List of Very Short Introduction Titles Part 1

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Very Short Introductions online

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AdvertisingWinston Fletcher

Print Publication Year: 2010 Published Online: Sep 2013ISBN: 9780199568925 eISBN: 9780191777554Item type: book

Publisher: Oxford University PressDOI: 10.1093/actrade/9780199568925.001.0001

Advertising: A Very Short Introduction dispels the myths surrounding the advertisingindustry. Advertising is a diverse entity, and campaigns work (or fail to work) in a plethoraof ways. How does the advertising industry work? What part do all the key players (theadvertisers, the media, and the agencies) play? Where does the public sit in the worldof advertising? This VSI examines how advertisers determine whether they have beensuccessful, how they know if the money they have spent has been wasted, and what thebenefits of advertising are and what the future may hold for the industry.

African HistoryJohn Parker and Richard Rathbone



African History: A Very Short Introduction looks at Africa's past and reflects on thechanging ways it has been imagined and represented by examining the unity and diversityof African cultures, slavery, religion, colonial conquest, the diaspora, and the importanceof history in understanding contemporary Africa. Africa has been known as the cradleof mankind, and its recoverable history stretches back to the Pharaohs. But the idea ofstudy of African history itself is new. Why is it still contested and controversial? Whoinvented the idea of Africa? How is African history pieced together, given such a lack ofdocumentary evidence? How did Africa interact with the world 1,000 years ago?

AgnosticismRobin Le Poidevin



Agnosticism: A Very Short Introduction asks if there is more to agnosticism than merely theabsence of belief. What is agnosticism? Who were the first to call themselves agnostics?

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Agnosticism is something we encounter in science and ethics and should be considered asan historical and cultural phenomenon. It is not confined to the religious sphere. Some ofthe preconceptions and assumptions amongst both believers and non-atheists are examinedand the philosophical case for agnosticism is set out. Agnosticism is a more complexattitude than simply a failure to either commit to, or reject, religious belief.

American HistoryPaul S. Boyer



American History: A Very Short Introduction spans the earliest migrations to the presentlooking at the United States's failures to live up to its oft-stated ideals. The establishmentof the North American colonies had very different meanings for colonists, native peoples,and enslaved Africans. The late nineteenth century saw industrial expansion, appallingconditions, and an exploited labor force. The twentieth-century emergence of a suburbansociety of consumer abundance meant a better life for many, yet left behind crime-riddeninner cities and spawned a stultifying mass culture. While American popular culture hasdemonstrated global appeal, the projection of U.S. military power abroad has sometimesfailed in its purpose and damaged the nation's international standing.

American ImmigrationDavid A. Gerber



American Immigration: A Very Short Introduction examines the many legal efforts to curbimmigration and to define who is and is not an American. It looks at immigration from theperspective of the migrant farmers and industrial workers, mechanics and domestics,highly trained professionals and small-business owners who willingly upped sticks forthe promise of a better life. Americans have come from every corner of the globe, andhave been brought together by a variety of historical processes conquest, colonialism,the slave trade, territorial acquisition, and voluntary immigration. What is the relationshipbetween race and ethnicity in the life of these groups and in the formation of Americansociety?

American Legal HistoryG. Edward White

Print Publication Year: 2013 Published Online: Dec 2013ISBN: 9780199766000 eISBN: 9780199375240Item type: book


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Law has played a central role in American history. From colonial times to the present, lawhas reflected the changing society in which legal decisions have been made and has playeda powerful role in shaping that society, though not always in positive ways. AmericanLegal History: A Very Short Introduction sheds light on the impact of law on several keysocial issues: Native American affairs, slavery, business, home life, and criminal and civiloffences. The expansion of laws regarding property rights is also considered, as well as theevolution of criminal punishment, the rise of tort law after the Civil War; and the progressin legal education.

American Political Parties and ElectionsL. Sandy Maisel



American Political Parties and Elections: A Very Short Introduction examines theelectoral process in the United States and explains why it is widely misunderstood. Why isparticipation in elections so much lower in the U.S. than other mature democracies? Whatrole do the political parties play in the electoral process? And, why do unregulated groupssuch as 527 advocacy organisations have as much if not more influence than candidates'campaign organizations? This VSI examines these and other issues to provide an insider'sview of how the system actually works, and why there remains only two main politicalparties, despite the fact that many citizens claim allegiance to neither and think badly ofboth.

American PoliticsRichard M. Valelly



American Politics: A Very Short Introduction introduces the vital elements of Americanpolitics. Using an historical-institutional approach, it explains how the American politicalsystem is, and always has been, a work in progress one unfolding within, and alsoconstantly updating, an eighteenth-century constitutional framework. It explores the issueof parties and polarization and surveys the basic institutions: the Presidency, Congress, thejudicial branch, the unelected bureaucracy of the independent agencies, and state and localgovernments. It also deals with political communication, public opinion, voting and theboundaries of the electorate, and the politics of government steering of the economy.

The American PresidencyCharles O. Jones

Print Publication Year: 2007 Published Online: Sep 2013 Publisher: Oxford University Press

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ISBN: 9780195307016 eISBN: 9780199365548Item type: book

DOI: 10.1093/actrade/9780195307016.001.0001

The American Presidency: A Very Short Introduction shows how assertive leaders suchas Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, and FDR enhanced the power of the presidency,and how such factors as philosophy (Reagan's anti-Communist conservatism), the legacy ofprevious presidencies (Jimmy Carter following Watergate), relations with Congress, and theimpact of outside events have all influenced presidential authority. The Founders adoptedthe word president over governor and other alternatives because it suggested a light hand, asin one who presides, rather than rules. How are presidents selected? How has this changedover time? The expansion of executive powers amid the war on terrorism has brought thepresidency to the center of heated public debate.

AnaesthesiaAidan O'Donnell



Anaesthesia: A Very Short Introduction examines the modern anaesthetic practice.Anaesthesia is a mysterious and sometimes threatening process. What is anaesthesia? Howis it produced? How does it differ from natural sleep and other forms of unconsciousness?Categories of anaesthetic drugs include: anaesthetic vapours, intravenous agents, musclerelaxants, and analgesics. Anaesthetists play a significant role in specialised areas such asintensive care medicine, pain medicine, and childbirth. This VSI looks at what anaesthetistsdo, how their role has changed over the years, and the risks and side effects of anaesthesia.

AnarchismColin Ward



Anarchism: A Very Short Introduction explores key anarchist thinkers from Kropotkin toChomsky and considers anarchism from a variety of perspectives: theoretical, historical,and international. What exactly is anarchism and who are the anarchists? Can anarchy everfunction effectively as a political force? Is it more organized and reasonable than iscurrently perceived? The word anarchism tends to conjure up images of aggressive protestagainst government, and recently of angry demonstrations against bodies such as theWorld Bank and the International Monetary Fund. But is anarchism inevitably linked withviolent disorder? Do anarchists adhere to a coherent ideology?

