Lumbering State, Restless Society offers a comprehensive and compelling understanding of modern Egypt. Nathan J. Brown, Shimaa Hatab, and Amr Adly guide readers through crucial developments in Egyptian politics, society, and economics from the middle of the twentieth century through the present. This accessible account makes a convincing case that Egypt's modern state evolved through interactions with external powers and the country's domestic society and economy, thereby correcting overly state-centric views of development not just in Egypt but elsewhere.