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.
Finance: The Basics
5th Edition
By Erik Banks
March 18, 2027
Now in its fifth edition, Finance: The Basics is a clear and practical introduction to the world of finance. It thoroughly explains essential financial statements, tools and concepts; fundamental financial instruments and transactions; and global financial participants, markets and systems. This ...
Embodiment: The Basics
1st Edition
By Samantha Kwan, Trenton M. Haltom
March 03, 2027
Embodiment: The Basics provides an introduction to a sociological perspective of the body. It illustrates how meanings about the body, as well as experiences of embodiment, are connected to and contingent upon social structures. The book examines social and cultural meanings about the body across ...
Existentialism: The Basics
1st Edition
By Jonathan Webber
February 16, 2027
Existentialism: The Basics is an engaging introduction to one of the most influential philosophical movements of the twentieth century. This lively and lucid book details the existentialist vision of human being and the existentialist demand to respect human freedom. Written by a leading expert in ...
Free Speech: The Basics
1st Edition
By Robert Mark Simpson
February 16, 2027
Although it’s a fundamental tenet of liberal thought and democratic freedom, free speech is nevertheless under attack from many quarters, including the threat of imprisonment, restrictions on the right to protest, and “cancel culture”. Where do we draw the line over free speech? Is there is a line?...
Bilingualism: The Basics
1st Edition
By Esther de Leeuw
January 18, 2027
Bilingualism: The Basics provides the reader with a state-of-the-art overview of research into individual bilingualism. Very generally, a bilingual individual is someone who has two or more languages embedded in their life. The majority of the world is either bilingual or multilingual. Few people ...
Stammering: The Basics
1st Edition
By Victoria Cummings, Nicola Darby
December 31, 2026
This book provides a clear overview of what stammering is, addressing the observable features, the cognitive and emotional aspects of stammering, as well as the impact that a stammer can have on a person’s life. Using a multi-factorial approach, the current research regarding the physiological, ...
User Experience: The Basics
1st Edition
By Jason C.K. Tham
December 23, 2026
Understanding user experience (UX) is essential for designers in today’s digital world. This accessible guide demystifies UX principles, showing how thoughtful design shapes our daily interactions with products, services, and systems far beyond digital screens. Through real-world examples and case ...
Hasidism: The Basics
1st Edition
By Marcin Wodziński, Wojciech Tworek
December 22, 2026
Hasidism: The Basics offers a clear and accessible introduction to one of the most influential socioreligious movements shaping Jewish religious, social, and cultural life from the eighteenth century to the present. The book outlines Hasidism as a dynamic movement that profoundly transformed ...
Ecofeminism: The Basics
1st Edition
By Susan Buckingham
December 14, 2026
Ecofeminism: The Basics introduces the ecofeminist approaches to understanding how humans interact with, dominate and are embedded within the natural environment, of which we are a part. Tracing ecofeminism from Françoise d’Eaubonne’s coining of the term in Feminism or Death through to the mid-...
Human-Computer Interaction: The Basics
1st Edition
By Alan Dix
December 09, 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 ...
Theatre Studies: The Basics
3rd Edition
By Robert Leach, Sophie Stringfellow
December 07, 2026
Theatre Studies: The Basics, now in its 3rd edition provides a comprehensive yet accessible exploration of both practical theatre-making and critical performance theories, now expanded with contemporary digital and sociocultural perspectives. Readers gain an integrated understanding of Western ...
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 ...