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Ancient EgyptIan Shaw



Ancient Egypt: A Very Short Introduction describes how our current ideas about Egyptare based not only on the thrilling discoveries made by early Egyptologists but also onfascinating new kinds of evidence produced by modern scientific and linguistic analyses.We can identify influences on our responses to these finds, through such media asliterature, cinema, and contemporary art. The ancient Egyptians are an enduring source offascination mummies and pyramids, curses, and rituals have captured the imaginationof generations. We all have a mental picture of ancient Egypt, but is it the right one? Howmuch do we really know about this great civilization?

Ancient GreecePaul Cartledge



Ancient Greece: A Very Short Introduction takes the polis as its starting point and usesthe history of eleven major Greek cities to illuminate the most important and informativethemes in Ancient Greek history, from the first documented use of the Greek languagein around 1400 bce, through the glories of the Classical and Hellenistic periods, to thefoundation of the Byzantine empire in around ce 330. Ancient Greek civilization wasdefined by the city, the polis, from which we derive politics. It is above all this feature ofGreek civilization that has formed its most enduring legacy, spawning such key terms asaristocracy, oligarchy, tyranny, and last but by no means least democracy.

The Ancient Near EastAmanda H. Podany

Print Publication Year: 2013 Published Online: Dec 2013ISBN: 9780195377996 eISBN: 9780199375233Item type: book


The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction describes a momentous time in humanhistory and explains why the ancient Near East is known as the cradle of civilization.Mesopotamia, Syria, and Anatolia were home to an extraordinarily rich and successfulculture. Indeed, it was a time and place of earth-shaking changes for humankind: thebeginnings of writing and law, kingship and bureaucracy, diplomacy and state-sponsoredwarfare, mathematics and literature. The three thousand years of this era from around3500 bce, with the founding of the first Mesopotamian cities, to the conquest of the NearEast by the Persian king Cyrus the Great in 539 bce represent a period of incredible

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innovation, from the invention of the wheel to early achievements in astronomy, law, anddiplomacy.

Ancient PhilosophyJulia Annas



Ancient Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction introduces ancient debates and focuseson important and revealing features of the subject providing a sense of its freshness andliveliness, and of its wide variety of themes and styles. The tradition of ancient philosophyis a long, rich and varied one, in which a constant note is that of discussion and argument.What did ancient philosophers think about the conflict of reason and emotion withinman? Are there any subjects that engaged the minds of ancient philosophers that do notconcern their modern counterparts? What can we learn from the thoughts of the ancientphilosophers?

Ancient WarfareHarry Sidebottom



Ancient Warfare: A Very Short Introduction examines all aspects of ancient warfare, fromphilosophy and strategy to the technical skills needed to fight. How did wars shape classicalsociety? How was the individual's identity constructed by war? Can a war be just? Why wassiege warfare particularly bloody? What role did divine intervention play in the outcomeof a battle? Greek and Roman warfare differed from other cultures and was unlike anyother forms of warfare. The key difference is often held to be that the Greeks and Romanspractised a Western Way of War, where the aim is an open, decisive battle, won bycourage instilled in part by discipline. What is this Western Way of War?

AngelsDavid Albert Jones



Angels: A Very Short Introduction outlines prominent stories and speculations about angelsin Judaism, Islam, Christianity, and post-Christian spiritualties. What are angels? Wherewere they first encountered? Can we distinguish angels from gods, fairies, ghosts, andaliens? And why do they remain so popular? Angels have been portrayed in art as youngmen in the Hebrew Scriptures, androgynous winged creatures of the pre-Raphaelites, and

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as the masculine statue of the Angel of the North. Examples are provided of angels in filmssuch as Wings of Desire, and It's a Wonderful Life, as well as angels in literature.

AnglicanismMark Chapman



Anglicanism: A Very Short Introduction highlights the diversity of contemporaryAnglicanism by exploring its history, theology, and structures. Although originally unitedby location and a common belief, Anglicanism has gradually lost its pre-eminence asthe English state religion due to increasing pluralism and secularization. Whilst there aredistinctive themes and emphases which emerge from its early history and theology, thereis little sense of unity in Anglicanism today. Putting the history and development of thereligion into context, this VSI reveals what holds Anglicanism together despite the recentcrises that threaten to tear it apart.

The Anglo-Saxon AgeJohn Blair



The Anglo-Saxon Age: A Very Short Introduction covers the era from the emergence of theearliest English settlements around the year ad 450 to the Norman victory in 1066 providinga brief introduction to the political, social, religious, and cultural history of Anglo-SaxonBritain. The Anglo-Saxon age lasted for 600 years. This period encompassed an age thatshaped England's landscape and culture in profound and long-lasting ways. Anglo-SaxonBritain was a fragmented, non-urban, warrior society: a multi-ethnic community. Thisgradually changed over time as the early medieval cultures united to give shape to theBritain that was to come.

The Animal KingdomPeter Holland



The Animal Kingdom: A Very Short Introduction presents a modern tour of the animalkingdom. Beginning with the definition of animals, this VSI goes on to show the high-levelgroupings of animals (phyla) and new views on their evolutionary relationships based onmolecular data, together with an overview of the biology of each group of animals. Thisphylogenetic view is central to zoology today. The animal world is immensely diverse, and

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our understanding of it has been greatly enhanced by analysis of DNA and the study ofevolution and development.

Animal RightsDavid DeGrazia



Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction explores the implications for how we shouldtreat animals in connection with our diet, zoos, and research. Most people are opposedto cruelty and sense that animals have moral significance. At the same time, traditionalviews that sanction animal use with few constraints have heavily influenced beliefs andeveryday practices. How should we understand the moral status of animals vis--vis humanbeings? Do animals have moral rights? If so, what does this mean? What kinds of beings areanimals, what sorts of mental lives do they have, and how should we understand welfare?

The AntarcticKlaus Dodds



Antarctic: A Very Short Introduction provides a modern account of Antarctica, highlightingthe main issues facing the continent today, looks at how the Antarctic has been exploredand represented, and considers the main exploratory and scientific achievements of theregion. How has globalization impacted on the Antarctic's current and future status? TheAntarctic is one the most hostile natural environments in the world. It is an extraordinaryphysical space, which changes significantly in shape and size with the passing of theseasons. Politically, it is interesting as it contains one of the few areas of continental spacenot claimed by any nation-state. Scientifically, the continental ice sheet has provided uswith vital evidence about the Earth's past climate.

AntisemitismSteven Beller



Antisemitism: A Very Short Introduction examines and untangles the various strandsof antisemitism seen throughout history, from medieval religious conflict to newantisemitism in the 21st century. Key figures such as Wagner, Nietzsche, and Marx have allplayed a role in this phenomenon, as well as key texts such as the forged Protocols of theElders of Zion. How did this phenomenon grew as a political and ideological movement in

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the 19th century? How did it reach its dark apogee in the worst genocide in modern history the Holocaust? Why does antisemitism still persists around the world today?

