Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated by Trevor Naylor is an excellent introduction to the topic that will likely appeal to a wide range of readers.

While I find this a very interesting topic, I also have to admit my ignorance of much detail. My experience has largely been restricted to sidebars to ancient history rather than analyzing the language and/or texts (used broadly). So as someone with little specific knowledge in the area this was a wonderful way to begin to understand the development and uses of hieroglyphs. I think even those with more knowledge, but not full-time scholars in the area, will be rewarded with what is offered here. While much is new to me, I can see it serving as a quick and easy reference for a hobbyist or someone studying a topic to which this is peripheral but helpful.

This is one of those books that can be read straight through or read in bits and pieces. The less you know, such as myself, I think you'll benefit from reading through it completely first, then dipping back in for things that piqued your interest. If you have a decent foundation in the material, you may prefer to pick and choose what you read, though eventually working through it all should still be rewarding.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )