Books in the Big Ideas series

An innovative and accessible guide to more than 2,000 years of thoughtTo the complete novice learning about philosophy can be daunting - The Philosophy eBook changes all that. With the use of powerful and easy-to-follow images, succinct quotations, and explanations that are easily understandable, this ebook cuts through any misunderstandings to demystify the subject.Each chapter is organised chronologically, and covers not only the big ideas, but the philosophers who first voiced them, as well as cross-referencing with earlier and later ideas and thinkers. The Philosophy eBook untangles knotty theories and sheds light on abstract concepts, and is perfect for anyone with a general interest in how our social, political, and ethical ideas are formed, as well as students of philosophy and politics.Covers major and niche topics, from moral ethics to philosophies of religion

All the big ideas, simply explained - an innovative and accessible guide to the study of human nature The Psychology Book clearly explains more than 100 groundbreaking ideas in this fascinating field of science. How does the brain remember faces? What makes us choose one decision over another? Where does language come from?With the use of powerful and easy-to-follow images, quotations from all the major thinkers, and explanations that are easily understandable, this book demystifies hard-to-grasp concepts and shows how these have shaped our knowledge of the human mind. All the schools of psychology are covered from cognitive to behavioural psychology making this ideal for students or for anyone with a general interest in this popular area.If you're fascinated by the human mind then The Psychology Book will get you thinking.

Originally a maths teacher from Australia, Matt Parker is a now a stand-up comedian, mathematics communicator, and prominent maths YouTuber on the Numberphile and Stand-up Maths channels, where his videos have had over 100 million views. Matt performs live comedy with Festival of the Spoken Nerd and once calculated pi live in front of a sold-out Royal Albert Hall. He also presents television and radio programmes for the BBC and the Discovery channel, and his 2019 book Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors topped the Sunday Times best-seller chart.

Travel back in time with the latest instalment in the bestselling Big Ideas series. The History Book charts world history from the dawn of civilisation to the modern culture we live in today. From the origins of homo-sapiens to the release of Nelson Mandela, from the French Revolution to the Space Race, The History Book is a stunning exploration of the human timeline up to and including modern Islam, the world wide web, and the global financial crisis.The History Book tackles big historical ideas with stunning visuals, key quotes, and important themes that are woven throughout world history. Discover events from the assassination of Caesar to World War I and see the people and events come to life with The History Book, perfect for students, adults, or anyone who wants to understand our fascinating past.

The Movie Book makes you an offer you can't refuse, chronicling more than 100 of the best movies ever made and bringing cinema to life.Beginning with the iconic La Voyage Dans La Lune from 1902, right through to Richard Linklater's ground breaking Boyhood, The Movie Book explores the rich history of cinema. The Movie Book covers early visionaries of the 1900's and the golden age of black and white films, to international art-house and 21st-century sci-fi. Through iconic quotes and film stills, to posters, biographies, movie memorabilia and narrative timelines, discover every aspect of your favourite movies, as well as the films you need to see.Essential for anyone with a passion for cinema, The Movie Book is ready for it's close up.

All the big ideas, simply explained - an innovative and accessible guide to economicsBring economics to life with The Economics Book, an essential guide to more that 100 of the big ideas in economic theory and practice covering everything from ancient theories right up to cutting-edge modern developments.From Aristotle to John Maynard Keynes and beyond, all the greatest economists and their theories are featured and the innovative graphics, step-by-step summaries and mind maps help clarify hard-to-grasp concepts.The Economics Book is perfect for economic students and anyone who has an interest in how economies work.

Discover three million years of famous inventors and amazing discoveries.1000 Inventions & Discoveries explores the brilliant ideas and innovations that have shaped our world. Whether you're a budding inventor yourself or love gizmos and gadgets this amazing guide is packed with the inventions and discoveries that changed our lives! Find out who came up with the idea, how they were influenced and key events that formed the backdrop of the discovery. Packed with stunning pictures and features you'll relive the most amazing discoveries ever made.Discover timelines, features, images and archive materials that bring all the inventions and discoveries to life!