AnxietyDaniel Freeman and Jason Freeman



Anxiety: A Very Short Introduction explains what anxiety is, why it is a normal andvital part of our emotional life, and the factors that cause it. Are we born with fears or dowe learn them? What purpose does anxiety serve? How can we treat anxiety disorders?What's happening in our brain when we feel fear? Insights are drawn from psychology,neuroscience, genetics, epidemiology, and clinical trials. The six main anxiety disordersare: phobias; panic disorder and agoraphobia; social anxiety; generalized anxiety disorder;obsessive-compulsive disorder; and post-traumatic stress disorder. The symptoms,prevalence, causes of each of these disorders, and the treatments for dealing with them, arecovered.

The Apocryphal GospelsPaul Foster



The Apocryphal Gospels: A Very Short Introduction explores their origins, discovery, anddiscusses how the various texts have been interpreted both by the Church and beyond. Whatare the apocryphal gospels? How do the apocryphal gospels reflect the diversity that existedwithin early Christianity? To what extent can they can be used to reconstruct an accurateportrait of the historical Jesus? These non-canonical texts, considered in the correct context,offer us an important window on the vibrant and multi-faceted face of early Christianity.They do have important limitations, however, and these are set against the limitations ofusing the New Testament gospels.

ArchaeologyPaul Bahn



Archaeology: A Very Short Introduction reflects on the enduring popularity of archaeology a subject which encompasses the whole globe, and surveys 2.5 million years.Archaeology interacts with nearly every other discipline in its attempts to reconstruct thepast. Archaeologists work in a wide range of environments including deserts, jungles, deep

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caves, and mountain tops. They use a variety of tools such as satellite photographs andas pebble tools, and a broad range of methods from excavation to abstract theory. Whatrecent new discoveries and interpretations have we seen in the field of archeology? Whathas been impact of developments such as the use of DNA and stable isotopes in teeth? Howimportant are developments in technology and science for archaeological exploration?

ArchitectureAndrew Ballantyne



Architecture: A Very Short Introduction provides a highly original and sophisticatedlook at architecture and helps us to understand the cultural significance of the buildingsthat surround us. It avoids the traditional style-spotting approach in favour of giving anidea of what it is about buildings that moves us, and what it is that makes them importantartistically and culturally. The VSI begins by looking at how architecture acquires meaningthrough tradition, and concludes with the exoticism of the recent avant garde. Illustrationsof particular buildings help to anchor the general points with specific examples, fromancient Egypt to the present day.

AristocracyWilliam Doyle



Aristocracy: A Very Short Introduction shows how ideas of aristocracy originated in ancienttimes, were transformed in the middle ages, and have only fallen apart over the last twocenturies. The myths in which aristocracies have always sought to shroud themselves arestripped away, but the true sources of their enduring power are also revealed. Their outlookand behaviour affected the rest of society in innumerable and sometimes surprising ways,but perhaps most surprising was the way in which a centuries-old aristocratic hegemony hascrumbled away over the last two hundred years. This VSI considers why this happened andwhat remains today.

Art HistoryDana Arnold



Art History: A Very Short Introduction provides the tools necessary to study art history.The challenge of using verbal and written language to analyse visual form and experience is

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explored, and the different ways of writing about art are examined. Topics covered includethe canon of art history, the role of the gallery, blockbuster exhibitions, and the emergenceof social histories of art (feminist or queer art history, for example). The traditionalemphasis on Western periods and styles of art can obscure other critical approaches, as wellas exclude art from non-western cultures, and this is discussed. The glossary can be used inconjunction with gallery visits to further enhance understanding.

Art TheoryCynthia Freeland



In today's art world many strange, even shocking, things qualify as art. Art Theory: A VeryShort Introduction discusses beauty, blood, culture, money, museums, sex, and politics,clarifying contemporary and historical accounts of the nature, function, and interpretationof the arts. It examines art on the Web, video art, museum CD-ROMs, and various theoristsof the new media and of postmodern art. It surveys the latest research on the brain's role inperceiving art and engages with the big debates surrounding our responses to art, examiningwhy innovation and controversy are valued in the arts.

AstrobiologyDavid C. Catling

Print Publication Year: 2013 Published Online: Oct 2013ISBN: 9780199586455 eISBN: 9780191779923Item type: book


What fascinates people about astrobiology is that it seeks answers to long-standing unsolvedquestions: How quickly did life evolve on Earth and why did life persist here? Is therelife elsewhere in the Solar System or beyond? Astrobiology: A Very Short Introductionexplores some of the big unanswered questions about the universe, considers the originsof life on Earth and its evolution, and brings together the ideas of microbiologists,astronomers, planetary scientists, and geologists. It introduces the origins of astrobiologyand demonstrates its impact on current astronomical research and potential futurediscoveries.

AtheismJulian Baggini



Atheism is often considered to be a negative, dark, and pessimistic belief that ischaracterized by a rejection of values and purpose and a fierce opposition to religion.

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Atheism: A Very Short Introduction sets out to dispel the myths that surround atheism andshow how a life without religious belief can be positive, meaningful, and moral. The bookpresents an intellectual case for atheism that rests as much upon positive arguments for itstruth as on negative arguments against religion. It also confronts the failure of officiallyatheist states in the twentieth century.

AugustineHenry Chadwick



Augustine: A Very Short Introduction traces the development of Augustine's thought,discussing his reaction to the thinkers before him, and themes such as freedom, creation,and the trinity. By his writings, the surviving bulk of which exceeds that of any otherancient author, Augustine came to influence not only his contemporaries but also thinkersin the West since his time. He was a key figure in the transition from pagan to specificallyChristian philosophy. How did Augustine's thought develop? What were the key influencesupon his thought? How important were themes such as free will, time, and ethics to him?

AustraliaKenneth Morgan



Australia: A Very Short Introduction provides a wide-ranging introduction to modernAustralia, examining its history, geography, and culture since the beginning of the whitesettlement of New South Wales in 1788. Drawing attention to the distinctive features ofAustralian life, this VSI places contemporary developments in an historical perspective,highlighting the importance of Australia's indigenous culture and making connectionsbetween Australia and the wider world. Balancing the successful growth of Australianinstitutions and democratic traditions, the book considers the struggles that occurred in themaking of modern Australia and Australia's political and cultural place in the 21st century.

AutismUta Frith



Autism: A Very Short Introduction asks: What causes autism? Is it a genetic disorder, ordue to some unknown environmental hazard? Are we facing an autism epidemic? What arethe main symptoms, and how does it relate to Asperger syndrome? It explores the relevance

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to autism of neuroscience, psychology, brain development, and genetics. Everyone hasheard of autism, but the disorder itself is little understood. It has captured the publicimagination through films and novels portraying individuals with baffling combinations ofdisability and extraordinary talent, and yet the reality is more often that it places a heavyburden on sufferers and their families.

The Avant GardeDavid Cottington



The Avant Garde: A Very Short Introduction explores the concept of the avant-gardeand examines its wider context through the development of western modernity, capitalistculture, and the global impact of both. The avant-garde is perhaps the most important andinfluential concept in the history of modern culture. What is the relation between the avant-garde and avant-garde qualities in a work of art, design, architecture, or any other culturalproduct? What does avant-gardism mean? Now that contemporary art has broken all taboosand is at the centre of a billion-pound art market, is there still an avant-garde? If so, whatis the point of it and who are the artists concerned?

