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.
Transgender Philosophy: The Basics
1st Edition
By Matthew J. Cull
October 13, 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 ...
Suicide: The Basics
1st Edition
By Matias Gay
October 12, 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Polygamy: The Basics
1st Edition
By Bruce Whitehouse, William Jankowiak
September 23, 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 ...
Romanticism: The Basics
1st Edition
By Elizabeth A. Fay
September 23, 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 ...
Human-Computer Interaction: The Basics
1st Edition
By Alan Dix
September 22, 2026
Digital technology shapes our daily lives, from smartphones to autonomous cars, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) focuses on understanding and enhancing how we interact with these systems. Human-Computer Interaction: The Basics provides a concise and accessible introduction to the foundational ...
Speech and Language Therapy: The Basics
1st Edition
By Sean Pert
September 16, 2026
This book provides a comprehensive guide to the varied and fascinating work of Speech and Language Therapists, exploring how this stimulating Allied Health Profession draws on phonetics, linguistics, and biomedical sciences to support communication and swallowing across the lifespan. The book ...
Spiritual But Not Religious: The Basics
1st Edition
By Robert C. Fuller, William B. Parsons
September 01, 2026
Spiritual But Not Religious: The Basics is an accessible guide to the defining attributes of individuals who define themselves as SBNR, who comprise at least 25% of the American population. Topics covered include: What does it mean to consider oneself “religious” or “spiritual”? What historical or...
New Religious Movements: The Basics
2nd Edition
By Joseph P. Laycock
August 25, 2026
This engaging book provides a concise introduction to the field of New Religious Movements (NRMs). Now in its second edition, the book outlines how NRMs fit with a popular understanding of cults, and how scholarly definitions can help us understand NRMs. Introducing the reader to some of the key ...