Summary of Kara Cooney's The Good Kings

By IRB Media

Get the Summary of Kara Cooney's The Good Kings in 20 minutes. Please note: This is a summary & not the original book.Original book introduction: In a new era when democracies around the world are threatened or crumbling, best-selling author Kara Cooney turns to five ancient Egyptian pharaohs--Khufu, Senwosret III, Akenhaten, Ramses II, and Taharqa--to understand why many so often give up power to the few, and what it can mean for our future.

As the first centralized political power on earth, the pharaohs and their process of divine kingship can tell us a lot about the world's politics, past and present. Every animal-headed god, every monumental temple, every pyramid, every tomb, offers extraordinary insight into a culture that combined deeply held religious beliefs with uniquely human schemes to justify a system in which one ruled over many.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Nov 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638157441

IRB Media

With IRB books, you can get the key takeaways and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.

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Insights on Kara Cooney's The Good Kings

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

Egyptologists, like archeologists and historians, study the past. However, unlike archeologists, who study how humans have changed over time, Egyptologists study how humans have stayed the same.

#2

Egypt can serve as an example of how we, as a society, can be easily manipulated and controlled by authoritarian leaders.

#3

While some may long for the days of absolute monarchy when governments were able to keep citizens safe, it may be that too much freedom can be dangerous, as is the case with pandemics.

#4

Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten was known for his lavish spending and extreme demands, but according to some, he was also a world-first monotheist.

#5

A king is an absolute ruler, with absolute power over his subjects. Kings have their pros and cons, however, as they can bring balance to a society, but can also lead to high levels of competition and discord.

#6

Many people, even in democratic republics, would rather have a king or dictator than a democratic leader when things go wrong.

#7

Kings and queens throughout history have demonstrated their immense wealth and power through their palaces, possessions, and presidencies.

#8

People often long for a strong leader who can take charge and make everything better. This was the case during the Egyptian monarchy, when people would pray to the gods for a king to lead them.

#9

Monarchy and political family dynasties in democracies share many of the same strengths and weaknesses. They unite diverse ethnic and religious groups under a single banner, but can also lead to divisive politics if not handled correctly.

#10

Monarchy is often thought of as a bad form of government, but in fact, it is the most effective because it attracts the least amount of criticism. Because it is the most effective form of government, people constantly try to replace it with something else.

#11

In a democracy, the person who seemingly benefits the most is the leader. He gets the credit for fixing things, he gets the best house, car, money, stuff, and women. Yet, in reality, it’s the aristocrats who benefit the most since they are the ones