In The Shortest History of Egypt, Maria Golia draws on extensive historical research, and her experience as a speechwriter for Egypt's first family, to offer a fresh and insightful perspective on one of the world's oldest civilisations. Golia deftly traces Egypt's trajectory from Neolithic times to the Arab Spring and up to the present day, and in doing so illuminates the environmental, temporal and cultural forces that have shaped it.

Egypt looms large in the popular imagination, conjuring images of pyramids, pharaohs, tomb raiders and vast deserts. Yet its true allure might lie in its impressively long history and what it tells us about the human condition. Just like the ancients, we're preoccupied with life's brevity and how to prolong its pleasures and reduce its pains. In many ways, Egypt is a case study in how people endure.

Written with wit, clarity and a contemporary beat, this is a wild and intoxicating ride through Egypt's history.