The Basics
About the Book Series
The Basics is a highly successful series of accessible guidebooks which provide an overview of the fundamental principles of a subject area in a jargon-free and undaunting format.
Intended for students approaching a subject for the first time, the books both introduce the essentials of a subject and provide an ideal springboard for further study. With over 50 titles spanning subjects from Artificial Intelligence to Women’s Studies, The Basics are an ideal starting point for students seeking to understand a subject area.
Each text comes with recommendations for further study and gradually introduces the complexities and nuances within a subject.
American Freedom: The Basics
1st Edition
By Geoff Hamilton
November 16, 2026
American Freedom: The Basics explores ideals of freedom as they have been conceived, debated, practiced, and struggled for in the United States from the Revolutionary War to the present day. Across ten chapters, the book addresses these core concepts: the nation’s revolutionary ideals and ...
Popular Culture: The Basics
1st Edition
By John Alberti
November 16, 2026
A fast-paced and lively introduction to the most significant approaches to studying and analyzing popular culture. Opening with an introduction exploring the challenges of defining just what we mean by ‘popular culture’, this book charts popular culture studies from the early 20th century to ...
Polygamy: The Basics
1st Edition
By Bruce Whitehouse, William Jankowiak
October 30, 2026
Polygamy: The Basics is an accessible and engaging introduction to the kinship structure known as plural marriage or polygamy. Tailored for general readers and non-specialists, this book distils research findings from evolutionary anthropology, history, economics, political science, and cultural ...
Transgender Philosophy: The Basics
1st Edition
By Matthew J. Cull
October 28, 2026
Transgender Philosophy: The Basics is an introduction to the exciting and rapidly growing world of trans philosophy. The book covers a wide range of central themes in transgender philosophy, bringing the reader up to speed with both foundational texts and new ideas from this increasingly global ...
Social Psychology: The Basics
2nd Edition
By Daniel Frings
October 26, 2026
This accessible book introduces the fundamental principles of social psychology, providing an overview of this fascinating area in a jargon-free guide. The second edition of Social Psychology: The Basics explores some of the most important questions we face to understanding ourselves as individuals...
Personality Psychology: The Basics
2nd Edition
By Stanley O. Gaines, Jr.
October 21, 2026
Personality Psychology: The Basics, 2nd Edition, offers a comprehensive yet accessible exploration of the field of personality psychology. This updated edition, authored by Stanley O. Gaines, Jr., with contributions from Manuel Ramirez, III, and Norma Rodriguez, delves into the major schools of ...
Romanticism: The Basics
1st Edition
By Elizabeth A. Fay
October 15, 2026
Romanticism: The Basics provides a concise overview of the study Romanticism and its global dimensions, covering the major aspects of romanticism, from the historical period (1780s – 1830s), to different national romanticisms. It examines the main topics of current scholarly debate with accessible ...
Ecology the basics
1st Edition
By Philip James
October 09, 2026
The text sets out the fundamentals that underpin ecology – the study of the relations between organisms of the same of different species and between organisms and the abiotic (non-living) environment. In other words, it is the study of where we live. The structure of the book follows the classical ...
Suicide: The Basics
1st Edition
By Matias Gay
October 06, 2026
Suicide: The Basics is a concise, accessible, and evidence-informed introduction to the study, prevention, and lived experience of suicide. Written for students and readers approaching the topic for the first time, this book explains key areas in suicidology such as theories, risk and protective ...
Cultural Geographies: The Basics
1st Edition
By Andrew Lapworth, Tom Roberts
October 05, 2026
Cultural Geographies: The Basics offers an accessible introduction to one of the most exciting and eclectic fields of academic study available to students today. It unpacks key conceptual and methodological innovations in cultural geography and outlines the new perspectives these offer for making ...
Leadership: The Basics
1st Edition
By Morgen Witzel
October 01, 2026
Leadership: The Basics provides an easy, jargon-free introduction to the fundamentals of leadership and leadership theory. Strongly grounded in research and engaging with the key theories, the book explains the key aspects of leadership including: Different types of leadership such as servant ...
Language: The Basics
3rd Edition
By Andreea S. Calude
September 23, 2026
Language: The Basics provides a concise, plain language introduction to the study of language. The new edition of this classic text by R.L. Trask has been revised and completely rewritten to bring it up-to-date. Written in an engaging and entertaining style, the book features: *new chapters on ...