural heritage."--From the foreword by Roger Tory Peterson ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A Companion for All Kenya Safaris
The greatest field guide advance in my nearly 20 years of organizing East African safaris, this book is to birders what Amazon.com is to shoppers. If illustrations are the backbone of a field guide, this is the "vertebral" archetype. It features better illustrations of more species than do any of its rivals. Although this and its major competitor, "Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi", are somewhat hefty volumes, take both on safari as the latter is better organized with key descriptions and range maps appearing opposite its illustrations. To effectively use "Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania," you must turn to the back half of the book to find range maps as well as much of its key diagnostic text. Keeping your fingers wedged in two different parts of the book while focusing binoculars on a bird in the field requires great concentration and dexterity. I use both books, but consider the Zimmerman team's illustrations unparalleled.

Great Field Guide.
I have both the big version and this version. Without doubt you need both. One for back at camp reading and the Field Version for, well, the Field. This is quite packable and the layout makes field Identification pretty easy.

Birders paradise
A sign of environmental health and richness of biodiversity is the number of birds that a given area supports. Kenya then qualifies as a rich ecosystem with over 1,000 different species of birds.

This book was not around when I was a youngster living in Kenya but thumbing through it as an adult has brought back some fond memories of days out in the bush in Amboseli and Masai Mara or at lakes Nakura, Naivasha, and Victoria. Kenya is a birders paradise whatever your interest. There are fairly familiar Eurasian visiting seabirds and shorebirds and unique and beautiful East African sunbirds, weavers, rollers and bee-eaters. There are multitude birds of prey including the unmistakable tiny-tailed Bateleur Eagle and the most impressive hunting bird i've ever seen - the African Crowned Eagle. I can recall like it was yesterday watching one pluck a male colobus monkey right out of the tree tops. All of the birds are here in splendid color with the most appropriate profile presented to assist in making identification easy. You'll find the underside views of the birds of prey very useful.

While you probably won't see a Crowned Eagle on a casual birding visit to Kenya, any guided trip into the game parks will guarantee you at least 100 different species - probably in a single day! In the right locations, prepare to have your head on a swivel as the variety of birdlife you will behold has to be seen to be believed. You will find yourself regularly flipping through the pages of this book. This book is absolutely essential for your Kenyan trip.

The book the game park guides use
I live and work in East Africa, and this is the book the park rangers all carry in their open Land Rovers. They cover it with canvas so it won't get beat up too fast, and it gets marked with brown circles from the thermos of coffee on the 06:30 game drive. Go to Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya for a long weekend with this book, and you'll come home with 150 species. Don't worry about the weight of the book, I started with the Collins field guide and had to buy my copy of Zimmerman in the middle of my first stay because I outgrew it. Buy Zimmerman to start with, you won't regret it.

THE book for identifying birds in Eastern Africa
A must for anyone interested in African birds! Although undeniably bulky, it is worth its weight in gold. As a field guide it is superb, even outside of the region for which is was designed. I used it in Ethiopia for 5 weeks and it saved the day on many occasions. The field guide version is less cumbersome, but the additional information this version holds makes it very attractive. I wouldn't think twice about it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Awash in a sea of jargon
Western literature has long portrayed Africa as the antithesis of Europe, or as V.Y. Mudimbe puts it, "a paradigm of difference." For centuries, Europeans have viewed Africans as embodiments of all that they disdained: foreigness, savagery, and irrationality. In other words, to use an academically voguish phrase, Europeans "otherized" Africa and Africans.

In "The Idea of Africa," Mudimbe explores the origins and development of this negative conception of Africa. His approach is unique in that it attempts to synthesize a diverse body of sources, including Greek histories, 20th century primitive art, contemporary African artists and the structuralist theory of Michel Foucault.