The AztecsDavid Carrasco



The Aztecs: A Very Short Introduction employs the disciplines of history, religious studies,and anthropology as it illuminates the complexities of Aztec life. This VSI looks beyondSpanish accounts that have coloured much of the Western narrative to let Aztec voicesspeak. It also discusses the arrival of the Spaniards, contrasts Aztec mythical traditionsabout the origins of their city with actual urban life in Mesoamerica, outlines the rise of theAztec empire, explores Aztec religion, and sheds light on Aztec art. The VSI concludes bylooking at how the Aztecs have been portrayed in Western thought, art, film, and literatureas well as in Latino culture and arts.

BacteriaSebastian G.B. Amyes



Bacteria form a fundamental branch of life. They are the oldest forms of life as we knowit, and they are still the most prolific living organisms. Bacteria: A Very Short Introduction

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explores the nature of bacteria, their origin and evolution, bacteria in the environment, andbacteria and disease. Bacteria inhabit every part of the Earth's surface, its ocean depths, andeven terrains such as boiling hot springs. They are most familiar as agents of disease, butbenign bacteria are critical to the recycling of elements and all ecology, as well as to humanhealth. The resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is also considered.

BarthesJonathan Culler



Roland Barthes: A Very Short Introduction elucidates the varied theoretical contributionsof Roland Barthes, whose lifelong fascination was with the way people make their worldintelligible. It describes the many projects, which Barthes explored and which helped tochange the way we think about a range of cultural phenomena from literature, fashion,wrestling, and advertising to notions of the self, of history, and of nature. To some, he isthe structuralist who outlined a science of literature, and the most prominent promoter ofsemiology; to others he stands not for science but pleasure, espousing a theory of literaturewhich gives the reader a creative role.

The BeatsDavid Sterritt



The Beats: A Very Short Introduction offers an overview of the social, cultural, andaesthetic sensibilities of the Beats, bringing out the similarities that connected them,and also the many differences. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Beat Generationwriters revolutionized American literature with their iconoclastic approach to languageand their angry assault on the conformity and conservatism of postwar society. Theyand their followers took aim at the hypocrisy and taboos of their time. Members of theBeat Generation hoped to inspire others to purify their lives and souls, yet they urgedthe remaking of consciousness on a profoundly inward-looking basis. The idea was torevolutionize society by revolutionizing thought, not the other way around.

BeautyRoger Scruton



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Beauty: A Very Short Introduction explores the concept of beauty, asking what makesan object either in art, in nature, or the human form beautiful. It strongly refutesthe notion that judgements of beauty are purely subjective and relative, and that we canlearn little from art criticism and study. Arguing that our experience of beauty is rationallyfounded, and that beauty is a real and universal value, this VSI shows how our sense ofbeauty has an indispensable part to play in the way we shape our world.

BestsellersJohn Sutherland



Bestsellers: A Very Short Introduction shows that bestseller lists monitor one of thestrongest pulses in modern literature and are therefore worthy of serious study. It lifts thelid on the bestseller industry, examines what makes a book into a bestseller, and asks whatseparates bestsellers from canonical fiction. Exploring the relationship between bestsellersand the fashions, ideologies, and cultural concerns of the day, this VSI includes short case-studies and lively summaries of bestsellers through the years, including both classic andcontemporary novels, alongside some surprising titles and long-forgotten names

The BibleJohn Riches



The Bible: A Very Short Introduction looks at the importance accorded to the Bible bydifferent communities and cultures. Why has the Bible generated such a variety of uses andinterpretations? How was it written? What is the canon and what role does Biblical criticismplay? This VSI explores all these issues as well as examining why the Bible has been suchan influence on Western culture and why it continues to exert an enormous influence overmany people's lives. It also considers how the Bible has been appropriated by high andpopular culture and its use for political ends.

Biblical ArchaeologyEric H Cline



Biblical Archaeology: A Very Short Introduction examines the origins of biblicalarchaeology as a discipline and the major controversies that first prompted explorers to goin search of objects and sites that would prove the Bible. The most well-known biblical

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archaeologists are discussed, such as Kathleen Kenyon and Yigael Yadin. The sites thatare essential sources of knowledge are described, along with some of the most importantdiscoveries that have been made, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Also examined are thearchaeological finds that shed further light on the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament,and the issue of potential frauds and forgeries.

BiographyHermione Lee



Biography: A Very Short Introduction looks at the origins and development of biographicalwriting. Why do certain people and historical events arouse so much interest? How canbiographies be compared with history and works of fiction? Does a biography need to betrue? Is it acceptable to omit or conceal things? Does the biographer need to personallyknow the subject? Must a biographer be subjective? This VSI considers the cultural andhistorical background of different types of biographies, looking at the factors that affectbiographers and whether there are different strategies, ethics, and principles required forwriting about one person compared to another.

The BluesElijah WaldPrint Publication Year: 2010 Published Online: Sep 2013ISBN: 9780195398939 eISBN: 9780199365760Item type: book


The Blues: A Very Short Introduction surveys a genre which lies at the heart of Americanculture. Blues is more of a broad musical tradition than a musical genre, with a constantlyevolving pop culture. It explores its roots in work and praise songs, and its popularizationby W. C. Handy. It follows its evolution from Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith to Bob Dylanand Jimi Hendrix; identifies the impact of rural field recordings of Blind Lemon Jeffersonand Charley Patton; explores the influence of blues on country music and jazz; and looksat the rhythm and blues trends of the 1940s and 1950s, from TBone Walker to MuddyWaters.

The Book of MormonTerryl L. Givens



The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction examines the Book of Mormon primarilyin terms of the claims that its narrators make for its historical genesis, its purpose as a sacred

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text, and its meaning for an audience which shifts over the course of the history it unfolds.Five governing themes revelation, Christ, Zion, scripture, and covenant serve asvectors for analysis of the Book's central doctrines and teachings, particularly in relationto familiar nineteenth-century religious preoccupations. This VSI samples characters andrepresentative passages from the Book and surveys its contested origins and addressesquestions of the record's historicity.

BordersAlexander C. Diener and Joshua Hagen



Borders: A Very Short Introduction challenges the perception of borders as passivelines on a map, revealing them instead to be integral forces in the economic, social,political, and environmental processes that shape our lives. The issue of borders includesconsiderations such as transnational communities, security threats from terrorist groups,migration regulation, rights of indigenous peoples, the legal status of the sea and outerspace, environmental sustainability, and the emergence of neo-liberal economics. Howhave borders developed over time? What is their relevance today? Will we ever have aborderless world? Borders are likely to remain a hot topic across the social sciences andglobal headlines for years to come.

