Breaking The Mirror Of Heaven [Paperback]

I am an avid fan of both authors of this latest book. So I ordered it long before it published.
I was very disappointed as what I expected the basis of the book was anything but! Most of this
tome is a recount of Egypt's history with an account of the charlatan's,Zahi Hawass, rape, pillage and impediment
to objective research into the ancient past. There were scant pages given to actual archeology; an appendix
about King Tut's death, and precious little else. Had I known the theme of this book, I would not have
ordered it. Hope this little review helps others to only buy it if Egypt's national history is what
you want to study.

An excellent book,
I thoroughly enjoyed the modern history of a country I had very little knowledge of, and the expose of Hawass.
The personal stories of both authors added to the enjoyment, both Egyptian born but living outside their beloved country.
This book needed to be written to show the depths that this once great historic country has fallen under a corrupt and egotistical regime, a regime that Hawass was happy to support.
It begs the question what further skeletons are hidden in Hawass's past? Forget Indiana Jones, think Rene Belloq!!!

I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to understand the recent history of Egypt and its recent troubled past.

Bauval and Osmon both occupy, among others on Egyptian history and sources, a growing space on my book shelves, but this book is quite different than most. Breaking the Mirror of Heaven is about the treasure that was once the land of Egypt, a land by all accounts rich in the most beautiful temples, towns and palaces that once existed in the ancient world or virtually anywhere. According passages in one of the Nag Hammadi manuscripts Egypt was once a literal vision of Heaven on earth. What we have today, as documented in this penetrating book is a history of the pillaging and destruction of that once beautiful mirror, much like a fabulouse jewelry case with the rightful owners and keepers helplessly bound by their own indifference, ignorance, profiteering, and religious intolerance as others made off with the treasure, most to be lost forever.

Tragically, the modern overseers installed in office to protect and preserve this national heritage continue to demonstrate continuing theft, destruction, and a myopic understanding of their global contract to protect these priceles monuments, a tyrant among tyrants who has fostered both ineptitude and deliberate removal of priceless ancient materials & monuments under the supervisory direction Mr. Ahi Hawass. After being forcefully ejected and unseating from his post during the recent Egyptian rebellion against Mubarik, Hawass now sits restored in an equal or even more autoritarian position to bring further loss and depredation to the archeology and preservation of ancient Egypt, insidiously thinking he is its greatest presevationist. Tragically, he is only one of many in a long history who have exploited Egypt including most other nations of the world--Egyptians themselves, the anti-Pagan iconoclasm of both Christians and Islamists, but especially imperial France and United Kingdom, both of which can claim ironically that their co-opting of Egyptian art and monuments also set the foundations for a scientific archeology. For anyone attempting to understand the violence suffered to the art, architecture, and social fabric of this ancient civilization over the last 5-7,000 years, this book is a must. It is a must read for any social scientist, archelogist, historian of art, or anyone interested in the human condition and its penchant for fateful deeds and misdeeds. An excellent summary that stays on target.