The reliance on Foucault is a warning that we're headed into the murky realm of postmodern philosophy. In his preface, Mudimbe writes that he hopes to tackle the "simple issue" of how he would explain the idea of African otherness to his two "Americanized" children. This presumption of simplicity highlights the sheer unreadability of this otherwise interesting work. Mudimbe's writing is so cluttered with flashy jargon and inscrutable theory so as to be practically inaccessible, even for readers who are comfortable with his topic. As one academic reviewer put it, "Mudimbe has produced a work that is as ambitious in concept as it is impenetrable in style." Even when Mudimbe's ideas are strong, they are obscured by his plodding style and pedantic tone. ... Read more

Book Description

Other volumes in this set include ISBN number(s): 0766126536. Volume one of a two volume set. (This description is for all volumes.) Containing an attempt to recover and reconstitute the lost origins of the myths and mysteries, types and symbols, religion and language, with Egypt for the mouthpiece and Africa as the birthplace.Vol. I, Egyptian origins in the British Isles; Egypt; Comparative vocabulary of English and Egyptian words; Hieroglyphics in Britain; Egyptian origins in words; Egyptian water-names; Egyptian names of personages; British symbolical customs and Egyptian naming; Egyptian deities in the British Isles; Egyptian place-names and the record of the stones; Type-names of the people.Vol. II; Comparative vocabulary of Hebrew and Egyptian words; Hebrew cruxes with Egyptian illustrations; Egyptian origins in the Hebrew scriptures, religion, language, and letters; The phenomenal origin of Jehovah-Elohim; Egyptian origin of the Exodus; Moses and Joshua, or the two Lion-Gods of Egypt; An Egyptian dynasty of Hebrew deities identified from the monuments; The Egyptian origin of the Jews traced from the monuments; Comparative vocabulary of Akkado-Assyrian and Egyptian words; Egyptian origins in the Akkado-Assyrian language and mythology; Comparative vocabulary of Maori and Egyptian words; African origins of the Maori; Roots in Africa beyond Egypt.Mr. Massey has collected together all the principal facts known about Egypt, with a view to trace the origin of mankind.Some portions of his theories are undoubtedly correct, especially those which go to prove that the Egyptians are the oldest known historical race, that they are an African people of a peculiar type, and by no means an Asiatic tribe filtered through the Isthmus of Suez.Evidence of their primitive development is to be found in their physical type.The significance of this work was not recognized in its own time over 100 years ago.This book emphasizes the African origins of mankind in Africa.This work could give new pride and awareness in the staggering perspective of the history of Black people.See also, The Natural Genesis. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

truth of the white people offsprint.
I was so happy to know that truth. Massey tells us the truth on the racial origin of the humanity, when he told to the pagge 29-30, that the white was a creation of the black people so-called egyptians.Now, I'am free of allcomplex, I'am free because Massey with the book of the beginnings, gave methe freedom. Thank you Massey, one black people of the louisiane.(01/02/2000) timec@caramail.com ... Read more

Book Description

Scholarship on the West African kingdom of Asante is at the leading edge of Africanist research. T.C. McCaskie gives a detailed and nuanced historical portrait of precolonial Asante. The book is both a profound historical reconstruction of an African polity, and a deeply informed meditation on Asante concepts and ideas. Throughout the book, the Asante experience is consistently discussed in relation to a broad range of historiography and critical theory. ... Read more

Book Description

Refiguring the Archive at once expresses cutting-edgedebates on `the archive' in South Africa and internationally, andpushes the boundaries of those debates. It brings together prominentthinkers from a range of disciplines, mainly South Africans but anumber from other countries. Traditionally archives have been seen aspreserving memory and as holding the past. The contributors to thisbook question this orthodoxy, unfolding the ways in which archivesconstruct, sanctify, and bury pasts. In his contribution, JacquesDerrida (an instantly recognisable name in intellectual discourseworldwide) shows how remembering can never be separated fromforgetting, and argues that the archive is about the future ratherthan the past. Collectively the contributors demonstrate the degree towhich thinking about archives is embracing new realities and newpossibilities. The book expresses a confidence in claiming forarchival discourse previously unentered terrains. It serves as anearly manual for a time that has already begun. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Brilliant Archaeologist
Cyril Aldred was one of the best minds ever to work in Egyptology. He used both common sense and intelligence, and rarely found himself swept up in the fantasies that abound in Egyptology. This book is an excellent example of his meticulous work. Read, for example, his chapter deciphering the contents of KV55. Not just the mummy, but the shrines and other objects, found in a hopeless jumble. Guided by what is simple and probable, he presents a reasonable explanation of how the tomb was found in that state it was; and how such a mixed burial, with objects referring to Akhenaten, Tiye and Smenkhara, came to be.

He also treats Akhenaten's "monotheism" with much less awe that it is usually given. He points out that it wasn't quite a religion ahead of its time, but a return to Old Kingdom sun-worship, and that it was by no means monotheism as we now consider it.