The BrainMichael O'Shea



How does the brain work? The Brain, A Very Short Introduction provides a non-technicalintroduction to the main issues and findings in current brain research, and gives a senseof how neuroscience addresses questions about the relationship between the brain andthe mind. Our knowledge of subjects such as brain processes, perception, memory, motorcontrol and the causes of altered mental states have been hugely improved by modernneurological research. These insights may pave the way for future developments, such asartificial intelligence, gene therapy, drugs by design, as well as revolutionizing transplants.

The British ConstitutionMartin Loughlin



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The British Constitution: A Very Short Introduction explores one of the most unusualconstitutional arrangements in the world. It considers the scope and nature of the Britishconstitution and the challenges that have been generated by this approach. This VSIexamines the origins of the British constitution and the alterations made to it in responseto the changing nature of its state from England, to Britain, to the United Kingdom, tothe impact of Britain's membership of the European Union. Lastly, it examines the futureprospects of the British constitution in an ever-changing political environment.

The British EmpireAshley Jackson



The British Empire: A Very Short Introduction explores how the British Empire became sopowerful and far-reaching. From the eighteenth century until the 1950s the British Empirewas the biggest political entity in the world. What was the British Empire and what were itsmain constituent parts? How was the Empire ruled? What were its economic effects? Whatwere the cultural implications of empire, in Britain and its colonies? These questions areanswered in this VSI and the life of the people living under imperial rule is examined. Thelegacies of the Empire and how it should be viewed in world history are also explored.

British PoliticsTony Wright



British Politics: A Very Short Introduction examines the British political system and whatmakes it distinctive. It identifies the key characteristics and ideas of the British tradition andemphasizes how these characteristics are reflected in the way the political system functions.Key themes, such as the constitution or political accountability, are explored with examplesand illustrations. Recent changes to the system with the fall of New Labour and the electionof a coalition government are considered, as well as the impact of the financial crisis andissues such as terrorism and immigration, and the development of devolution.

The BuddhaMichael Carrithers



The Buddha: A Very Short Introduction examines the complex and sometimes conflictinginformation that Buddhist texts give about the life and teaching of the Buddha. What can

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we learn about the social and political background of India in the Buddha's time? How didhis thought develop into what constitutes Buddhist thought today? How has Buddhismsurvived so well through the centuries? What is the contemporary relevance of Buddhism?His teaching prospered throughout the subcontinent of India for more than 1,500 years andby the 13th century ad it had spread. Until the 20th century, the Buddha was probably themost influential thinker in human history.

BuddhismDamien Keown



Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction introduces the reader to the teachings of the Buddhaand to the workings of Buddhism in daily life. It looks at the distinctive features ofBuddhism, examining who the Buddha was and what his teachings were. By consideringhow Buddhist thought has developed over the centuries, this VSI considers howcontemporary dilemmas can be faced from a Buddhist perspective. This new editionprovides new perspectives on Buddhist thought, including up-to-date material aboutthe evolution of Buddhism throughout Asia, the material culture of Buddhism and itsimportance, new teachings on the ethics of war and peace, and changes to ethnicity, class,and gender.

Buddhist EthicsDamien Keown



Buddhist Ethics: A Very Short Introduction illustrates how Buddhism might approach arange of fascinating dilemmas confronting the modern world, ethical moral issues rangingfrom abortion and suicide to cloning. The latter half of the twentieth century witnessed agrowing interest in Buddhism, and it continues to capture the imagination of many in theWest who see it as either an alternative or a supplement to their own religious beliefs. Whyis it that ethics has not received as much attention in traditional Buddhist thought as it has inthe West? Why are there so few publications on the subject?

CancerNick James



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Cancer: A Very Short Introduction explains, in non-technical language, what cancer isand what it does. Why, despite constant improvements in treatment techniques, has cancerproved to be so hard to tackle? Why does cancer remain one of the largest causes of deathworldwide? This VSI examines the different examples of cancer healthcare from around theworld. It also investigates the political and economic context to cancer care and examinesthe trends in diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The future of cancer care and thealternative and complementary approaches to cancer care are also outlined.

CapitalismJames Fulcher



Capitalism: A Very Short Introduction outlines the history and development of capitalismand addresses important 21st-century issues, such as New Labour's relationship withcapitalism, recent crises in capitalist systems, the significance of global capitalism,and distinctive national models of capitalism. The word capitalism is heard and usedfrequently. Most people have an opinion about capitalism. Has capital escaped the nation-state by going global? Is capitalism doomed? There are alternatives to capitalism, in theguises of socialism, communal and cooperative experiments, and alternatives proposed byenvironmentalists.

CatholicismGerald O'Collins



Catholicism: A Very Short Introduction offers a fresh introduction to the largest and oldestinstitution in the world. What are the origins of the Catholic Church? How has Catholicismchanged and adapted to such vast and diverse cultural influences over the centuries? Afteran extended tour of the Church's history, this VSI describes the central beliefs of theCatholic Church about God and the human condition; the sacramental life of the Churchand its moral life and teaching. It closes by summarizing certain basic characteristics ofCatholicism, and addressing the great challenges faced by the Catholic Church in the 21stcentury, both internally and externally.

CausationStephen Mumford and Rani Lill AnjumPrint Publication Year: 2013 Published Online: Nov 2013ISBN: 9780199684434 eISBN: 9780191779909Item type: book


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Causation is the most fundamental connection in the universe. Without it, there wouldbe no science or technology. There would be no moral responsibility either, as noneof our thoughts would be connected with our actions and none of our actions with anyconsequences. Any intervention we make in the world around us is premised on there beingcausal connections that are, to a degree, predictable. It is causation that is at the basis ofprediction and also explanation. Causation: A Very Short Introduction introduces the keytheories of causation and also the surrounding debates and controversies.

The CellTerence Allen and Graham Cowling



The Cell: A Very Short Introduction describes the nature of cells their basic structure,their varying forms, their division, their differentiation from initially highly flexible stemcells, their signalling, and programmed death. Cells are the basic constituent of life, andunderstanding cells and how they work is central to all biology and medicine. A cell is thesimplest unit of a self-contained living organism, and the vast majority of life on Earthconsists of single-celled microbes, mostly bacteria. These consist of a simple prokaryoticcell, with no nucleus. The bodies of more complex plants and animals consist of billions ofeukaryotic cells, of varying kinds, adapted to fill different roles.

The CeltsBarry Cunliffe



The Celts: A Very Short Introduction seeks to reveal the true nature of the Celts. Were theysavage and bloodthirsty, or civilized and peaceable? The Celts have long been a subject ofenormous fascination, speculation, and misunderstanding. From the ancient Romans to thepresent day, their real character has been obscured by a tangled web of preconceived ideasand stereotypes. This VSI aims to show what the Celts were really like, exploring subjectssuch as trade, migration, and the evolution of Celtic traditions. Along the way, it exposeshow society's needs have shaped our visions of the Celts, and examines such colourfulcharacters as St Patrick, C Chulainn, and Boudica.

