Hobbes. A Very Short Introduction

Richard Tuck

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) was the first great English political philosopher, and his book Leviathan was one of the first truly modern works of philosophy.

Choice theory. A Very Short Introduction

Michael Allingham

This book explores what it means to be rational in all these contexts. It introduces ideas from economics, philosophy, and other areas, showing how the theory applies to decisions in everyday life, and to particular situations such as gambling and the allocation of...

Darwin. A Very Short Introduction

Jonathan Howard

Darwin's theory that man's ancestors were apes caused an uproar within the scientific world, as well as public frenzy when The Origin of Species was published in 1859. Arguments still rage about the implications of his evolutionary theory, and skepticism about the value...

The European Union. A Very Short Introduction

John Pinder

Over the past few decades, the European Union has seen many great changes. Negotiations for the accession of six new states have begun, and membership, which already covers almost all of Western Europe, will soon extend to most of Central and Eastern Europe.

Kant. A Very Short Introduction

Roger Scruton

Immanuel Kant is arguably the most influential modern philosopher, but is also one of the most difficult.

Jung. A Very Short Introduction

Stevens, Anthony

This is the most lucid and timely introduction to the thought of Carl Gustav Jung available to date. Though he was a prolific writer and an original thinker of vast erudition, Jung lacked a gift for clear exposition, and his ideas are less widely appreciated than they...

Freud. A Very Short Introduction

Anthony Storr

Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, developed a totally new way of looking at human nature. Only now, with the hindsight of the half-century since his death, can we assess his true legacy to current thought.

The Buddha. A Very Short Introduction

Michael Carrithers

In this valuable introduction, Michael Carrithers guides us through the complex and sometimes conflicting information that Buddhist texts give us about the life and teaching of the Buddha.

Hinduism. A Very Short Introduction

Kim Knott

Hinduism is practiced by about eighty percent of India's population, and by about 30 million people outside India. But how isHinduism defined, and what basis does the religion have? In this Very Short Introduction , Kim Knott provides clear insight into the beliefs and...

Politics. A Very Short Introduction

Kenneth Minogue

The new Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects from politics to classics. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each book in the series provides trenchant, provocative, yet balanced discussions on the...

Social and Cultural Anthropology. A Very Short Introduction

Just, Peter , Monaghan, John

Logic. A Very Short Introduction

Priest, Graham

Logic is often perceived as having little to do with the rest of philosophy, and even less to do with real life. In this lively and accessible introduction, Graham Priest shows how wrong this conception is.

The Bible. A Very Short Introduction

John Riches

It is sometimes said that the Bible is one of the most unread books in the world, yet has been a major force in the development of Western culture and continues to exert an enormous influence over many people's lives.

Islam. A Very Short Introduction

Ruthven, Malise

Islam features widely in the news, often in its most militant versions. But few people in the non-Muslim world really understand the nature of Islam, both as Ideology and religion. Islam: A Very Short Introduction offers essential insight into the structure and beliefs...

History. A Very Short Introduction

John H. Arnold

Oxford's celebrated Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible.

Hume. A Very Short Introduction

A. J. Ayer

Hume is one of the greatest of all British philosophers, and even in his own lifetime was celebrated as one of the pivotal figures of the Enlightenment. A central theme of his philosophy is the conviction that questions traditionally thought of as completely independent...

Archeology. A Very Short Introduction

Bahn Paul

Classics. A Very Short Introduction

Beard Mary, Henderson John

We are all classicists--we come into touch with the classics on a daily basis: in our culture, politics, medicine, architecture, language, and literature. What are the true roots of these influences, however, and how do our interpretations of these aspects of the...

Sociology. A Very Short Introduction

Bruce, Steve

Steve Bruce conveys the essence of the field of sociology in this fascinating volume. A well-known populizer of the discipline, Bruce presents here an introduction to a way of thinking that will appeal to anyone interested in deepening their understanding of modern...

Psychology. A Very Short Introduction

Butler, Gillian , Mc Manus Freda

Psychology is part of everyone's experience: it influences the way we think about everything from education and intelligence to relationships and emotions, advertising, and criminality.