To respond to the issue raised in the review below: Aldred didn't invent the theory of Froelich's syndrome. It was a going theory at that time, as Egyptologists tried to find an explanation for Akhenaten's unique and somewhat feminine appearance.

Aldred knew the disease caused impotence. A working theory for many Egyptologists was that the disease went into remission before it made Akhenaten sterile. Aldred does present the idea that Amenhotep III might have fathered the children, if Akhenaten had been unable to. However, he then shows artwork of Akhenaten in mourning, with a growth of beard, showing that he did have secondary sex characteristics. Aldred then concludes the most likely theory is that Akhenaten fathered his own children.

In regard to the "incest-mania": that, too, was a going theory, not one invented by Aldred. It results from the fact that Akhenaten's three eldest princesses all evidently had daughters when they were very young, and when they were not married. Inscriptions refer to the these infants as "child of the king."

The theory goes that, in a mad attempt to have a male heir of fully royal blood, Ahenaten fathered children on his own children. A distasteful thought, but his own father married his daughter, Akhenaten's sister Sit-Amun, so again there is some basis for the idea.

Aldred also discusses the co-regency of Smenkhara. I personally think he would make short work of current theories that the ruler was really Nefertiti in drag, ruling as Pharaoh. For one thing, he discusses funerary objects (ushebtis) with Nefertiti's name on them which come from about the year 14, the year she "disappeared" or was "exiled." So it would seem likely she died at that time. For another, the body in tomb 55 is a royal male body, evidently an older brother of Tutankhamun. And portraits of King Smenkhara look nothing at all like Nefertiti. They do, however, show family resemblance to Akhenaten and Tut.

To return to the disease that plagued Akhenaten, I think author Bob Brier has it right. He has identified the disease as Marfan's syndrome, which causes, among other things, unusually long fingers and toes. He outlines his theory in his book about King Tut's death. His theory about the boy-king's murder is a bit farfetched, but his work on Marfan's syndrome would seem to be a breakthrough in solving this mystery.

If you are remotely interested in this brief period of history, Aldred's Akhenaten is a must-have.

for everyone interested in Akhenaten...
Written by a notorious Egyptologist, this classic tells of Akhenaten and Nefertiti's life and family, the foundation of Amarna,and the conception of monotheism. One of the best books ever written on the subject, it is well researched and extremely informative, with many illustrations. Definitely recommended to anyone interested in learning more about this pharaoh.

LUDICROUS
The book is well researched and brings detailed information about Egyptology, but when it comes to the biographee, the conclusions presented are simply ludicrous.

First the author, unable to account for Akhenaton's unusual appearance, states that he suffered from a so-called Frohlich Syndrome; however, as that Frohlich disease is an utterly sterilizing one, and Akhenaton is always depicted surrounded by his beloved wife Nefertiti and their many children, Aldred has to rack his brains to support his amazing theory. What does he comes up with then? Of course! All Akhenaton and Nefertiti's seven children were actually generated by Akhenaton's old father, Amenhotep III! How come we never thought of it!

Later on, Aldred forgets all he said before and states, based on nothing but his own weird fantasy, that Akhenaton simply... married his own daughter, and, guess what? had children with her! Extraordinary! Did he cure himself of his Frohlich disease and fathered his grandchild, or did old Amenhotep III play again the stallion and fathered his great-grandchild? Well, that can hardly be, for old Amenhotep was dead and mummified for a long time by then; so, who's the newborn's real father this time? Tuthankhamen? Perhaps the author should have cured himself of that incestmania of his before committing to Egyptology, which is supposed to be a serious science.

Akenhaten-The most intersting King of Egypt
I was fascinated by this book. I have read a lot of different books on the history of Egypt and find Akenhaten the most intersting of subjects. He tried to try something new of a well established religion....was he a few millenniums too early! If you have to read anything on him. Read this.

An exquisite masterpiece worthy of both pharoah and scholar.
This book is a must for all interested in the Amarna period, whether they be a serious student or one whose interest is casual. Though slightly dated, the work is still the largest depository of knowledge concerning Akhenaten other than the late Cyril Aldred, himself. The plates are excellent and compliment well the captivating discussions they accompany. KV55 and its importance to the Amarna period are discussed at length, that discussion including theories on just who it was the make-shift burial was originally for. The conclusion of the book also leaves one imagining the meeting of Cyril and Akhenaten in the afterlife, each enjoying the company of an equally great leader in his field ... Read more