Bridget McDermott

Excellent explanation of the intricacies of hieroglyphic writing, with its determinatives, etc. The distinction between our modern English alphabet and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics is not really so great as Neil Postman imagines.

Despite one or two typographical errors resulting in overstruck glyphs, this is a great book. In addition to explaining the meanings of the more common hieroglyphs and hieroglyphic phrases, the book also explains the cultural forces behind them. Each of the first four chapters is broken up into two to four page highly accessable chunks. The final chapter, somewhat uninspiringly called "Resource File", is a compendium of reference tables.

Full color photographs make this book interesting to show more folks who are not as interested in decoding Egyptian inscriptions, but who appreciate ancient Egyptian art. show less

Good overview of hieroglyphs with commonly used phrases and background information on where some of the signs originated.

How to Read the Secret Language of the Pharaohs.