ChaosLeonard Smith



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Chaos: A Very Short Introduction shows that we all have an intuitive understanding ofchaotic systems. It uses accessible maths and physics (replacing complex equations withsimple examples like pendulums, railway lines, and tossing coins) to explain the theory,and points to numerous examples in philosophy and literature (Edgar Allen Poe, Chang-Tzu, and Arthur Conan Doyle) that illuminate the problems. The beauty of fractal patternsand their relation to chaos, as well as the history of chaos, and its uses in the real world andimplications for the philosophy of science are all discussed in this Very Short Introduction.

Children's LiteratureKimberley Reynolds



Children's Literature: A Very Short Introduction provides an overview of the history ofchildren's literature as it has developed in English, introducing key debates, developments,and figures in the field. This vast and amorphous subject is both intimately related to otherareas of literary and cultural investigation but also has its own set of concerns, issues, andchallenges. Raising questions about what shape the future of literature for children shouldtake, and exploring the crossover with adult fiction, this VSI shows that writing for children whether on page or screen participated in shaping and directing ideas about culture,society, and childhood.

Chinese LiteratureSabina Knight



Chinese Literature: A Very Short Introduction tells the story of Chinese literature fromantiquity to the present, focusing on the key role literary culture played in supportingsocial and political concerns. Embracing traditional Chinese understandings of literatureas encompassing history and philosophy as well as poetry and poetics, storytelling, drama,and the novel, this VSI discusses the philosophical foundations of literary culture as wellas literature's power to address historical trauma and cultivate moral and sensual passions.From ancient historical records through the modernization and globalization of Chineseliterature, lively examples underscore the close relationship between ethics and aesthetics,as well as the diversity of Chinese thought.

Choice TheoryMichael Allingham

Print Publication Year: 2002 Published Online: Sep 2013ISBN: 9780192803030 eISBN: 9780191775710


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Item type: book

We make choices all the time about trivial matters, about how to spend our money,about how to spend our time, about what to do with our lives. Choice Theory: A Very ShortIntroduction introduces ideas from economics, philosophy, and other areas, showing howthe theory applies to everyday decisions, and to particular situations such as gambling andresource allocation. But what kind of criteria are we applying when we say that a choiceis rational? What guides our own choices? What strategies should be applied in makingdecisions that affect a lot of people? This VSI explores what it means to be rational in allthese contexts.

Christian ArtBeth Williamson



Christian Art: A Very Short Introduction explores the work of major artists such asMemling, Holbein, El Greco, and Rossetti, and well-known examples including the frescoesof St Francis at Assisi. How do didactic and consciously devotional works comparewith the controversial work of contemporary artists such as Andres Serrano and ChrisOfili? Christian images have a long history within the Western art tradition, from thenarrative and devotional works of the Medieval and Renaissance periods, to the radical newinterpretations of the twenty-first century. Over the centuries the nature of the representationof key themes and subjects found in Christian art such as the Eucharist, the crucifixion, theVirgin Mary, and the saints has changed considerably.

Christian EthicsD. Stephen Long



Christian Ethics: A Very Short Introduction presents a discussion of the relationshipbetween Christian ethics, modern, and postmodern ethics, and explores practical issuesincluding sex, money, and power. What are the inherent difficulties in bringing togetherChristian and ethics? Christian ethics is not a precise science; rather, it is the cultivationof practical wisdom from a range of sources. This VSI looks at the failures of the Christiantradition, including the crusades, the conquest, slavery, inquisitions, and the Galileo affair.These events raise challenges for modern Christian ethics. They have implications in themodern era, that affect our lives in the present age.

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ChristianityLinda Woodhead



Christianity: A Very Short Introduction provides a candid portrait of Christianity's pastand present by exploring its cultural and institutional dimensions, tracing its course overtwo millennia. How important is the competition for power between different forms ofChristianity? How do the various churches within Christianity use their power? What formdo the struggles Christianity has with modernity take? Those who previously had the leastpower in Christianity women and non-Europeans have become increasingly centralto its unfolding story. Christianity is flourishing in the Southern hemisphere but decliningin much of the West. What are the implications of this? What does the future hold forChristianity?

CitizenshipRichard Bellamy



Citizenship: A Very Short Introduction approaches its subject from a political perspective,to address the complexities behind the major topical issues and to examine the main modelsof citizenship that exist today. Interest in citizenship has never been higher. It has becomea buzz-word for politicians of all varieties, moral leaders, and every kind of campaigninggroup from the global to the local level. But what does it mean to be a citizen of a modern,complex community? How have ideas of citizenship changed through time from ancientGreece to the present? Why is citizenship important? Can we create citizenship, and can wetest for it?

Civil EngineeringDavid Muir Wood



Civil Engineering: A Very Short Introduction examines the nature and importance of civilengineering in the history of civilization and urbanization. This VSI sets out the problemsthat civil engineers need to solve and the science and technology that has enabled engineersto build bridges, tunnels, houses and buildings for all aspects of life. It also looks at thesocial and environmental considerations and the challenges facing civil engineers ofthe future managing water and energy and a growing sensitivity to buildings and theenvironment as well highlighting the lives of some major civil engineers of the past.

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Classical MythologyHelen Morales



Classical Mythology: A Very Short Introduction explores the rich history and diverseinterpretations of classical myths and examines how classical myths are used andunderstood in both high art and popular culture. The influence of classical myths can befound in the temples of Crete, skyscrapers in New York, Arabic poetry, Hollywood films,psychoanalysis, the Bible, and New Age spiritualism. The myths of ancient Greece andRome seem to exert a timeless power over us. But what do those myths represent, and whyare they so enduringly fascinating? Why do they seem to be such a potent way of talkingabout ourselves, our origins, and our desires?

ClassicsMary Beard and John Henderson



We are all Classicists. We come into touch with the Classics daily: in our culture, politics,medicine, architecture, language, and literature. What are the true roots of these influencesand how do our interpretations of these aspects of the Classics differ from their originalreception? Classics: A Very Short Introduction begins with a visit to the British Museum toview the frieze that once decorated the Apollo Temple at Bassae. Through these sculptures,it prompts consideration of the significance of Classics as a means of discovery and enquiry,its value in terms of literature, philosophy, and culture, and its importance as a source ofimagery.

ClausewitzMichael Howard



Clausewitz: A Very Short Introduction explains Clausewitz's ideas in terms both of hisexperiences as a professional soldier in the Napoleonic Wars, and of the intellectualbackground of his time. Karl von Clausewitz's study On War was described by theAmerican strategic thinker Bernard Brodie as not simply the greatest, but the only greatbook about war. Even though he wrote his only major work at a time when the rangeof firearms was 50 yards, much of what he had to say remains relevant today. This VSIoutlines Clausewitz's enduring theory of war and how his theory relates to his actualexperience in the Napoleonic Wars.

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ClimateMark Maslin



Climate: A Very Short Introduction considers all aspects of the global climate system,exploring and explaining the different components that control the climate on Earth.Climate affects everything we do in life, from the clothes we wear to the illnesses wemight catch. How does energy reach the Earth? How does the oceanatmosphere systemredistribute energy around the plane? What is the relationship and what are the differencesbetween climate and the weather? Climate affects life on Earth and human settlements inmany different ways. Humans have to live their lives aware of the risk of cyclic and quasi-cyclic features of climate such as the Milankovitch cycles and El Nino.

