I needed this book mostly for my school work and it was very helpful! I was always fascinated with Ancient Egypt so I know a lot of things about its culture but this book taught me a few interesting facts. All in all it's an amazing book for all my history geeks.

This is an interesting nonfiction work that delves into many different details concerning Egyptian mummies and the West’s long fascination and mistreatment of them. The author includes general details surrounding the mummification process and the West’s growing fascination with mummies during the 18th and 19th centuries. There were also discussions of their representation in pop culture, and the shift from fetishization to terrifying cursed beings.

I really liked how this work was set up, and that it was the author’s story of how he and his team did their best to learn about the mummy in their care in non-invasive ways. This included examining all details possible to learn the person’s name, using CT scans on the human remains and radiocarbon dating on the non-human parts, and other attempts at nondestructive analysis. Then the author goes on to do his best to provide some historical context for the man’s life, broader contexts of the man’s contemporary world, and some hypotheses about possible personal details.

The author did get into some philosophical discussions that were relevant and not too heavy (e.g., who owns the ancient dead, scientific study versus ethics, “curiosity needs a conscience,” etc.). The author’s goal was to not speak for the dead and to not exhume any more bodies, but to tell the stories and give names to the remains of those already displaced.

If you’re interested in ancient Egypt, mummies, and a fascinating approach to history, then this book is absolutely worth checking out. I listened to the audiobook version of this work and the narrator did a fantastic job, but the eBook/physical versions of the book have pictures and figures. My thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have been always fascinated with Mummy and Egyptology and as soon as I saw the title I was up for it.

This is well researched book and the audiobook was good and yet I couldn't engage myself. Some parts were interesting but some were just too boring to hold my attention. This doesn't happen often that I drift from Audiobook and start thinking about something else entirely. I was a little disappointed yet I learned from the book so I will recommend it to those who are keen on learning more about the subject.

Thank you Netgalley and Tantor audio got the audiobook ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This is so interesting and fun to listen to! I think I would have liked to see the photos in the print version, but I didn't feel like I was missing critical information with the audiobook format.

This book looks through the lens of one particular mummy in a university collection at the history of mummies in general. It talks about many topics from how they were initially created, what their purpose was, different things that American and European explorers have done to them from traveling roadshows to grinding them up as medicine, and finally ways that scientists are trying to identify bodies without desecrating them

I enjoyed this one but am not sure that I would buy it now that I've read it. But I do have some ppl to recommend it to!

As someone who has always been fascinated by history and Egyptian history, I was excited to pick this one up. I have been wanting to learn more about Egyptians recently, so I was looking forward to this. This book gave a great explanation to a niche area of people's fascination with mummies. I didn’t realize before reading this the history of how they were bought, traded and kept in the US which was fascinating. Holt does a great job of crafting a story, an interesting story of how these mummies ended up where they did. This is a quick, easy, interesting listen that I recommend picking up.

I’ve long been a devotee of Ancient Egyptian art and history, though my specific tastes run mostly toward Egyptomania and what I think of as the “second life” of Ancient Egypt’s art and artifacts in more recent cultural history.

This book is a delightful and well-written dive into one sub-niche of that niche, which is what I would refer to as the “Everyman Mummies”. You know, the guys and gals who don’t get a lot of ink because they weren’t buried in a pyramid or connected to an Egyptian royal.

This book explores the more modern fates of this subset of mummies who (surprise!) were not even accorded the minimal dignity afforded to those with a pharaonic connection.

Many were sold cheaply as macabre tourist souvenirs, many went to universities (where their “care” varied wildly in quality), and some were sold by the individual body part to collectors who wanted to create a Frankenmummy for their personal collection.

I have mixed feelings about remains being removed from burial sites and as an art historian am often less liberal on the topic than I am about most other things based largely on a reverence of knowledge above most else, but the fates of many of these Everyman mummies seems a bridge too far by any standard.

But the cultural fascination with them that caused much of their travels thousands of years after death is absolutely fascinating, and Holt does an exceptionally wonderful job of building a gorgeous and riveting piece of narrative nonfiction around their fates. I don’t have a single criticism of this book except that I wish it was longer. I’m very eager to seek out more of Holt’s work.

This is a quick, easy listen full of interesting information. I was riveted and listened to all of it in pretty much one go. I learned a lot about how mummies have been treated over time. Warning (the book includes this warning, too): if you are squeamish, proceed with caution!

I was thoroughly interested in Ancient Egypt since I was in grade school. I was very excited to receive the audiobook from NetGalley and started listening immediately. I was completely fascinated by the in-depth research that the author did. I enjoyed how the author tied Ankh-Hap's mummy to the history of mummification and the American and European fascination with Egyptian mummies. I also enjoyed how Holt included fiction books and movies and how they evolved over the years.