An innovative and accessible guide to the world's religionsThe Religions Book clearly explains the key concepts behind the earliest religious beliefs right up to the world's newest faiths, getting to the heart of what it means to believe. Principles of the five main world religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - as well as ancient and primal belief systems are explored in this informative tome. All the big ideas are simply explained with jargon-free descriptions, step-by-step diagrams, and witty illustrations that encapsulate every aspect of religious thinking. Examine major historical developments and ideas with a universal timeline, providing a global perspective on the origins and major events that have contributed to the growth and spread of religion and spirituality. Along with the teaching highlights of pre-eminent figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Saint Paul, and Al-Ghazali, you'll also find a handy reference section featuring a glossary of religious terms and a roadmap to all the branches of the major faiths and the points of doctrine or tradition on which they differ. Modern alternative religions and spiritual beliefs from around the world are also explored, putting into context the political and social climates from which they emerged. The Religions Book provides compelling, accessible information perfect for students of religious study or anyone interested in the ideas of ancient and present day faiths and religious philosophies.

An innovative and accessible guide to government, law, and power Learning about the vast concept of politics can be daunting, but The Politics eBook makes it easier than ever by giving you all the big ideas, simply explained. Step-by-step summaries, graphics, and quotations help even the complete novice understand this fascinating subject. More than 100 groundbreaking ideas in the history of politics are helpfully broken down so that abstract topics, such as theoretical foundations and practical applications become real. Topics span from ancient political thought and medieval politics all the way to world war and modern politics. Features a handy reference section complete with a glossary of political terms and a directory of political thinkers, such as Plato, John Locke, and Karl Marx. The Politics eBook is the essential reference for students of politics and anyone with an interest in how government works.

An innovative and accessible guide to business, management and commerceLearning about business can be daunting, but The Business Book makes it easier than ever by giving you all the big ideas simply explained. Simple explanations and stylish infographics open up the business world to even the complete novice. The Business Book is the perfect primer to key theories of business and management, covering inspirational business ideas, business strategy and alternative business models. 100 key quotations introduce you to the work of great commercial thinkers, leaders and gurus from Henry Ford to Steve Jobs and to topics spanning from start-ups to ethics. Whether you are a would-be entrepreneur or just have an interest in business, The Business Book is an all-in-one guide to business management, theory and strategy.

All the big ideas, simply explained - an innovative and accessible guide to sociologyPart of the popular Big Ideas series, The Sociology Book introduces you to the subject that tells you all about what society is and what makes it tick. With over 80 ideas from the world's most renowned sociologists, covering topics as diverse as issues of equality, diversity, identity and human rights; the effects of globalization; the role of institutions, and the rise of urban living in modern society, this book details the key concepts of sociological thought.Discover all the big sociological ideas with quirky graphics, pithy quotes and step-by-step 'mind maps'. You'll be brought up-to-date on sociological ideas from Jeffrey Alexander to Sharon Zukin, with easy to navigate step-by-step summaries which explain each idea in a nutshell. Plus biographies of key sociologists from around the world, giving a historical context to each idea. Whether you are a sociology student or just have an interest in the workings of society, The Sociology Book is a perfect way to explore this fascinating subject.

Argues that the physical violence we see is often generated by the systemic violence that sustains our political and economic systems. With the help of eminent philosophers and frequent references to popular culture, this title examines the causes of violent outbreaks like those seen in Israel and Palestine and in terrorist acts around the world.

Learn about the most important discoveries and theories of this science in The Biology Book.Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about Biology in this overview guide to the subject, brilliant for novices looking to find out more and experts wishing to refresh their knowledge alike! The Biology Book brings a fresh and vibrant take on the topic through eye-catching graphics and diagrams to immerse yourself in. This captivating book will broaden your understanding of Biology, with:- More than 95 ideas and events key to the development of biology and the life sciences- Packed with facts, charts, timelines and graphs to help explain core concepts- A visual approach to big subjects with striking illustrations and graphics throughout- Easy to follow text makes topics accessible for people at any level of understandingThe Biology Book is a captivating introduction to understanding the living world and explaining how its organisms work and interact - whether microbes, mushrooms, or mammals. Here you'll discover key areas of the life sciences, including ecology, zoology, and biotechnology, through exciting text and bold graphics.Your Biology Questions, Simply ExplainedThis book will outline big biological ideas, like the mysteries of DNA and genetic inheritance; and how we learnt to develop vaccines that control diseases. If you thought it was difficult to learn about the living world, The Biology Book presents key information in a clear layout. Here you'll learn about cloning, neuroscience, human evolution, and gene editing, and be introduced to the scientists who shaped these subjects, such as Carl Linnaeus, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, Charles Darwin, and Gregor Mendel.The Big Ideas SeriesWith millions of copies sold worldwide, The Biology Book is part of the award-winning Big Ideas series from DK. The series uses striking graphics along with engaging writing, making big topics easy to understand.