The Cold WarRobert J. McMahon



The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction argues that the massive disorder and economicruin following the Second World War inevitably predetermined the scope and intensityof the Cold War. But why did it last so long? And what impact did it have on the UnitedStates, the Soviet Union, Europe, and the Third World? Finally, how did it affect thebroader history of the second half of the twentieth century what were the human andfinancial costs? This VSI addresses all of these questions as it explores the key players,developments and dimensions of the Cold War era.

Colonial AmericaAlan Taylor



Colonial America: A Very Short Introduction presents the current scholarly understandingof the subject. During the past generation, historians have broadened that understanding byadopting both a trans-Atlantic and a trans-continental perspective, examining the interplayof Europe, Africa, and the Americas through the flows of goods, people, plants, animals,capital, and ideas. Colonial America produced an unprecedented mixing of radicallydiverse peoples African, European, and Indian under stressful circumstances forall. The colonial intermingling of peoples, microbes, plants, and animals from differentcontinents was unparalleled in speed and volume. Everyone had to adjust to a new world of

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unpredictable social and cultural hybrids that compromised and complicated the ambitiousplans of empire-builders.

Colonial Latin American LiteratureRolena Adorno



Colonial Latin American Literature: A Very Short Introduction provides a vivid accountof the literary culture of the Spanish-speaking Americas from the time of Columbus toLatin American Independence. This VSI explores the origins of Latin American literaturein Spanish and tells the story of how Spanish literary language developed and flourished inthe New World. The works of Spanish, creole, and Amerindian authors highlighted here,including Bartolom de las Casas, Felipe Guaman Poma, Sor Juana Ins de la Cruz, andAndrs Bello, have been chosen for the merits of their writings, their participation in thelarger literary and cultural debates of their times, and their resonance among readers today.

ComedyMatthew Bevis



Comedy: A Very Short Introduction studies written forms of comedy such as prose fiction,poetry, caricatures, and cartoons. There are also performance forms of comedy such ascomic drama, pantomime, comic opera, silent cinema, popular music, Broadway shows,music-hall, stand-up and circus acts, rom-coms, sketch shows, sit-coms. To considercomedy in its incarnations is to raise diverse questions: what is humour, and how may itbe used (or abused)? When do we laugh, and why? What is it that writers and speakersenjoy and risk when they tell a joke, indulge in bathos, talk nonsense, or encourageirony? Comedy is both a literary genre and a forum for a range of non-literary phenomena,experiences, and events.

CommunismLeslie Holmes



Communism: A Very Short Introduction highlights the inner dynamics, crises, and demiseof communism as a global system, explaining the theory behind its ideology, and examiningthe history and mindset behind its political, economic, and social structures. That system,at its zenith, ruled more than a third of the world's population across four continents, and

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threatened to destroy the West. Yet most of it eventually, and very suddenly, mutated intospectacular failure. The collapse of communism was one of the most defining momentsof the twentieth century. The highs and lows of communist power and its future in today'sworld is examined.

The ComputerDarrel Ince



The Computer: A Very Short Introduction shows how computers have changed so muchsince the roomfilling, bulky magnetic tape running monsters of the mid20th century.They now form a vital part of most people's lives. And they are more ubiquitous than mightbe thoughtyou may have more than 30 computers in your home: not just the desktop andlaptop but think of the television, the fridge, the microwave. But what is the basic natureof the modern computer? How does it work? How has it been possible to squeeze so muchpower into increasingly small machines? And what will the next generations of computerslook like?

The ConquistadorsMatthew Restall and Felipe Fernandez-Armesto



The Conquistadors: A very Short Introduction investigates the facts and myths behind theSpanish invasion of the New World. With startling speed, Spanish conquistadors invadedhundreds of Native American kingdoms, took over the mighty empires of the Aztecs andIncas, and initiated an unprecedented redistribution of the world's resources and balance ofpower. They changed the course of history, but the myth they established was even strangerthan their real achievements. Subjects explored include New World civilizations prior to theinvasions, the genesis of conquistador culture on both sides of the Atlantic, the roles blackAfricans and Native Americans played, and the consequences of the invasions.

ConsciencePaul Strohm



Conscience: A Very Short Introduction highlights what the particularly European conceptof conscience has meant to successive generations and why it has a reputation as one of themost significant Western contributions to human rights and human dignity. In the West,

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conscience has been relied upon for 2,000 years as a judgement that distinguishes right fromwrong. It has effortlessly moved through every period division and timeline between theancient, medieval, and modern. The Romans identified it, the early Christians appropriatedit, and Reformation Protestants and loyal Catholics relied upon its advice and admonition.Today it is embraced with equal conviction by non-religious and religious alike.

ConsciousnessSusan Blackmore



How can a physical brain create our experience of the world? What creates our identity?Do we really have free will? Could consciousness itself be an illusion? Exciting newdevelopments in brain science are opening up debates on these issues, and the field hasnow expanded to include biologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, and philosophers.Consciousness: A Very Short Introduction clarifies the potentially confusing argumentsand the major theories using illustrations, lively cartoons, and experiments. Topics includevision and attention, theories of self and will, experiments on action and awareness, alteredstates of consciousness, and the effects of brain damage and drugs.

Contemporary ArtJulian Stallabrass



Contemporary Art: A Very Short Introduction takes us inside the international art worldto argue that behind contemporary art's variety and apparent unpredictability lies a grimuniformity. Its mysteries are all too easily explained, its depths much shallower than theyseem. Contemporary art is supposed to be a realm of freedom where artists shock, breaktaboos, flout generally received ideas, and switch between confronting viewers with worksof great emotional profundity and jaw-dropping triviality. But away from shock tactics inthe gallery, there are many unanswered questions. Who is really running the art world?What effect has America's growing political and cultural dominance had on art?

Contemporary FictionRobert Eaglestone



Contemporary Fiction: A Very Short Introduction explores a wide and diverse field, nowglobal in dimension, with an enormous range of novels and writers that continues to grow

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at a fantastic speed. This VSI provides an exploration of the major themes, patterns, anddebates of contemporary fiction. From genre, form, and experimentalism to the legacies ofmodernism and postmodernism, the relationship between globalization and terrorism, andthe impact of technology, it examines how works both reflect the world in which we liveand the artistic concerns of writers and readers alike.

Continental PhilosophySimon Critchley



Continental Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction shows that Continental philosophyencompasses a distinct set of philosophical traditions and practices, with a compelling rangeof problems often ignored by the analytic tradition. It discusses the ideas and approachesof philosophers such as Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Habermas,Foucault, and Derrida, and introduces key concepts such as existentialism, nihilism, andphenomenology by explaining their place in the Continental tradition. It discusses thereasons for the conflict between Continental and Anglo-American philosophy, and arguesthat philosophers should now attempt to overcome this divide.