3.5⭐️ A fascinating story following the journey of one mummy through time. Some parts got a little boring but over all it was a very interesting book about mummy’s, I feel like I learned a lot. The narration was good.

‘A Mystery from the Mummy-Pits’ tells ‘The Amazing Journey of Ankh-Hap’, Frank L. Holt tells a captivating tale of the journey surrounding one mummy, set against the backdrop of the experiences of Ancient Egyptian Mummies in our modern age. This is informative experience that I feel even seasoned Historians will learn something new from.

The audiobook experience was incredibly enjoyable, Nigel Patterson is an eloquent narrator who speaks clearly and with feeling as he narrates Holt’s experiences with Ankh-Hap and as he enlightens the audience on the indignities experienced by mummies in the name of modern entertainment and ‘science’.

This volume is a really appropriate length, it is a quick listen which means that nothing is drawn out into unnecessary detail, each facet of the story is engaging. The personal aspect of this History sets it apart from many others (which conform to the tradition history of being detached from personal experiences) and adds an element of investment for the audience as we too seek to find answers on Ankh-hap. This personal quest has been integrated with the general history of the treatment of mummies quite well, weaving between both in equal measure. It was delivered in a fashion that was accessible to those with only a minimal understanding of Egyptology and Archaeology, but, not also not basic enough to bore or even patronise those with a more comprehensive understanding of those fields.

As a consumer of film and literature, I particularly enjoyed the analysis of the changing role mummies played in popular culture. As it examined their presence in literature, film, TV and comic books from the 19th through to the 21st century.

My one criticism would be that I wish a pdf of the figures was distributed with the audio, they are referenced as being “available with the physical and ebook versions” throughout the audio. While their absence certainly didn’t detract heavily from the experience, it would have been nice to refer back to some of the images that were deemed important enough to be included in the other versions of this text.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for giving me access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review, these thoughts are all my own.

This was a shorter book than I had expected. It describes the mummy of Ankh-Hap, and the journey both the man and the mummy took. This includes descriptions of what life might have been like during the Ptolemaic era and how the mummification process works, which I have always found very fascinating.

Holt then goes into detail about tomb robbers and how mummies were trafficked and used for various purposes, including as exhibitions in circuses, ingredients in paints and medicines, firework material, and store marketing. He then goes on to discuss how mummies are portrayed in pop culture as monsters intent on revenge against those who raided their tombs and disturbed their afterlife. The final portion of the book focuses on the specific journey of Ankh-Hap’s mummy into various displays, and ending up in a college classroom.

I really enjoyed learning more about the more recent history of mummies and public perception of them. I think it’s important to remember the darker side of our past and treatment of these human remains. If this is an interesting topic to you, I’d recommend picking up this book. I would, however, recommend reading this as an ebook or physical book, as the audiobook mentions several images that I did not get a chance to see.

Narrated by Nigel Patterson

A fascinating look into the mummy trade, and the life of one before and after death.

I really enjoyed the way this was laid out. There's a lot of info, but the way it's organised makes it easy to digest. This book discusses firstly the practice of mummification and its hows and whys, followed by some of the grievances these human remains suffered in later years. There's a lot of information on travelling mummies as attractions and display pieces for the rich, and how parts were often sold for various reasons - including medicinal.

There's an exploration of mummies in pop culture, and how it has impacted the societal view, turning these ancient remains into villainous figures. Further, there's the quest to determine whose remains are whose, and where, and how they got there.

Throughout, there's a focus on Ankh-Hap, a 'regular Joe' type figure, in comparison to the much more famous Tutankhamun.

I found it really easy to listen to, and fascinating. I appreciated the respect the author had, and the care he took to remind the reader that, ultimately, mummies are human remains that deserve to be treated as such.

As much as I enjoyed the audio, I think this book would really come alive with the images and figures mentioned in the audio. I'd love to have seen the accompanying photos, depictions and graphs. It was also a challenge when mummies were referred to by alphanumeric sequences, which I feel would easily be rectified by sight.

That said, I enjoyed the audio for its flawless pronunciation, which helped me really picture these historical figures instead of getting bogged down by the spelling of names.

It was an insightful, respectful exploration of mummies and their place in history as well as modern culture. I really enjoyed it, and highly recommend for anyone interested in the subject matter.

With thanks to Netgalley for an audio ARC

Has there ever been anyone wholly disinterested in Egyptology?? I don’t think so hahaha!

