An Ancient African Wisdom Book

About the Book

Using good manners and doing the right thing never go out of style. And in An Ancient African Wisdom Book, author Angela Chamblee analyzes The Instruction of Ptahhotep, one of the oldest textbooks on earth; a self-help book, it teaches good manners and ethics and provides advice about how to be successful in life. Aided by illustrations, An Ancient African Wisdom Book dissects this eighteen page book of maxims that was written 4,500 years ago and translates these maxims into information that can be applied to life today. The maxims provide advice on how to do the following:

• Effectively dispute with a supervisor, peer, or subordinate • Speak to a powerful person • Deal with success • Guard against greed • Survive middle management • Be a better listener • Have a better marriage

In addition to an explanation of the maxims, An Ancient African Wisdombook also includes teaching suggestions, writing assignments, group lessons, and commentary to help teachers formulate lesson plans to teach ancient African wisdom. Ptahhotep’s book helps to lay the foundation for black literature and culture throughout the world, and it lays the ethical foundation for a golden age of African achievement.

About the Author

Angela Chamblee is a graduate of the Richmond, Virginia Public Schools System. She earned a BA in English and psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and a doctorate with an English concentration from Clark Atlanta University. Chamblee now teaches composition and literature classes at Virginia Union University in Richmond.