Through concise text and richly detailed black and white illustrations we come to know the philosophy of life and death in ancient Egypt.
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Oct 10, 2011
Ebookwormy
rated it: 
I hesitate to put an age delineation on this timeless classic. We read it for elementary study of ancient Egypt, but Dad was just as intrigued as student and I'm sure the rest of the engineers in our family would sit with this classic and absorb the information.
The story that 'frames' the work is fictional, but all the technology is non-fiction. The main attraction of this book is the line drawings. These drawings that illustrate the numerous steps of the pyramid building process are i More...
The story that 'frames' the work is fictional, but all the technology is non-fiction. The main attraction of this book is the line drawings. These drawings that illustrate the numerous steps of the pyramid building process are i More...
Apr 18, 2011
Luann
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I might have read this years ago, but I couldn't remember for sure. This is worth a second read, if that's what this was. I appreciate David Macaulay's skill at making things I am not terribly interested in very readable for me. I find the pyramids themselves very interesting, but all the minute details of construction could turn into a chore to read with a less adept author. Macaulay's illustrations help a lot with the details and add to my interest in the subject. I was very fascinated in the
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Oct 14, 2008
Andrew
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The pyramid presented in David Macaulay's architecture book is fictional and imaginary. Nevertheless, it is built in the 2400s BC in the same way that pyramids really were built about then, or at least were built insofar as we understand how they were built in 1982. Macaulay, despite being thirty years out of date almost, is still pretty much up to the minute on the 24th century BC and its technology.
does it show that I've been reading Charles Stross lately?
Anyway, this More...
does it show that I've been reading Charles Stross lately?
Anyway, this More...
Nov 04, 2010
Megan
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Black and white drawings illustrate this readable, informative description of the building of the Egyptian pyramids. Probably won't appeal to a wide audience, but readers with an interest in Egypt, mummies, or archetecture will find it fascinating.
Aug 06, 2011
Kris
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I think this was my first Macaulay book. This was simply excellent for helping my young mind get a grasp on the amazing skills and techniques use to build some of the greatest monuments in the world.
Jun 09, 2011
Samantha
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I like when the made the queen's pyramid. It is kind of weird when they take out the brain through the nose and they also take out the intestines and lungs and stuff through a little slit in the body.
Mar 12, 2011
Bowoo
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It was the boringest book I have ever read. Ms. Grgich made us read it, and we had a test on it, and I didn't do that bad, which is surprising, considering I so wasn't paying attention.
Sep 10, 2009
Hannah
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I really like reading this book for history. It really gives good information about the way the Egyption's built the pyramids. It's really easy to understand.
Sep 01, 2010
Maria
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Would definitely recommend to kids ages 9-12 who were interested in ancient Egypt, mummies, the Great Pyramids, architecture.
Feb 23, 2010
Alex
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I used to love these books when I was a kid. Turns out they're still pretty awesome.
Apr 23, 2011
C.M.
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Super wonderful book with tons of illustrations on life in Ancient Egypt.
Jun 04, 2008
Heather
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We looked through this, but didn't read the text out loud. I didn't think my elementary set would understand it and it was a little slow to boot. They did really enjoy the pictures and it helped them visualize the things they'd read about in other books.
It's a valuable visual resource, but may not work for younger kids. I'll have to try it again when they're older.
It's a valuable visual resource, but may not work for younger kids. I'll have to try it again when they're older.
Dec 11, 2007
James
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Another of David MacAulay's great books that uses architectural history as a starting point to portray a whole culture and people, in this case those of the classical Egyptian civilization that created the pyramids. A great book to read with the kids or grandkids, like his companion volumes Castle, Cathedral, Mosque, City, Mill, and Unbuilding.
Sep 12, 2008
Silme
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Kendrick read this book and learned how an Egyptian Pyramid is built, the tools they used, the quarries stone was obtained from and building the pyramid itself. The book was primarily technical and contained little information about the people who built the pyramids.
Jun 10, 2007
Lily
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Classic black and white depiction of how a pyramid was built. If you ever wondered how they did that ... here are the tools and techniques in super-detail!
Now I want to go find McAuley's Cathedral.
Now I want to go find McAuley's Cathedral.
Jan 24, 2008
St-Michel
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Not as good as Castle but still a beautifully done look at one possible theory on the pyramid's construction through the use of delicate pen and ink drawings.
May 27, 2008
Albert F.
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these books were such a treasure to me as a child! wonderful wonderful
