Comparative Literature is both the past and the future of literary studies. Its history is intimately linked to the political upheavals of modernity: from colonial empire-building in the nineteenth century, via the Jewish diaspora of the twentieth century, to the postcolonial culture wars of...

Populism is a central concept in the current media debates about politics and elections. However, like most political buzzwords, the term often floats from one meaning to another, and both social scientists and journalists use it to denote diverse phenomena. What is populism really?...

The ancient Near East is known as the "cradle of civilization" - and for good reason. Mesopotamia, Syria, and Anatolia were home to an extraordinarily rich and successful culture. Indeed, it was a time and place of earth-shaking changes for humankind: the beginnings of...

Beauty can be consoling, disturbing, sacred, profane; it can be exhilarating, appealing, inspiring, chilling. It can affect us in an unlimited variety of ways. Yet it is never viewed with indifference. In this Very Short Introduction the renowned philosopher Roger Scruton explores the concept...

How much faith should we place in what scientists tell us? Is it possible for scientific knowledge to be fully 'objective'? What, really, can be defined as science? In the second edition of this Very Short Introduction, Samir Okasha explores the main themes and...

Art history encompasses the study of the history and development of painting, sculpture and the other visual arts. In this Very Short Introduction, Dana Arnold presents an introduction to the issues, debates, and artefacts that make up art history. Beginning with a consideration of...

Games are everywhere: Drivers manoeuvring in heavy traffic are playing a driving game. Bargain hunters bidding on eBay are playing an auctioning game. A firm negotiating next year's wage is playing a bargaining game. The opposing candidates in an election are playing a political...

Viruses are big news. From pandemics such as HIV, to 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...

The aim of this book is to explain, carefully but not technically, the differences between advanced, research-level mathematics, and the sort of mathematics we learn at school. The most fundamental differences are philosophical, and readers of this book will emerge with a clearer understanding...

The 2014 Ebola epidemic demonstrated the power of pandemics and their ability not only to destroy lives locally but also to capture the imagination and terrify the world. Christian W. McMillen provides a concise yet comprehensive account of pandemics throughout human history, illustrating how...

There is often a demand for a short, sharp definition of racism, for example as captured in the popular formula Power + Prejudice= Racism. But in reality, racism is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon that cannot be captured by such definitions. In our world today...

Poetry, arguably, has a greater range of conceptual meaning than perhaps any other term in English. At the most basic level everyone can recognise it-it is a kind of literature that uses special linguistic devices of organization and expression for aesthetic effect. However, far...

In today's art world many strange, even shocking, things qualify as art. In this Very Short Introduction Cynthia Freeland explains why innovation and controversy are valued in the arts, weaving together philosophy and art theory with many fascinating examples. She discusses blood, beauty, culture,...

What is literary theory? Is there a relationship between literature and culture? In fact, what is literature, and does it matter? These are some of questions addressed by Jonathan Culler in this Very Short Introduction to literary theory. Often a controversial subject, said to...

Postcolonialism explores the political, social, and cultural effects of decolonization, continuing the anti-colonial deconstruction of western dominance. This Very Short Introduction discusses both the history and key debates of postcolonialism, and considers its importance as a means of changing the way we think about...

From the beginning of time, humans have been driven by both a fear of the unknown and a curiosity to know. We have always yearned to know what lies ahead, whether threat or safety, scarcity or abundance. Throughout human history, our forebears tried to...

For all introductory physical geology courses. Learning Objective-driven textbook, using augmented reality to bring geology to life With its strong readability and engaging, instructive illustrations, this trusted bestseller returns with a hybrid and streamlined focus on core principles. Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology...

Classics, modern fiction, non-fiction and more. Written for secondary and adult students the Oxford Bookworms Library has seven reading levels from A1-C1 of the CEFR. More than 20 million visitors come to Scotland each year. Some love it for its long white beaches and...

Dominoes is a full-colour, interactive readers series that offers students a fun reading experience while building their language skills. With integrated activities, an interactive MultiROM, and exciting, fully dramatized audio for every story, the new edition of the series makes reading motivating for students...

As read by James Corden, Fearne Cotton, Jim Chapman and Dougie Poytner.'We have a responsibility, every one of us' David AttenboroughAround 12.7 million tonnes of plastic are entering the ocean every year, killing over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals.By 2050 there could...

CONTENTS UNIT 1: Basic Elements of a Medical Word UNIT 2: Anatomical Positions and Directions UNIT 3: Numbers and Colours UNIT 4: Medical Instruments and Surgical Procedures UNIT 5: Diseases and Conditions UNIT 6: Specialties and Specialists UNIT 7: The Digestive System UNIT 8:...

English For Health Sciences, Reading Skills is the second in a series of English language texts constructed for use in health colleges and institutes and adult English language training programmes. The aim of the series is to prepare students to participate in medical science...

English For Health Sciences, Reading Skills is constructed for use in health colleges and institutes and adult English language training programmes. The aim of the series is to prepare students to participate in medical science courses.

You don't have to earn megabucks or have a degree in economics to gain control of your finances. Organise Your Money will show you how to set financial goals, move out of debt and start saving for the future. Learn how to take control...

This richly illustrated entry in the stylish series tells the story of groundbreaking designer Christian Dior and the fashion house he founded. Christian Dior's spectacular rise to the upper echelons of Parisian haute couture is one of the most compelling stories of twentieth-century fashion....