How are illnesses diagnosed? What is cancer? Why are some pandemics so deadly? This book explores big questions like these, explaining the breakthroughs and discoveries that have shaped our modern-day understanding of medicine and helped us protect and promote our health. Written in plain English, The Medicine Book cuts through the jargon and is packed with pithy explanations of the most important milestones in medical history, with step-by-step diagrams and witty illustrations that untangle knotty concepts.From ancient medical practices, such as herbal medications and balancing the humours, through groundbreaking work including Jenner's experiments with cowpox, which laid the basis for vaccination, The Medicine Book offers an engaging overview of medical history across the world all the way into the 21st century with gene manipulation, immunotherapy, and robotics and telesurgery. Covering the role that therapies and drugs have played in the human quest to treat and prevent disease, the establishment of hospitals and later international medical bodies, like the WHO, and medical science's response to new challenges, such as accelerated antibiotic resistance and COVID-19, The Medicine Book explains the stories behind each milestone development.Continuing the "Big Ideas" series' trademark combination of authoritative, informative text, and bold graphics, The Medicine Book uses an innovative visual approach to make the subject accessible to everyone, whether you're a student of medicine or science, a medical professional, or an armchair expert.

Typography, graphics and punchy factoids get across the important ideas, developments and human stories of physics. Features insightful quotes from Archimedes, Galileo, Newton, Einstein and Stephen Hawking.

The perfect introduction to poetry, The Poetry Book offers a fascinating exploration of more than 90 of the world's greatest poetic works.Discover poems in all their many guises, from the epics of the ancient world through Renaissance sonnets to modernist masterpieces such as The Waste Land, and the key works of the last 50 years, including And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou and Derek Walcott's Omeros.Using the Big Ideas series' trademark combination of clear explanation, witty infographics, and inspirational quotes, The Poetry Book unlocks the key ideas, themes, imagery, and structural techniques behind even the most complex of poems, in clear and simple terms, setting each work in its historical, social, cultural, and literary context. Dive into the passionate world of poetry to discover:COMPREHENSIVE: Brings together a curated selection of the most celebrated and important poems ever written, majoring on English-language poetryANALYTICAL: Provides critical analysis of form, structure, and style, exploring the trademark themes and subjects of the poets who wrote them, and using each poem as a route into wider literary trends, poetic movements and schools, and related poetsGRAPHIC APPROACH: Combines creative typography, graphics, and clear text to explore the world's most famous and important poems, and the people behind them, in a unique wayEYE-CATCHING: Thought-provoking graphics and flow-charts explore form and structure, and the central concepts behind each work QUOTATIONS: Features insightful and inspiring quotes from the featured poems, the poets behind them, and leading writers and criticsREFERENCE: Features a glossary section of poetic termsDelve into the works of Dante, Baudelaire, Rumi, Dickinson, Eliot, and Li Bai with in-depth literary analysis and fascinating biographies. Find out what odes, ballads, and allegories are. Trace recurring motifs, explore imagery, and discover how rhyme and rhythm work. From Homer's Odyssey to Seamus Heaney's Casualty, The Poetry Book is essential reading for lovers of poetry and aspiring poets alike.

