Egypt looms large in the popular imagination, bringing to mind images of pyramids, pharaohs, tomb-raiders, and deserts. Mainstream media has employed its striking landscapes and mythologies to captivate audiences in major film franchises and bestselling novels. But Egypt’s true allure might lie in its impressively long history—and what it can tell us about the evolution of tradition, culture, and society.

In The Shortest History of Egypt, Maria Golia draws on extensive historical research and decades of experience living in and writing about the country to offer a contemporary perspective on one of the world’s oldest, most storied civilizations. From a deep respect for tradition to the capacity for creativity, Golia examines the ways in which Egypt is a case study for the modern human condition. Much like the ancient Egyptians, we are obsessed with life’s brevity, searching for ways to prolong its pleasures and reduce its pains, and Golia deftly draws these connections.

With wit and incisive commentary, Golia maps Egypt’s history from the Neolithic age to the Arab Spring and up to present-day dealings with limited water, land and civil rights. Illuminating the myriad dramas, environmental variables, and cultural forces that have shaped an anomalous nation, this primer is the perfect introduction to a country integral to our understanding of humanity as a whole.