Khaled Fahmy's seminal work, 'All the Pasha's Men,' offers a groundbreaking reinterpretation of Muhammad Ali's reign and its transformative impact on nineteenth-century Egypt. Moving beyond traditional narratives, Fahmy meticulously examines the establishment of Muhammad Ali's modern army and its profound implications for state-building and social restructuring. The book explores how this military project reshaped Egyptian society, affecting everything from conscription and public health to education and administrative control. Fahmy argues that the army was not merely a military force but a central instrument in the creation of a modern, centralized state, fundamentally altering the lives of ordinary Egyptians. This detailed analysis provides essential insights into the complex processes that laid the foundations for modern Egypt.