Innovation No. 41 of 77 in the book
The First Self-Help Book
37 rules for life, from the court of the vizier Ptahhotep
- When
- c. 2300 BCE
- Dynasty
- 5th Dynasty
- Era
- Old Kingdom
The oldest book of life advice we have was written by an Egyptian official named Ptahhotep around 2300 BCE, in the late Old Kingdom.
It is 37 maxims on how to live well: listen more than you speak, master your temper, be honest in business, treat your wife kindly, stay humble when you rise.
The counsel is startlingly modern — a father coaching a son on character and success, the template for every self-help book since.
The world’s first guide to being a better person is 4,300 years old.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the earliest archaeological evidence for the first self-help book in ancient Egypt?
The earliest confirmed evidence dates to approximately 2300 BCE during Egypt's Old Kingdom (5th Dynasty). The oldest book of life advice we have was written by an Egyptian official named Ptahhotep around 2300 BCE, in the late Old Kingdom.
How did ancient Egyptians develop the first self-help book, and what is its legacy?
It is 37 maxims on how to live well: listen more than you speak, master your temper, be honest in business, treat your wife kindly, stay humble when you rise. It is 37 maxims on how to live well: listen more than you speak, master your temper, be honest in business, treat your wife kindly, stay humble when you rise. The world’s first guide to being a better person is 4,300 years old.