Customer Reviews

You Can Be a Woman Egyptologist (Careers in Archaeology, Part 1)

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I am a woman Egyptologist, which is probably why my mother gave me this book a little while ago. I was excited to see it. According to the copyright page, "This book is one of a series that emphasizes the value of science and mathematical studies by depicting real women whose careers provide inspirational role models." That said, there is no particularly female slant to this book, which is a good thing. Anyone can be an Egyptologist. However, for a long time this was not true, so perhaps that could have been mentioned.

The book itself is a shoddy affair. The text, written by Egyptologist Betsy M. Bryan, rambles. It discusses a current dig, the author's education and beginning of interest in Egyptology, and various problems in the field, with no guiding structure. Maybe kids could enjoy it; I had trouble following it. I have never read Ms. Bryan's Egyptological writing, but as she is an Egyptologist, her writing skills must be poorly represented here. The book is printed on multicolor paper - day-glow pink, orange, and yellow. Was this done to make the book attractive but cut costs?

Finally, the illustrations are nightmarishly bad. They look like they were drawn by a kid, though apparently the illustrator has art education in his background and does this work professionally. All the illustrations within the book are pen-and-ink drawings with seemingly no respect for the Egyptian art works they represent. Some photos might have been nicer. The front cover appears to have been done with magic markers. This is not bad by itself, but again shows no more skill than one would expect from a ten year old.

Overall, I would not recommend this book to people, of any gender or age, interested in Egyptology. You are better off browsing the local public library. Egypt is so interesting, you won't need a specialized book to get kids thinking about Egyptology as a career.

Page 12:

"When I began my studies at the University of Virginia, I majored in European and Asian history and minored in geology and French.

One of my history professors particularly inspired me. I had noticed that many Egyptian statues stood with their left foot forward and seemed to grip something in their right fist. What did their right fist grip? My professor said he didn't know. He went on to tell me that most of the questions I might ask have never been answered. That was good news, because my fear had been that all the work was finished, and there would be nothing left for me to do. But now I knew there was still room for me.

I began by studying Near East languages and literature, and finally specialized in the history and archaeology of ancient Egypt (Egyptology). Archaeology is the study of artifacts as a means of understanding ancient cultures. Egyptology includes archaeology as well as philology (the study of ancient writings.)"

Page 24 continues "And remember the mystery that so interested me in college? What were those statues clasping in their hands? Can you believe that I came across the answer a few years later in an article called 'An Elusive Shape Within the Fisted Hands of Egyptian Statues.'?

The author of this article concluded that the shape was a piece of cloth held much like a handkerchief. Later in Egyptian history, statues held cylinders in the shape of a papyrus roll.

I felt happy about finding an answer to my 'clenched fist' question, and with having an example of someone working so hard to find an answer!"

BUT NOWHERE IS THE EXPLANATION OF BOTH FEET TOGETHER OF THE STATUES -- OR, ONE FOOT NOTICEABLY FURTHER THAN THE OTHER!

I have been to Egypt, so I know the reason. Does the average person reading the book know the reason, (no less a child being the one reading it) and at the books' end, still not knowing the

answer to the question posed within the text of the book?!

(The answer has to do with at the time the statue was "commissioned", whether the Pharoah which it resembles, was alive or dead. The librarian "in me" says, to find the answer go to a

book on Egyptology) but regretfully must reveal, NOT THIS BOOK.

I did not even want to indicate one star for this book, I felt it needed a "negative" star rating, but the template would only allow a rating of

one star, of which it is unfortunately unworthy. The party reviewing it before me (though I read the book when it was first published and a re-read to write this)is correct in the assessment it is not worth the "pulp" it was written on. The artwork, would make the ancients weep.

I am truly sorry that I must review this with such negativity, but I was embarassed having my hand in the purchasing of this book.