The bestselling author of Dog Sense and Cat Sense explains why living with animals has always been a fundamental aspect of being human. In this highly original and hugely enjoyable work, John Bradshaw examines modern humans' often contradictory relationship with the animal world. Why,...

In a gloomy, neglected house Miss Havisham sits, as she has sat year after year, in a wedding dress and veil that were once white, and are now faded and yellow with age. Her face is like a death's head; her dark eyes burn...

The #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller from Steve Case—the co-founder of AOL—presents “a compelling roadmap for the future…that can help us make sense of the technological changes reshaping our economy and the world. A fascinating read” (Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO...

The Little Book of Mini is a pocket-sized and beautifully illustrated celebration of the iconic car. For more than 60 years, the Mini has been one of the most beloved and instantly recognisable cars on the road. From its humble beginnings with the British Motor...

The creative genius who gave us the Little Black Dress and Chanel No. 5.  Almost 50 years after her death, Coco Chanel remains one of the world's most influential fashion designers. Her story is one of creative brilliance and innovation – she was a...

#1 International Bestseller and #1 New York Times Bestseller Over 2 million copies sold In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be positive all the time so that we can truly...

Climate change is still, arguably, the most critical and controversial issue facing the world in the twenty-first century. Previously published as Global Warming: A Very Short Introduction, the new edition is now Climate Change: A Very Short introduction, reflecting an important change in the...

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER“A wake-up call for the entire planet . . . [A New Earth] helps us to stop creating our own suffering and obsessing over the past and what the future might be, and to put ourselves in the now.” —Oprah WinfreyWith his bestselling...

Three of these stories were previously published in Victoria Hislop's ebook collection, One Cretan Evening.In ten powerful stories, Victoria Hislop takes us through the streets of Athens and into the tree-lined squares of Greek villages. As she evokes their distinct atmosphere, she brings vividly...

An instant bestseller in the UK, Grief Works is a profoundly optimistic and compassionate handbook for anyone suffering a loss—from the expected death of a parent to the sudden death of a child or spouse—as well as a guide for those who want to...

Mohamed Salah needed little time to settle in to life at Liverpool. Since signing for the Anfield club in 2017 for a then-club record fee, he has broken the club's scoring record for a debut season, as well as becoming the leading goalscorer in...

Oxford Children's Myths and Legends bring you the greatest stories ever told, from around the world and long ago. Heroes and villains, witches and wizards, warriors and royalty - there's something here for everyone. From the Highlands and islands, to the Border country, there...

THE GRIT DOCTOR IS ONE TOUGH TASK-MISTRESS . . .First she instructed us to lace up our trainers in RUN FAT B!TCH RUNThen she told us to clear the clutter in GET YOUR SH!T TOGETHERNow, she is ordering us to CUT THE CRAP and get real with our...

Historical background and architectural details for each of the castles are accompanied by a beautiful color photograph. Contains an introduction on England's castles—history, description of classification of building type with examples. Includes details on the property's custodianship, whether cared for by the National Trust or...

A Starter level Oxford Bookworms Library graded reader. Written for Learners of English by Phillip Burrows and Mark Foster. 'Everything's ready now. We can do the experiment,' says your assistant Joe. You are the famous scientist Mary Durie working in a laboratory in Alaska....

From the rising-star designer and author of the hit blog, Elements of Style, a full-color, fully illustrated book packed with honest advice, inspiration, ideas, and lessons learned about designing a home that reflects your personality and style.Elements of Style is a uniquely personal and practical decorating...

In Jeff Bezos's own words, the core principles and philosophy that have guided him in creating, building, and leading Amazon and Blue Origin. In this collection of Jeff Bezos's writings—his unique and strikingly original annual shareholder letters, plus numerous speeches and interviews that provide...

Up to the 1960s, psychology was deeply under the influence of behaviourism, which focused on stimuli and responses, and regarded consideration of what may happen in the mind as unapproachable scientifically. This began to change with the devising of methods to try to tap...

Full of easy-to-understand definitions, tips, and real life examples, this book contains all you need to know about buying and selling stocks!Investing for the first time can be intimidating. In easy-to-understand language, Stock Market 101 provides the groundwork needed to begin building knowledge on the stock...

From learning how to unlock your inner confidence and becoming the person you always wanted to be, to understanding the exact meaning of patience, this series will help guide you on your way with wise and witty opinions on some of the most elusive...

What makes Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge extraordinary? Read this book to find out. We explore her life before she joined the Royal Family: her childhood, education, professional accomplishments, and her road to marrying Prince William. Read about others' perspectives on her, and how she...

As Britain's first woman Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher brought about the biggest social and political revolution in the nation's post-war history. She achieved this largely by the driving force of her personality - a subject of endless speculation among both her friends and her...

In the bestselling tradition of Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly and Nick Vujicic’s Life Without Limits comes a rousing 7-step plan for living a life on fire, filled with hope and possibility—from an inspirational speaker who survived a near-fatal fire at the age of nine...

From the best-selling author of The Circle - the gripping true story of a young Yemeni American man, raised in San Francisco, who dreams of resurrecting the ancient art of Yemeni coffee but finds himself trapped in Sana'a by civil war Mokhtar Alkhanshali is...