Understanding Hieroglyphs [Paperback]

The title suggests that it is a book about hieroglyphs, and a quick look through it seems to confirm that impression. On reading the book, however, it turns out that only the 1-consonant form is covered, there's nothing about determinatives (really?), there is no grammar to speak of, and that the illustrations from Egyptian inscriptions, although translated, are seldom if ever described in the detail I think a student needs (such as the variant writing Djedju for Djedu, which had me puzzled until I read Collier and Manley's book `How to read Egyptian', which may be more suited to a reader who wants to get involved with the language rather than the letters or symbols it is written with).

Most chapters have tables with common words or terms in hieroglyphs (usually related to the topics covered in that chapter): a very dedicated reader may be able to use these to "translate" some of inscriptions by matching the words in the tables with the hieroglyphs in the inscriptions. It takes a lot of searching, though -- and in a way that does help learning to recognize the various "chunks" of hieroglyphs. But as there is no clear reference to books for further study of hieroglyphs (a must, really), I can't quite make out how this book can be described as a complete introductory guide to hieroglyphs.

However ...

... there's another book here that must be reviewed as well. It's a book almost entirely about Ancient Egyptian society, a book that doesn't go into hieroglyphs more than necessary. This book starts off by describing the power inherent in names, why removing or defacing the name of your enemy is such an effective form of revenge, and why Tutankhamon had the last laugh on his enemies who wanted to obliterate him from history. It goes on with much and diverse information on Egyptian royalty, social geography, the duties of scribes, priests, and tomb workers, and ends by covering how the Egyptians counted things as well as time. The part on Egyptian names contains many thought-provoking parallels with ancient and modern society -- it seems a bit odd with all these "Gift-of-Amen" and "Beloved-of-Re" names until you're reminded of the meaning of names like Theodor and Christopher, Holly and Pascal, and the use of throne names seems equally weird until the similar name changes of popes and the odd British king is observed.

*This* book is a much easier-to-read book, and can be recommended to anyone who needs a first guide to Egyptian culture and society. The only things I miss so far is notes on trade, crafts, farming etc. But if that was included the book would probably be at least twice its size, and no longer quite as light and enjoyable read as it actually is. That is also the reason why I don't bother to complain about the index: it's unusable, true, but this is really not the kind of book that needs an index very badly. The understanding-hieroglyphs book, though, does need a better index.

I *am* in two minds about this book, as I said. The book suggested by the title doesn't seem to deserve much of a rating, I'm sorry to say, unless your language-learning style involves jumping in at the deep end. My rating reflects this, as I suspect other readers may judge the book from its title. The "other" book, however, is well worth excavating from where it is hidden among the Egyptian hieroglyphs. I did not expect this kind of contents when I bought the book, but I'm glad I found it. I think I can promise you, too, a few treasures.