Protecting Pharaoh's Treasures: My Life in Egyptology

Quite possibly the best memoir by any Egyptologist and provides great insight on the fabric of Egyptian society from Nasser’s time to present day. A well-written account of how a young girl from a small village in the Nile Delta rose to become Director of the Egyptian Museum, braving corruption, sexism, and treachery within the government. Highly recommended.

Simply amazing. Not knowing much about the history of Egypt, I felt this book not only opened up that part of the world to me, but it also inspired me to go for the dreams you truly believe in, no matter your gender or status. Wafaa seems like such a strong woman through her writing and experiences. Greatly written.

Wafaa El Saddik is a remarkable Egyptian lady whose devotion to her country’s culture and history shines through the pages of this fascinating book. As the director of a world famous museum her ability to confront a corrupt, venal and sexist bureaucracy is inspiring. She is unsparing in her description of the social and economic state of her country, the result of sixty years of misrule. Hopefully this is just a brief interlude in the 4,000 years of its history.

One can only admire Wafaa El Saddick reconstructing some of the past and present history of Egypt.It is a most vivid, informative book of “Protecting Pharaoh’s Treasures”. Helga Lose

Good book about women's progress in egyptology. Sad to read of all the corruption.

I have never read a book on Egypt quite like this one. It was a fascinating history of Wafaa and the political, economic and military life of Egypt between the 1950s to 2000s. I enjoyed reading about her education and travels to the US and Europe as a young Egyptian academic. Only the last few chapters are about her work at the Cairo Museum, it could have been the whole book, perhaps the sequel. For anyone interested in modern Egypt or Egyptology, Wafaa's book is a must.

Excellent read. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys biographies, Egyptology, or museums.