An interesting, accessible and very readable exploration of the tablets found in the remains of Ancient Mesopotamian King Ashurbanipal.

Each chapter focuses on a certain topic, and usually follows an individual found in letters from the library. I really enjoyed this approach, the topics became so much more interesting when viewed through the lens of an individuals daily life.

It was really interesting to see that all those years and miles away, the basic concerns of the human species are still what we worry about today, even if we deal with them in different ways.

Its very readable book and great for those of us just starting of in the topic. That being said the readability does not take away from the academic merits of the book, it has been well researched and you can feel the authors passion for the subject!

The Library of Ancient Wisdom is a remarkable and thought-provoking book by Selena Wisnom. It delves into one of the most impressive libraries in ancient history, that of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, the Assyrian ruler of Mesopotamia - The Libary of Nineveh.
Wisnom takes the reader on a trip into the past with stories of the hopes and fears, as well as the everyday life of Assyrians. She also covers classics of the period such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and their influence on later texts and cultures. An excellent book - highly recommended for anyone interested in this period of history.

This book was amazing! I didn’t know much about Mesopotamia or the workings of the Assyrian empire but this book was a great introduction. The book looks at the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (from around seventh century BCE) and what it can teach us about Mesopotamian culture at the time. The library was burnt to the ground by Ashurbanipal’s enemies following his death, however the library and its knowledge survived, due to the material of the clay tablets the knowledge was written upon.
This book was enlightening and extremely engaging, the information was presented in language and a way that was accessible even to those who do not hold much knowledge of this period of ancient history. I learnt an awful lot but my favourite part was about learning of the literature from Mesopotamia, for example the story of the flood and the epic of Gilgamesh; I’m now definitely go on to read these myths that were instrumental in Mesopotamia. I found it very interesting how the author showed how the culture in Mesopotamia was different and even strange to us, yet also highlighted how it affects us today and the elements of thinking we have retained from this time. I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, or to understand as much as I did, yet as I said the book was great for someone with limited knowledge on the subject to appreciate. Overall a highly enjoyable read!

The Library of Ancient Wisdom delves into one of the most impressive libraries in ancient history: that of Ashurbanipal in Mesopotamia.

My knowledge of Middle Eastern ancient history prior to this book could probably have been summed up on one clay tablet, but I found this a really engaging and accessible read. It's well-structured and rich in research, with a seamless flow between different aspects of Mesopotamian culture culminating in an imagined ordinary day in Ashurbanipal's life.

Wisnom captures the human side of history, and I loved getting an insight into the psychology of the Assyrian people. You get a real sense of personality from the stories she tells, and even though some of our beliefs are very different, it's fascinating to see how little human nature has changed.

The writing style suited the format; it was engaging and relevant without being dry or difficult to read. The chapters had a flow to them that kept me reading. 

It neatly bridges modern to ancient, showing the similarities and differences with respect and understanding.

The topic of Mesopotamia seems so distant. It conjures up thoughts of broken clay tablets, buried monuments, and a long-lost time that's almost fantastical in belief. Most notable to the time is of course the Epic of Gilgamesh, which if you have read, you know what I mean when it pulls the rug from under you. Sure, there's weird demigods and an ogre called Humbaba, and it feels just so... weird. But it also feels so... familiar. It brings longing and loss and heartbreak and mortality not only into questions for us humans to contend with, but to deal with. The Epic of Gilgamesh brings that distant civilisation to one of familiarity, and a sense that somehow, we are kindred. It's so heartwarming to see Wisnom explain that she was brought to Assyriology by her love for Gilgamesh, which is the same reason why I was intrigued by her book.

Of course, before even diving in, I was apprehensive that I was going to be out of my depth. What do I know about Mesopotamia that is going to keep me invested in reading an entire book about it? But as soon as I read the preface, I understood that we were on the same clay tablet (ha!). Wisnom eases us so well into the topic at hand with such interest I was soon raring to go, and I fell into every little nook of knowledge she told me. She treated it with such respect, and yet no patronisation, that I in turn respected her approach.

From these clay tablets, we learn about so many topics. Sections range from medicine to magic. My personal favourite chapters to read about were (of course) the chapter on Literature, and yet surprisingly also the scribal art itself. Some parts do get a tad tedious, but of course, that's my own personal disinterest. Everything that Selena Wisnom conveys to us is so wealthy in knowledge, that it can all be a lot to take in. But it is also funny at times; like how one bite mark on a clay tablet has been attributed to a bored 12/13-year-old, or how the script is so small that the scribes would have to position the tablet in a certain light, whereas she just prefers to enlarge a photo of it.

All in all, you learn so much from this book. And more importantly, you learn how richer we are today because of Mesopotamian influence. It was an honour to read.

As someone who grew up close to Mesopotamia and with its tales, I had to read this book.
Wisnom brings so much wisdom to our understanding of Mesopotamia in this non-fiction book.
It is the right balance between informative and engaging.
The storytelling and the various aspects of Mesopotamian cultures/civilisations work well together. It is fascinating that the wisdom in the tablets are brought to us, and Wisnom is one of the most qualified to take us on that journey in time.