The Teachings of Ptah Hotep

The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep and also as The Maxims of Ptahhotep, the work is believed by some scholars to be the oldest book in the world. Authorship is attributed to Ptahhotep, a vizier under King Isesi of the Egyptian Fifth Dynasty (ca. 2414-2375 BC). It is a collection of maxims and advice in the sebayt (teaching) genre on human relations and are provided as instruction for his son. The work survives today in papyrus copies.