The Oldest Book in the World: Philosophy in the Age of the Pyramids [Hardcover]

A new translation of a philosophical and practical advice classic of the ancient world,? [Mr. Manley's] crisp translations are suggestive of the ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian traditions of wisdom literature, as well as more recent classics such as Castigliones 'Book of the Courtier,' the ruminations of Polonius in 'Hamlet' and Jordan Petersons '12 Rules for Life.' Like Plato in Robin Waterfields 1994 version of 'Gorgias,' Mr. Manleys Ptahhatp speaks our language... Ptahhatp addresses the unchanging realities of politics, family and friendship within another, less tangible reality, the mutable metaphysical framework in which we understand our lives. This, Mr. Manley argues, makes the 'Teaching' not just 'the earliest complete statement of philosophy surviving from ancient Egypt,' but also 'the oldest surviving philosophy book from anywhere in the world.' ... In Mr. Manleys adroit and pioneering translation, the 'Teaching' is philosophy ages before the Greeks had it.