A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America
Billed as "more reliable than Herodotus and more upbeat than the
Book of the Dead," Ancient Egypt on 5 Deben a Day is written as
a tongue-in-cheek travel guide from 1250 B.C., when Egypt was at
its pinnacle during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II. This
format and the author's wry sense of humor create an
entertaining introduction to the land of the Nile.  The book
begins, as most travel guides do, with information to orient
tourists. "Money Matters" details the Egyptian exchange system
(one deben is the value of a sack of wheat, four to five deben a
tunic, and 50 a cow). "Getting There" gives the lowdown on land
routes to Egypt through Palestine, or sailing there via
Phoenicia. Of course, there is advice on cultural niceties
(don't laugh at the animal-headed gods). Scattered throughout
are boxes with brief notes about historical figures, customs,
and beliefs, and even an ancient Egyptian cure for baldness!  At
the end, true to guidebook format, there