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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
Book Description
Hieroglyphs are pictures used as signs in writing. When standing before an ancient tablet in a museum or visiting an Egyptian monument, we marvel at this unique writing and puzzle over its meaning. Now, with the help of Egyptologists Mark Collier and Bill Manley, museum-goers, tourists, and armchair travelers alike can gain a basic knowledge of the language and culture of ancient Egypt.
Collier and Manley's novel approach is informed by years of experience teaching Egyptian hieroglyphs to non-specialists. Using attractive drawings of actual inscriptions displayed in the British Museum, they concentrate on the kind of hieroglyphs readers might encounter in other collections, especially funerary writings and tomb scenes. Each chapter introduces a new aspect of hieroglyphic script or Middle Egyptian grammar and encourages acquisition of reading skills with practical exercises.
The texts offer insights into the daily experiences of their ancient authors and touch on topics ranging from pharaonic administration to family life to the Egyptian way of death. With this book as a guide, one can enjoy a whole new experience in understanding Egyptian art and artifacts around the world.
Customer Reviews:
Incredibly well thought out and put together.......2007-09-03
I love this book! It absolutely is for the "true beginner" and has plenty of exercises, well thought out chapters and a ton of information in the many appendixes (including a small dictionary, hieroglyphic sign lists and small descriptions). I'd recommend this book to ANYONE who is looking to improve on their Hieroglyphic knowledge or who would like to learn even a little bit about them!
Exactly what I wanted........2007-08-15
I do not know a lot about hieroglyphics beyond touring Egypt 3 times, which is why I purchased this book. But I can tell you that it is very detailed and easy to read. I'm very happy with this purchase.
Perfect Introduction for a Beginner Like Moi!.......2007-06-23
This book is more than I had expected. It holds an important place in my Reading Corner, and I have spent bits of time [almost] daily, working at my own pace... and find I am in complete understanding of the entire text... ready to move on to more advanced material.
That I have absorbed this material on my own, without an instructor, is -- to me! -- significant. I recommend this book to those who may be casually interested in learning to decipher Middle Egyptian funerary texts, which in retrospect appears to be a logical way to introduce the language.
== m htp ==
An Excellent Introductory book.......2007-03-09
A top line, well structured book that reads easily with clear explanations. Serious study, guided by this book will provide a good foundation for further study of this fascinating language.
Unclear.......2007-02-17
Though I found this book somewhat useful. I also found there to be many inaccurate translations. In ancient Egypt, they read from either left to right, top to bottom or bottom to top, however, never did they read from right to left. When I seek to add to my knowledge in any ancient language, I seek to learn it as they would have read it and in this book, it was confusing as the authors guide you through as if reading the english language.
I recommened E.A. Wallis Budge's Easy Lessons in Egyptian Hieroglyphics a much more accurate source as he breaks it down, and yet guides you easier and with less confusion in how the ancients would have read the script.
Average customer rating:
- The title is misleading but the book may still prove useful.
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Alpha Teach Yourself Black and White Photography in 24 Hours
Thomas McGovern
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0028643925 |
Customer Reviews:
The title is misleading but the book may still prove useful........2002-11-17
If what you want to learn are the steps to being able to develop and print your own black and white images, then only Part III of this book will be of interest to you. Parts I and II delve into the rudimentary basics of photography in general such as choosing a lens and camera, what medium and large format is, taking people pictures, etc..
In this sense, the book can be considered a basic introduction to photography in general. It is not specialized to black and white photography as the title implies. If you already have the basics of taking pictures and just want to learn the best methods to begin developing and printing your own black and white prints, skip this book. It will repeat a lot of what you already know.
However, if you are truly a beginner photographer and want a good overview, with some information on doing black and white photography thrown in, this book may be just the book for you.
I find the title misleading in that the sections on black and white photography are minimal in comparison to the sections on the basics of photography in general.
Book Description
Both film buffs and students of the cinema will find this reference indispensable. It gives a chronological overview of film, analyzing genres such as westerns and sci-fi; explores different artistic approaches, techniques, and effects; and profiles a wide variety of directors, from Alfred Hitchcock to Steven Spielberg.
