In this critical work, Peter Gran challenges the dominant narratives of Anglo-American historiography concerning modern Egypt. He argues that a persistent Orientalist framework has led Western scholars to overlook Egypt's own rich intellectual and materialist traditions. By analyzing the ideological biases within mainstream historical accounts, Gran advocates for an alternative approach centered on internal Egyptian sources and developments. The book serves as a powerful call to re-evaluate how the history of non-Western societies is written, urging a departure from Eurocentric perspectives to achieve a more authentic and nuanced understanding of Egypt's past.