MUMMY: The Inside Story by John H. Taylor is the inside look at Nesperennub, an Egyptian mummy dating to the New Kingdom. Discovered in Thebes, the mummy ended up in the British Museum, where, with its colorful coffin, it has become one of the stars of the exhibit.

Although Nesperennub was of great interest, the mummy was never unwrapped. Instead, the mummy has been scientifically studied. The results of that analysis are presented in this slim, beautifully illustrated book, written to accompany the BM's latest exhibit featuring Nesperennub. 

The sequential photographs of CT-scans show different layers of the mummy (linen wrappings, soft tissue, skeleton) and carry the story. They document beautifully how science has triumphed in its study of this mummy by revealing so much about it while harming nothing. The book also shows a facial reconstruction of the mummy and uncovers various pendants and other artifacts buried in the mummy's wrappings; of special interest is a snake amulet (probably made from wax) that was on Nesperennub's forehead. researchers were also surprised to discover an earthenware bowl atop the mummy's head; they conclude that it may well have been used to catch hot resin as it dripped from the mummy's head and simply got stuck there and wrapped (since no one would ever know).

The book contains 48 pages, 71color plates, 29 black and white illustrations.

Highly recommended.