The book uncovers the secrets of film reviewing and the conventions reviewers adopt when they evaluate films. This new edition includes an expanded section concerning film studies on the Internet. Whatever readers' interest in film, Teach Yourself Film Studies will provide them with the skills to turn them into well-informed film critics.
Customer Reviews:
"one is lost in admiration of the author's skill...".......2000-07-01
"Most beginners' guides of this sort fail miserably to fulfil (sic) their brief, being written by uncompromising ideologues who refuse to concede anything to the needs of the general reader. Buckland's pocket-sized volume represents a breakthrough: it's genuinely pitched at novices and succeeds in maintaining a perfect balance between clarity and intellectual complexity. One is lost in admiration of the author's skill at reducing the major issues and approaches to a scale exactly calibrated for undergraduate seminar discussion without the least hint of condescension in tone. The format of efficient bullet-pointing and succinct case studies can be freely cribbed from in planning lessons for years to come. (PM)" -- from Sight & Sound, a British film magazine
Average customer rating:
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Introduccion a Los Jeroglificos Egipcios / How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Step by Step Guide to Teach Yourself (Libros Singulares (Ls))
Bill Manley , and
Mark Collier
Manufacturer: Alianza
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 8420629375 |
Book Description
Whether attending an art appreciation class, visiting a museum, or checking out a gallery exhibit, Teach Yourself Art History introduces neophytes to the fine art of interpreting paintings. Accessible text is accompanied by a 16-page color section and black-and-white images and illustrations. Together these words and visuals provide a framework for understanding the work of great artists in terms of form, social and historical contexts, representation of gender, psychology, and more. Additionally, the book provides a reference for key terms and definitions currently used by art connoisseurs.
Average customer rating:
- a good start
- Somewhat disappointing but not an unmitigated disaster
- Excellent, concise but complete Introductury Book
- Don't buy this book!
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Teach Yourself Hieroglyphics
Ron Bonewitz , and
Sean McCarthy
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0071426582 |
Book Description
For anyone who's ever wanted to decipher ancient inscriptions, Teach Yourself Hieroglyphics is the ultimate resource. This lively and informative guide uncovers the mysteries of Egyptian and Mayan hieroglyphics, revealing how these ancient languages work and exploring the fascinating cultures that used them. It demonstrates just how simple and fun hieroglyphics are to work with, offering readers plenty of practice in drawing their own on blank cartouches.
Customer Reviews:
a good start.......2006-06-07
This is a good beginner's book for this beautiful ancient language. Most of the entire book deals with ancient Egyptian, but there are a few chapters discussing Mayan hieroglyphs as well. The Egyptian text I believe is Middle Egyptian, as it is the most common type of Egyptian I think. The basic "alphabet" is discussed, along with the confusing ideograms, logograms, phonograms, determinatives, etc. There are exercises as well, some are very short, and when you get to the last chapters, you translate somewhat of a long text. All the answers can be found in the back of the book. For Mayan, the basic "alphabet" is discussed as well. There is one whole chapter discussing mayan calenders and numbers, and it is quite interesting. Overall, this is a good book to start out with. However, there are some problems with learning the Middle Egyptian, regarding the way it's read. At some parts, I found it difficult to translate the Egyptian into English because of the way the hieroglyphs were placed. Also, the section for Mayan in the book was too small. The author should have expanded more, because Mayan is just as interesting as any ancient Egyptian language. After reading this book, I would read the book by Mark Collier which goes in more detail for Middle Egyptian. Plus, alot of the exercises from this book seem to come from Collier's book.
Somewhat disappointing but not an unmitigated disaster.......2006-02-22
First, let me say that I am not an Egyptologist (as one of the reviewers below). I bought the book as I have an interest in ancient history and also languages. I gave this book a 3+. It doesn't really cover the ancient Egyptian language very well, and I wish that the author had dispensed with the Mayan and concentrated more on the Egyptian language.
However, I do take issue with the first reviewer below who claims: "The author has not realized that Egyptian hieroglyphs can be read from left to right OR from right to left, depending on which way the signs face. Therefore he has transliterated all his examples backwards."