The Shakespeare eBook is the perfect primer to the works of William Shakespeare, packed with witty illustrations and inspirational quotes.Covering every work, from the comedies of Twelfth Night and As You Like It to the tragedies of Julius Caesar and Hamlet, plus lost plays and less well-known works of poetry. Easy-to-understand graphics and illustrations bring the themes, plots, characters and language of Shakespeare to life. This includes illustrated timelines which offer an at-a-glance summary of the action for each play. With detailed plot summaries and an in-depth analysis of the major characters and themes, this is a brilliant, innovative exploration of the entire canon of Shakespeare plays, sonnets and poetry. Whether you're a Shakespeare scholar or a student of the great Bard, The Shakespeare eBook offers a fuller appreciation of his phenomenal talent and lasting legacy.

An accessible introduction to ecological science, with nearly one-hundred events and developments explained. Features quotes from leading ecologists, scientists, philosophers and politicians, including Charles Darwin and Eugene Odum.

A thorough study of feminism, tracing the key ideas and historical events forward to contemporary movements such as #MeToo and the actions of modern figures such as Malala Yousafzai. Introduction from "Guardian" columnist Lucy Mangan.

How does the brain remember faces? What makes us choose one decision over another? Where does language come from? Can we really measure intelligence?DK's The Little Book of Psychology answers all these questions and provides an insight into this fascinating field of science. Whether you are a student, an expert, a novice, or have a general interest in the human mind, this portable guide is the perfect choice to start exploring and understanding psychology.From cognitive to behavioural psychology, this stimulating guide covers all major schools in the field. It includes doctrines and quotes from major thinkers including Sigmund Freud, Noam Chomsky, and Kurt Lewin. Small biography boxes provide brief biographical details of all the thinkers. With the use of powerful and witty illustrations and easy and jargon-free explanations, The Little Book of Psychology demystifies hard-to-grasp concepts and shows how these ideas have shaped our knowledge of the human mind.

Learn everything you need to know about the world of philosophy- from the key thinkers to modern concepts in a brand new portable size.To the complete novice learning about philosophy can be daunting - The Little Book of Philosophy changes all that. With the use of powerful and easy-to-follow images, famous quotations, and explanations that are easily understandable, this book cuts through any misunderstandings to demystify the subject.Each chapter is organised chronologically, and covers not only the big ideas, but the philosophers who first voiced them, as well as cross-referencing with earlier and later ideas and thinkers. The Little Book of Philosophy untangles knotty theories and sheds light on abstract concepts, and is perfect for anyone with a general interest in how our social, political, and ethical ideas are formed, as well as students of philosophy and politics.Covers major and niche topics, from moral ethics to philosophies of religion.

Chronicles every case of the world's greatest detective and his assistant Dr Watson. This book explores every facet of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most memorable creation. It offers all you want to know about the sleuth and his stories.

Discover the rich and complex history of LGBTQ+ people around the world - their struggles, triumphs, and cultural contributions.Exploring and explaining the most important ideas and events in LGBTQ+ history and culture, this book showcases the breadth of the LGBTQ+ experience. This diverse, global account explores the most important moments, movements, and phenomena, from the first known lesbian love poetry of Sappho to Kinsey's modern sexuality studies, and features biographies of key figures from Anne Lister to Audre Lorde.Dive deep into the pages of The LGBTQ + History book to discover: - Thought-provoking graphics and flow-charts demystify the central concepts behind key moments in LGBTQ+ history, from eromenos and erastes in the Ancient World to political lesbianism.- Features insightful quotes from leading historians, philosophers, cultural commentators, economists, anthropologists, sociologists, activists, and politicians.- Includes biography boxes and directory entries on the lives of important but lesser-known individuals, alongside well-known names including Sappho, Oscar Wilde, Anne Lister, Harvey Milk, and Marsha P. Johnson.- Global in scope with a localizable directory.The LGBTQ+ History Book celebrates the victories and untold triumphs of LGBTQ+ people throughout history, such as the Stonewall Riots and first gender affirmation surgeries, as well as commemorating moments of tragedy and persecution, from the Renaissance Italian "Night Police" to the 20th century "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy. The book also includes major cultural cornerstones - the secret language of polari, Black and Latine ballroom culture, and the many flags of the community - and the history of LGBTQ+ spaces, from 18th-century "molly houses" to modern "gaybourhoods". The LGBTQ+ History Book celebrates the long, proud - and often hidden - history of LGBTQ+ people, cultures, and places from around the world.