A fascinating book that deals with a wide variety and aspects of Ancient Egypt, the way of life, the funeral rites, the theologies and various gods and religions that were followed. It is so wide in the information included that it gives a lot of background history of the country as a whole and how it has changed politically, historically and even ecologically with descriptions of flooding, irrigation, man made dams etc. Set out in detailed chapters by the areas of Egypt dealt with in that particular section makes this book an easy reference guide if you were looking for a particular aspect to read about. The only thing I did find a bit frustrating was the sort of high brow and condescending attitude when describing or discussing tourists or the tourist areas mentioned within the book. Two paragraphs especially grated when he describes a crowd of tourists as no better or worse than oneself and later on when in mentioning a temple crowded with tourists you would have to find a quiet corner to contemplate and enjoy the atmosphere. I think the author in this respect has a high opinion of himself as 'above' the tourist section of the public which might put readers off him. The book should be there to just inform and not vaunt the author's views on the tourist class. All in all though a fascinating account and epic in its information gathered and collated and as stated covers a wider variety of topics and areas dealing with Egypt and the surrounding environs.