"Temples, Tombs and Hieroglyphs: The Story of Egyptology", Barbara Mertz, Dodd, Mead, New York, (1978).

A good introduction to the study, not on Ancient Egypt, per se, but - as the title says - of the field of Egyptology. The tone is refreshingly informal, but as a graduate of Chicago's Oriental Institute, Dr. Mertz, knows her business. She did not pursue the traditional stodgy academic career but instead went into writing, producing a huge number of books, both non-fiction and (often under the name Barbara Michaels) fiction.