Mummy Dearest

Ron Beckett and Jerry Conlogue
The Lions Press (2005)
ISBN 1592285449
Reviewed by Lisa Kisner for Reader Views (10/06)

This book details some of the adventures the authors had while filming “Mummy Road Show,” which aired for several years on the National Geographic Channel.  Using a nondestructive approach to study mummies, combining radiography and endoscopy, these men search for answers related to mysterious mummies around the world.

“Mummy Dearest” discusses mummies found in different parts of the world.  They perform research on mummies residing in a variety of places including in underground tombs, crypts under a church, in museums and in a high school outside Chicago.  The authors tell the history of each mummy and how likely they arrived in their current state. The author’s sincere appreciation of mummies and their desire to preserve and protect these treasures come through on every page.  Details about the history and culture surrounding each mummy and the startling discoveries the authors find allows the reader to gain an understanding into how important this work is.   The author’s writing entices the reader to find out more about the world of mummies.  I do wish, however, more color pictures were included.

“Mummy Dearest” is a great book to learn about mummies as it is not overloaded in technical detail and very entertaining.  I found this an easy read and no prior knowledge of mummies or science was needed.  This book will delight readers who have any interest in history and/or mummies.  I found this book fascinating and hard to put down.  At the end of the last chapter I wanted more!

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