On page 12 one reads: "Hieroglyphics were generally written from right to left-just as modern Arabic-unless there was a particular reason to write them from left to right. ... In this book hieroglyphs are written from right to left, because most inscriptions the reader will want to decipher are written this way. When looking at an inscription, it is easy to tell whether to read it right to left or left to right: the figures in the inscription face the direction from which it is to be read."
Comments from readers more familiar with Egyptian hieroglyphs are solicited.
Excellent, concise but complete Introductury Book.......2003-12-08
In the great tradition of the Teach Yourself series, this one shines. I cannot comment on the Mayan section but the Egyptian one is probably the most complete, yet simple to understand, introduction to Egyptian Hieroglyphics (or Hieroglyphs). It describes the main grammatic topics, including conjugation of verbs, number, possessive pronouns etc. It also includes a chapter on the "offering formula", probably the most common contruction found on monumental inscriptions. The hieroglyphic words are written from right to left (most common way) and are, of course, transliterated correctly. A great book for it price.
Don't buy this book!.......2001-06-06
This book was written by a "trained geologist", and purports to teach the basics of ancient Egyptian and Mayan hieroglyphs. I can't comment on the Mayan section (which is very small), but the Egyptian section is woeful.
As a trained Egyptologist, I have often thought the Teach Yourself series should have a volume on Egyptian HIEROGLYPHS (NOT hieroglyphics!), so I grabbed this when I saw it. It is hopeless. The author has not realised that Egyptian hieroglyphs can be read from left to right OR from right to left, depending on which way the signs face. Therefore he has transliterated all his examples backwards.
DUH! BASIC mistake.
There are other mistakes in the book. If you want to learn to read Egyptian hieroglyphs, read Collier & Manley's How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Step-by-Step Guide To Teach Yourself.
Teach Yourself Books did not do themselves a favour by publishing Ron Bonewitz's book.
Book Description
Are there no new ideas to be invented? Are today's ideas really just borrowed from previous times? Postmodernism says this is so, and it's one of the hottest philosophies of today. The book provides an indispensable guide to this often-demanding terrain for readers encountering theories of postmodernism for the first time and places the subject in a broad context. It introduces a wide range of ideas, thinkers, and views yet maintains the readers' focus by linking theory with concrete examples from both "high" and "popular" culture. After completing Teach Yourself Postmodernism, readers will never look at their world the same way again.
Customer Reviews:
A simple book on a complex subject.......2007-08-13
I had always heard the term "postmodernism" and never really put much thought into it. However about four years ago, while I was working on my masters in social sciences the term was brought up again and again. After reading many philosophy type books, I thought the concept was grasped. Consequently, the notion of postmodernism was still nebulous, evasive and elusive. I can recall asking my advisor in my graduate program what defines a postmodern theorist. He simplistically stated that a postmodern theorist will claim he/she isn't a postmodern theorist. Also postmodern theorists tend to not agree with one and other.
Ultimately I felt quasi-comfortable about my knowledge in postmodernism, yet I had a thirst for more. This led me to look for a book on the topic and to "Teach Yourself Postmodernism". I have to say that I am very pleased with the content within the pages of this paperback by Glenn Ward. This book spoke of postmodernism in terms of architecture, art, music, film, history, politics, fashion, languages/words/text and psychology (to list a few). Another thing that I liked about this book is it provided many lucid and tangible examples when discussing concepts. For instance, the movie Blade Runner was used as paradigm of postmodernism.
Modernism was also tackled in this book, mainly because there can't be postmodern without modern. The book also is reader friendly. However, there were some aspects/points that were totally over my head. I reread many components several times and grasped it and other things were just way too abstract for me to clench.
Other cool parts of this book:
* Ideas are broken down by chapters
* Theorists from both modern & postmodern are reviewed
* Books on similar subject matter within a chapter are provided
* There is a chronological list dates of postmodern history
* A glossary of key terms used throughout the book
* As noted prior, many lucid examples of postmodernism
Overall, I felt like this was a great book to learn about not only postmodernism, but society and really the world people live in. The book is only about 232 pages, but Glenn Ward packed a great deal of information in this book. I would be really interested in reading another book by him, just based off this one. After finishing this book, I feel like I have a more solid understanding of the complex perception that is postmodernism.