So, I was really excited to have gotten this short audiobook from NetGalley and Tantor Audio! I thought learning the history of Ankh-Hap was pretty interesting. I learned a lot—pointedly that he was on the campus of TAMU for so long?? My grandpa went to school there and so I’ve grown up a lifelong fan and somehow never knew about that?? So that was cool! I also learned a bit more about the ways that mummies exist in their sarcophagi—I didn’t know that sometimes their bodies would be mutilated to fit inside, nor did I know that sometimes body parts would be replaced?? That part was WILD! Of course, no book about mummies would be complete without mention of all the mummy monsters and bad-guys from stories and movies starting in the early 1900s and even up until now!

This is a quick listen (so I’d assume a quick read!) and the narrator mentioned pictures and figures that would have been included in a print copy of the book, so I’m envious of people who had those for reference!! I’d recommend to anyone who is interested in the subject, but I’ll also warn that it is fact-heavy and historical, so it might not be the most appealing to someone looking for a book that has a quick pace and action/mystery like is mentioned in the title. :)

It is hard to ignore a book about Mummy when I have been a fan of anything Egyptology (books, movies, articles, documentaries). So I decided to read this one that talks about the other side of such explorations including trafficking, the black market, human pranks and even fake products.

My favourite topic addressed in the book was regarding the whole Mummy Vibe, how from a very young age we are taught to be scared of them because they may come back to life and eat you alive. I was astonished to know that many children simply compare them to mythical creatures who do not exist. Like with all the level of fascination and entertainment we have created around them, many have forgotten the cultural angle of this practice.

I do wish the book was a bit longer and it also shared further insights on the cultural significance besides the ordinary reasons for mummification. The pacing and structure of the book were another area I wasn't the biggest fan of as it felt like certain topics were talked about on and off throughout the book rather than clubbing them together in a specific chapter. Overall, a scholarly book if you know the back stories of people/museums claiming to own an original mummy.

Thank you @netgalley @tantoraudio for the Audio ARC.
Genre: #nonfiction #history #egypt
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️

I feel I need to give a disclaimer that while I am not a professional in Egyptology/archaeology/anthropology, I do have a university degree in the subject area which is partially why I was originally drawn to this book.

I really appreciated how well Holt did making this academically researched and published non fiction book about history read much less dense than most other books in its same category.

I was shocked and appalled at the “humans consume mummies” portion of the book and it cause extreme emotions multiple times.

The only thing I would change it a few sections did feel as if Holt just couldn’t decide what facts he wanted to cut down so he just listed them all which was impossible to remember so many quick fire lists in a row.

I did read this book prior to pub date thanks to the generosity of #NetGalley and #TantorAudio but all opinions are my own!

This book is a fascinating exploration in what has happened to mummies since being pulled from Egypt to the modern day. It uses the details of a singular mummy to highlight the various struggles and mutilations that have been conducted on mummies because we are fascinated by them. It was a quick listen, and the narrator was pleasant and soothing while delivering the facts within the book.

The perfect book for anyone who had an Ancient Egypt phase (or a current obsession). I read this book in a day and found it to be thoroughly enjoyable. I enjoyed the conversation discussing the view that Hollywood has on mummies and how the archeology tells a different tale. It was fascinating getting to learn about Ankh-Hap, who I did not have much pre-existing knowledge on. I though this history was approachable, interesting, and informative. Definitely one I will be recommending to my friends. This audiobook also made me want to read the print book so that I could see all the figures that were referenced to in the audiobook. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC review audiobook.

What a great read! I enjoyed the look into the mummy market, and some of the practices from the ancient world. Who knew they were a bit con artisty too! From missing limbs, made up parts, and some rather unsavory practices - this book shines a light on some of the undetected practices that were occuring in the ancient world. However, it does not remain there. From an unknown mummy in the dark corners of academia, the author begins to tell a story - one that was lost for thousands of years. 

For a while, there was a real market for mummies, including use as headache relief, digestion, and so much more. Who knows what valuable information was lost during the craze on the market. Mummies were a highly sought-after commodity, and many bought pieces, aumulets, and more as rather macabre souvenirs. Thankfully, we have several mummies that were not desecrated, and have revealed valuable information on burial practices, causes of death, and more.

The author takes us on a journey, and the mummy of Ankh-Hap. It was a great look -with a lot of information and well-researched. I enjoyed this audiobook immensely. I loved taking a deeper dive into some of the areas in Egyptian history. While is not your run-of-the-mill look into Egypt, it is one area that has been begging to be explored, and the faces and lives of those who died thousands of years ago, can finally reveal their last secrets.
Highly recommend this read!

I was able to listen to this audiobook and it was great! The story was incredibly interesting, the author takes the reader through trying to solve the mystery of a specific mummy at the University of Houston and how he got to Houston from Egypt. The author includes enough information about the history of Egyptology and historical fascination of mummies to be interesting but not overwhelming. The audiobook production was fantastic. The narrator has that David Attenborough tambor and cadence that keeps you engaged.