CosmologyPeter Coles



Cosmology: A Very Short Introductionexplains what cosmology is and what cosmologistsdo, looks at the history of the subject, the development of the Big Bang theory, and morespeculative modern issues such as quantum cosmology, superstrings, and dark matter. Thesubject matter of cosmology is everything that exists. The whole system of things that isthe Universe encompasses the very large and the very small, the astronomical scale of starsand galaxies and the microscopic world of elementary particles. Between the two livesa complex hierarchy of structure and pattern that comes from the interplay of forces andmatter. The aim of cosmology is to place all known physical phenomena within a singlecoherent framework.

Critical TheoryStephen Eric Bronner



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Critical Theory: A Very Short Introduction explores the concepts and themes thatdistinguished critical theory from its more traditional philosophical competitors. Criticaltheory emerged in the 1920s from the work of the Frankfurt School, the circle of GermanJewish academics who sought to diagnose and cure the ills of society. Sketches of leadingrepresentatives of this critical tradition, such as George Lukcs and Ernst Bloch, TheodorAdorno and Walter Benjamin, Herbert Marcuse and Jurgen Habermas, as well as manyof its seminal texts and empirical investigations, are presented. Concepts such as methodand agency, alienation and reification, the culture industry and repressive tolerance, nonidentity and utopia are explained and discussed.

The CrusadesChristopher Tyerman



The Crusades: A Very Short Introduction examines this topic by bringing together issuesof colonialism, cultural exchange, economic exploitation, and the relationship betweenpast and present. Crusading fervour gripped Europe for over 200 years, creating one of themost extraordinary, vivid episodes in world history. The legacy of the ideas and imageryof the Crusades has resonated through the centuries, inspiring Hollywood movies and greatworks of literature. Despite their powerful hold on our imaginations, our knowledge of themremains obscured and distorted by time. Were the Crusaders motivated by spiritual rewards,or by greed? Were the Crusades an experiment in European colonialism, or a manifestationof religious love? How were they organized and founded?

CryptographyFred Piper and Sean Murphy



Cryptography: A Very Short Introduction provides a clear and informative introductionto cryptography and data protection subjects of considerable social and politicalimportance. It explains what algorithms do, how they are used, the risks associated withusing them, and why governments should be concerned. Important areas are highlighted,such as Stream Ciphers, block ciphers, public key algorithms, digital signatures, andapplications such as e-commerce. This VSI highlights the explosive impact of cryptographyon modern society, with, for example, the evolution of the internet and the introduction ofmore sophisticated banking methods.

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The Cultural RevolutionRichard Curt Kraus



The Cultural Revolution: A Very Short Introduction illuminates China's decade-long GreatProletarian Cultural Revolution. Moving beyond Mao Zedong, this VSI links Beijing's elitepolitics to broader aspects of society and culture, highlighting many changes in daily life,employment, and the economy. It also situates this very nationalist outburst of Chineseradicalism within a global context, showing that the Cultural Revolution was mirroredin the radical youth movement that swept much of the world. It was during the CulturalRevolution that China and the United States tempered their long hostility, which sowed theseeds for China's subsequent decades of spectacular economic growth.

Dada and SurrealismDavid Hopkins



Dada and Surrealism: A Very Short Introduction focuses on the many debates surroundingthese movements: the Marquis de Sade's Surrealist deification, issues of quality, the idea ofthe readymade, attitudes towards the city, the impact of Freud, attitudes to women, andprimitivism. Where does the Dadaist obsession with the body-as-mechanism come from?Why are the Surrealists obsessed with the fetishized/eroticized body? Dada and Surrealismcontinue to have a huge influence on cultural practice, especially in contemporary art,with its obsession with sexuality, fetishism, and shock tactics. A huge range of mediais employed by both movements (collage, painting, found objects, performance art,photography, film), but there are aesthetic differences between them.

The Dead Sea ScrollsTimothy Lim



The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Very Short Introduction separates the myths of this momentousreligious and cultural icon from the reality. This VSI presents the true facts and leadingtheories behind the cultural and historical background of the scrolls, and examines theirsignificance for our understanding of the Old Testament and the origins of Christianityand Judaism. It tells the fascinating story of the scrolls since their discovery, explainsthe science behind their deciphering and dating, and investigates the cast of characters,scandals, and controversies that have hastened the scrolls' rise to the status of cultural icon.

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DemocracyBernard Crick



Democracy: A Very Short Introduction is a short account of the history of the doctrine andpractice of democracy, from ancient Greece and Rome through the American, French, andRussian revolutions, and of the usages and practices associated with it in the modern world.Considering the diverse range of interpretations of democracy, it looks at the controversiesabout such issues as who should have a right to vote. This VSI argues that democracy is anecessary but not a sufficient condition for good government, and that ideas of the rule oflaw, and of human rights, should in some situations limit democratic claims.

DerridaSimon Glendinning



Derrida: A Very Short Introduction explores both the difficulty and significance of thework of Derrida. It explains the theory of deconstruction, presenting Derrida's challengingideas as a significant contribution to and a powerful reading of, our philosophical heritage.Defending Derrida against many of the charges that were levelled against him by theanalytical philosophical community, this VSI nevertheless shows why his work inspiressuch passionate criticism. It explores his most famous and influential texts to show how andwhy Derrida's work of deconstruction is inspired not by a critical frenzy, but by a lovingrespect for philosophy.

DescartesTom Sorell



Descartes: A Very Short Introduction explores the life and work of a man who madefundamental contributions to physics, mathematics, and optics, and reported usefulobservations in meteorology and physiology. Had he confined himself to the naturalsciences, his achievement would have been remarkable enough. But his range wasconsiderably wider. His famous statement Cogito, ergo sum is the first principle of hismetaphysics, his theory of what has to be known for stable and exact science to be possible.This VSI shows that Descartes was, essentially, an advocate and practitioner of a newmathematical approach to physics, and that he developed his metaphysics to support hisscientific programme.

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DesertsPrint Publication Year: 2009 Published Online: Sep 2013ISBN: 9780199564309 eISBN: 9780191777462Item type: book


Deserts: A Very Short Introduction explores the nature of deserts and the extent of theirvariety, climates, landscapes, wildlife, and human habitation. Typified by drought andextremes of temperature, deserts can be harsh and hostile; but many are also beautifuland, on occasion, teem with life. The uniqueness of deserts through an examination oftheir plants, animals, climatic conditions, scenery, resources, human occupants, and futurepotential are outlined. The beauty, biodiversity, and importance of deserts within a globalcontext are highlighted and a case made for their preservation, protection, and furtherresearch.

DesignJohn Heskett



Design: A Very Short Introduction transforms the way we think about design. How doesdesign affect our everyday activities? Do we appreciate its place in our daily lives? Simpleobjects, such as a spoon, can have their design modified to meet the needs of specificcultural behaviour. Different cultures and individuals personalize objects. Good designcombines need and desire in the form of a practical object that reflects the user's identityand aspirations. How do major companies such as Nokia, Ford, and Sony approach design?How can design humanize new technology?

Developmental BiologyLewis Wolpert



Developmental Biolo

Documents

List of Very Short Introduction Titles Part 1