The Teachings Of Ptahhoteph: The Oldest Book In The World edited by Asa G. Hilliard III, Larry Williams and Nia Damali is a Kemetic ( upper Egypt ) papyrus dating from the reign of Seneferu, ( 2575 B.C. – 2551 B.C. ) founder of the Fourth Dynasty, and builder of the Great Pyramid at Giza. Kemetic and pre-Kemetic civilization was uniquely African which means these civilizations were black. There is no evidence that their system of writing ( Mdw Netcher – word, God ) went through a developmental period; it simply appears fully developed as it must have existed for ages before known civilizations came into being.

The earliest form of Mdw Netcher literature were the lists of offerings and prayers which were followed by the declaration of virtues. Our review here concerns the next form, wisdom literature, ln which we find the oldest complete set of instructions; the 37 Teachings Of Ptahhoteph: The Oldest Book In The World. Students from Asia, including the Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans, came to Kemet among it’s African people to partake of this oldest wisdom teachings in the world.

The editors of The Teachings Of Ptahhotep: The Oldest Book In The World assert that Ptahhotep instructs the ignorant in the knowledge and the standards of good speech. They state good speech will profit those who hear; however, it will be a loss to those who transgress.

According to the editors of The Oldest Book In The World, Ptahhotep concludes that his teachings value resides in their truth. The memory of his sayings will go on in the speech of men and women because of the worth of their percepts. Such percepts prepare a person to speak to prosperity.

Finally, in this oldest book in the world, Ptahhotep declares that if a man’s son accepts his fathers words then no plan of his will go wrong. Fathers, then, should teach their son to be hearers, one who will guide his speech by what he has been told. Such a son will excel and his deeds will stand out. While those who do not hear will experience failure.

Personally, The Teachings Of Ptahhotep: The Oldest Book In The World is eye opening and a confirmation of the historical underpinnings of beginning civilization which have been foundational for my understanding of the earth’s origins, yet misrepresented or suppressed in most western history books. This book is a very easy read that contains many wisdom nuggets which may be source material for the biblical proverbs. I recommend The Teachings of Ptahhotep for anyone who whishes to gain a more thorough understanding of the African contribution to civilization and get a new perspective of the value of that contribution.