It isn't easy being a teenage pharaoh, having to deal with assassins, sphinxes, mad high priests, gods, sacred crocodiles and marching mummies. And all you really want is the chance to do something for young people and the inner cities.

Going beyond even the expertise of archaeologists and historians, world-class engineer Craig B. Smith explores the planning and engineering behind the incredible Great Pyramid of Giza. How would the ancient Egyptians have developed their building plans, devised work schedules, managed laborers, solved specific design and engineering problems, or even improvised on the job? The answers are here, along with dazzling, one-of-a-kind color photographs and beautiful hand-drawn illustrations of tools, materials, and building techniques the ancient masters used. In his foreword to the book, Egypt's Undersecretary of State for the Giza Monuments Zahi Hawass explains the importance of understanding the Great Pyramid as a straightforward construction project.

A “richly illustrated . . . engaging, lucid account” of Ancient Egyptian Pyramids, what we know about them now, what we don’t, and what is still debated today (Kirkus Reviews). Hailed by Science News as “the new seminal text,” The Pyramids is a comprehensive record of Egypt’s most awe-inspiring monuments and what Egyptologists now know about them today—from their construction and purpose to the culture that surrounded them. Distinguished Egyptologist Miroslav Verner draws from the research of the earliest Egyptologists as well as the startling discoveries made with late twentieth century technology. Here you will find a clear, authoritative guide to the ancient culture that created the pyramids five thousand years ago without iron or bronze, and with only the most elementary systems of calculation. As Verner explains the magnitude of this accomplishment, he also traces the stories and ideas of the intrepid scientists who uncovered the mysteries of the pyramids. “Editor’s Choice . . . this comprehensive volume details everything you ever wanted to know about pyramids.” —Rosemary Herbert, Boston Herald “Displays both a deep respect for the research of Egyptologists and a comprehensive knowledge of it . . . An important, comprehensive resource for the study of those most mysteriously, enduringly impressive structures.” —Kirkus Reviews “An accessible introduction to the culture of the ancient Egyptians.” —Die Welt

The Great Pyramids of Egypt--all kids over the age of five recognize them instantly. These massive tombs were built thousands of years ago, and still no one knows exactly how the ancient Egyptians did it! In this informative account, Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler tell the story of the powerful pharaohs who commissioned the pyramids at Giza and offer a fascinating look at the culture of the afterlife in ancient Egypt, explaining exactly how mummies were made. Easy to read and scrupulously researched, this explores the mysteries that have attracted countless visitors to the pyramids for centuries.

This generously illustrated work is the most complete reference book ever published on these fascinating and compelling structures of the ancient world. Facts on each of the 42 pharaohs and the monuments they constructed (and commentary from the author who has extensively explored them) include all elements of each pyramid complex that have been discovered, and whether a sarcophagus and mummy have been located. Cross-sectional diagrams and floor plans are provided for all pyramids so far uncovered, as well as photographs where available. Longer essays discuss in painstaking detail the unusual features of such as the Bent Pyramid of Pharaoh Sneferu and the Great Pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu. Eight appendices include a comparison of Egyptian to Aztec and Mayan pyramids; and notable pyramid authors and explorers. The resulting book offers solutions to many of the intriguing mysteries long associated with the pyramids in addition to tantalizing suggestions of discoveries yet to be made.

Massive pyramids tower over the Giza Plateau near Cairo, Egypt. Built in the Bronze Age, these immense stone structures were engineered with remarkable precision. How did the ancient Egyptians construct them without the use of modern tools? Why were they built? Throughout the centuries, historians and archaeologists have studied the pyramids and other Egyptian artifacts in search of possible answers to these questions. The pyramids are filled with mysterious doors and passageways—what other secrets and treasures might lie inside? Find out more about the myths, science, and technology surrounding the creation and exploration of the Egyptian pyramids.

There is a vast range of books on Egypt on the market at present, and it is often hard to make a choice between them; most have a decent text, and one can hardly avoid beautiful illustrations on such a subject. However if you are particularly interested in the pyramids, this may be the book for you. It claims comprehensiveness in being the first fully illustrated survey of all Egypt's pyramids, the text is well-written and based on up-to-date research, and the author is an expert in this field. There is information on many aspects of the pyramids; the legends surrounding them, the activities of archaeologists, the towns which grew around them, the priests and servants who had responsibility for them, and most of all the construction and craftsmanship of the structures themselves. The text is accompanied by many useful explanatory and reconstructive illustrations.