This is the book I should have read first.......2007-01-08
Teach Yourself Postmodernism, despite the slightly tacky series title, is by far the best introduction to the topic I have yet to come across. It is easy to read, exceptionally inclusive, and well-researched,and concludes every section with what critics of the philosopher/philosophy say about him/it. It is very narrative-neutral in its own postmodern way.
Even readers already familiar with the work of many the writers and philosophers most closely associated with post modernism will find this book useful, as it serves as an excellent pocket resource to all of the important people and ideas of our post-modern era - including the idea that postmdernism is an oxymoron or just another modernism.
Nice Intro.......2006-07-08
This is a good read if you're new to what postmodernism is all about. It's fairly clear as far as explaining things and it gives you direction on who and what to read should you desire to delve deeper into postmodernism.
A good explanation of Postmodernism.......2006-07-02
The first chapter is a bit confusing, but once you read the next few chapters, you realize that postmodernism is difficult to put into a box. The following chapters explain well the effect of PM on architecture,art, and so forth. If you are trying to gain a better understanding and perspective of PM, this is a good book to do so. Just don't give it up based on the first chapter.
Power of Thought.......2006-04-05
This book represents a vast sweep of postmodern culture and thought. Its eight chapters cover eight major areas of postmodernism. Each chapter focuses on the historical development of a major area of thought or culture (typically its roots in modernism), the critical hinges that turned things, the major influences and persons involved, the misconceptions one should be aware of, and finally, critiques of the postmodern attitude and suggestions for further reading. With such a combination, this book aims to make one "savvy".
After dealing at first with postmodern architecture, literature, and visual art (some of the surfaces of postmodern culture), the author gets stuck into philosophical issues such as the deconstruction of meaning and the postmodern self. This is where he would seem to come into his own. He shows great power of thought in relating a vast field of influences to each other. This kind of writing is rare, and makes this, in my view, a very valuable book. An example is his treatment of structuralism -- beginning with Saussure, tracing its subsequent influences, and describing various twists as it transforms into post-structuralism and various streams.
I had two reservations about the book, yet these should by no means detract from its value. Firstly, there is virtually no treatment of the considerable influence of postmodernism on religion, particularly Christianity. Secondly, the author may sometimes assume a basic knowledge on the part of the reader. As an example, he introduces structuralism as "an approach or method". The complete beginner might ask: a method for what? While the answers do emerge, a few explanatory sentences might have fast-forwarded the reader's comprehension.
Finally, where did they find such velvety paper? The book has an unusual feel.
Average customer rating:
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Teach Yourself Theatre (Teach Yourself)
Mark Pemberton
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0071496963 |
Book Description
Act locally
Teach Yourself Theater covers all aspects of community theater, from acting to lighting to managing. It includes important advice on coping with opening-night nerves, health and safety issues, funding, taxes, and more.
Average customer rating:
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Theatre (Teach Yourself)
Richard Foulkes
Manufacturer: NTC/Contemporary Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0844226912 |
Books:
- Illusive: Contemporary Illustration And Its Context
- Introducing Character Animation with Blender
- Introduction to Statistical Quality Control
- Japanese No Masks: With 300 Illustrations of Authentic Historical Examples (Dover Books on Fine Art)
- Kiss Theory Good Bye: Five Proven Ways to Get Extraordinary Results in Any Company
- Kovels' New Dictionary of Marks: Pottery and Porcelain 1850 to Present (Kovel's Dictionary of Marks)
- Leroy Neiman on Safari
- Life: Picture Puzzle (Picture Puzzles)
- Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach (4th Edition)
- Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach (4th Edition)
Books Index
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- Flowers from Shakespeare's garden: A posy from the plays
- Understanding Health Insurance: A Guide to Billing and Reimbursment
- Microbes of Merit
The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day
An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary : With an Index of English Words, King List, and Geographical List with Indexes, List of Hieroglyphic Characters, Coptic and Semitic Alphabets (Vol 1)
Ancient Egyptian Calligraphy A Beginner's Guide to Writing Hieroglyphs
The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt
The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt
