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The Trojan War by Eric H. Cline
Category: History | Series: Very Short Introductions
Homer's tale of the abduction of Helen to Troy and the ten-year war to bring her back to Greece has fascinated mankind for centuries since he related it in The Iliad and The Odyssey. More recently, it has given rise to countless scholarly articles and books, extensive archaeological excavations, epic mo ...Show more
The U. S. Civil War: a Very Short Introduction by Louis P. Masur
Category: History | Series: Very Short Introductions Ser.
More than one hundred and fifty years after the first shots were fired on Fort Sumter, the Civil War still captures the American imagination, and its reverberations can still be felt throughout America's social and political landscape.Louis P. Masur's The U.S. Civil War: A Very Short Introduction offers ...Show more
The Vikings: A Very Short Introduction by Julian D. Richards
Category: History | Series: Very Short Introductions
A Very Short IntroductionThe Viking reputation is of bloodthirsty seafaring warriors, repeatedly plundering the British Isles and the North Atlantic throughout the early Middle Ages. Yet Vikings were also traders, settlers, and farmers, with a complex artistic and linguistic culture. Highlighting the la ...Show more
The World Trade Organization by Amrita Narlikar
Category: History | Series: Very Short Introductions
The WTO has a deep and far reaching impact on people's everyday lives, and has generated debate, controversy and outrage. This "VSI" provides an explanation of the political, economic, and ethical controversies: what the WTO is, what it does, and whether it works.
Theatre: A Very Short Introduction by Marvin Carlson
Category: Philosophy | Series: Very Short Introductions
From before history was recorded to the present day, theatre has been a major artistic form around the world. From puppetry to mimes and street theatre, this complex art has utilized all other art forms such as dance, literature, music, painting, sculpture, and architecture. Every aspect of human activi ...Show more
Trust: A Very Short Introduction by Katherine Hawley
Category: Culture | Series: Very Short Introductions
Trust is indispensable, yet it can be dangerous. Without trusting others, we cannot function in society, or even stay alive for very long, but being overly-trustful can be a bad strategy too. Trust is pragmatic, but it also has a moral dimension: trustworthiness is a virtue, and well-placed trust benefi ...Show more
Utilitarianism: A Very Short Introduction by Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek & Peter Singer
Category: Philosophy and Religion | Series: Very Short Introductions
Very Short Introduction to Folk Music by Mark Slobin
Category: Philosophy | Series: Very Short Introductions
This stimulating Very Short Introduction throws open the doors on a remarkably diverse musical genre, with a world-wide reach that goes far beyond America's shores to discuss folk music of every possible kind and in every corner of the globe. Written by award-winning ethnomusicologist Mark Slobin this i ...Show more
Viruses by Dorothy H. Crawford
Category: Science | Series: Very Short Introductions Ser.
Viruses are big news. From pandemics such as HIV, swine flu, and SARS, we are constantly being bombarded with information about new lethal infections. In this Very Short Introduction Dorothy Crawford demonstrates how clever these entities really are. From their discovery and the unravelling oftheir intr ...Show more
Voltaire: A Very Short Introduction by Nicholas Cronk
Category: Philosophy and Religion | Series: Very Short Introductions
Voltaire (1694-1778), best remembered as the author of Candide, is one of the central actors - arguably the defining personality - of the European Enlightenment. In this Very Short Introduction, Nicholas Cronk explores Voltaire's remarkable career and demonstrates how his thinking is pivotal to our noti ...Show more
War and Religion: a Very Short Introduction by Jolyon Mitchell; Joshua Rey
Category: History | Series: Very Short Introductions Ser.
Very Short Introductions Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Is religion a force for war, or a force for peace? Some of the most terrible wars in history have been caused and motivated by religion. Much of the violence that fills our screens today springs from the same source. Yet some of the bravest pacifists ...Show more
Weather: A Very Short Introduction by Storm Dunlop
Category: Cultural Studies | Series: Very Short Introductions
From deciding the best day for a picnic, to the devastating effects of hurricanes and typhoons, the weather impacts our lives on a daily basis. Although new techniques allow us to forecast the weather with increasing accuracy, most people do not realise the vast global movements and forces which result ...Show more