Kemet 101: An Introduction to Ancient Egyptian History and Culture

By: Perry Kyles

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

In Kemet 101 Dr. Kyles brings to life one of the most misunderstood cultures in human history with a wide range of images and methodologies. Kemet 101 dispels several myths, including the myth of an Asiatic origin of Nile Valley civilizations. Kemet 101 should be read by all with an interest in Ancient Egyptian History or African History in general. It is an excellent resource for beginners, teachers, and those already familiar with the subject. Topics addressed include: The Ethiopian and Sudanic origins of the divine kingship concept and the Ausarian (Osirian) Resurrection; The moral and spiritual beliefs of ancient Egypt; Ancient Egyptian writing systems, including the Medtu Neter (aka hieroglyphs); the plight of political figures such as Seqenenre Tao, Queen Aahotep, Hatshepsut, and the Nubians of the 25th Dynasty; and the stolen legacy of Ancient Egypt.

Disorganized

It references diagrams and pictures which makes it hard to follow. The flow hops and skips abruptly fro subject to subject.

Absolute Worst Use of Virtual Voice Possible

The information relayed has decent substance. While I am not fully on board with the assertions put forth, I can respect the view of Perry Kyles even if I do not fully agree with all of what he proposes. For me, the singular detractor of this whole body of work in audiobook form is the appalling, abysmal pronunciation of such simple words. Ousir (wsr) "oo-seer" Osiris. Grossly labeled "ow-ser" Ma'at "Mah ott" Grossly pronounced M.A. AT, or M.A. eighty" ... Just two examples, I don't want to bash the substance of the book. It is a worthy contribution to the discourse, even if I think there are factual errors.

This is Perry Kyle's book. He is a PhD scholar. I merely possess a high school diploma, and a passion for ancient history, and have learned what I could, where I could. I have a desire to learn and to educate myself as best I may with limited means. All of this with a learning disability (Severe hearing impairment and ADHD) and now a long COVID sufferer who is not getting any younger. I have limitations, and an undying curiosity, and will, until I "sail west" learn all I can because it is something I love. I have my own thoughts (independent) regarding Egyptian history that do not fully mesh with the author's or some established doctrine, but I am not troubled by that. What I am troubled by is the (and this is the word nerd in me that wants authenticity) the pronunciation of much that is in the book. I would VOLUNTEER to record myself reading material that I did not fully agree with in order to at least give it it's maximum due. (So long as it doesn't violate human rights or champion oligarchal power)

I am white, I do not think education should be limited to groups, and that everything, EVERYTHING can be questioned. I am passionate about human rights, commnity, involvement, and using science as a problem solving tool to progress knowledge and wisdom. I see critical importance with things like teamwork, and eschew these myths of rugged individualism. So much that is learned is done on the backs and shoulders of those that came before us, and the oldest, longest lived civilization in the history of the known world deserves its due and respect. For me, respect is properly naming peoples, places, and things within the context of the linguistic attributes assigned. It's fine to provide the Greek and contemporaneous terms, but it's a worthwhile endeavor I believe to properly pronounce names and places as authentically as possible. Language and culture are strongly intertwined.

Kemet is pronounced "Kem et" Not Khameet, Kaymit, or Kee-mit. To me it's like saying "eye-tal-yun" for Italian, or "Tut in kammin" for Tutankhamun (Too-tonk-ah-moon). I cannot blame AI from a character standpoint. It is a systemic tool. I cannot "get mad at it" in the sense of it being nefariously disrespectful, but the AI needs better training in grasping pronunciations, otherwise the relevance is tarnished.

This is just my opinion on the topic. That being said I hold Perry Kyles in high regard, for what it's worth. To me this is a big deal, and I would not have taken precious time during a busy, hectic time, and an exhausting day to bring it up. This is not empty, contrived dissatisfaction. This isn't arbitrary contrarianism. It's pointing out that this AI model is not equipped to doing proper justice to a well-considered work.

Unlike many people I have come to know in my more than half a century of living, I can change my mind without feeling like I have betrayed myself or a group, given new and relevant information. If the author sees this, I hope they can appreciate where I am coming from. I have every appreciation of Mr. Kyle's view, his life experiences, and his educational background. The absence of a scholarly read does not help bringing these considerations to the forum.