The American West: A Very Short Introduction (Aron Stephen)(Paperback)

The American West: A Very Short Introduction (Aron Stephen)(Paperback)

Part geographical location, part time period, and part state of mind, the American West is a concept often invoked but rarely defined. Though popular culture has carved out a short and specific time and place for the region, author and longtime Californian Stephen Aron tracks 'the West' from the

Magnetism: A Very Short Introduction (Blundell Stephen J.)(Paperback)

In this Very Short Introduction, Stephen J. Blundell illuminates the mysterious force of magnetism. For centuries, magnetism has been used for various purposes--through compasses it gave us the ability to navigate, and through motors, generators, and turbines, it has given us power. Blundell

The Soviet Union: A Very Short Introduction (Lovell Stephen)(Paperback)

American Immigration: A Very Short Introduction (Gerber David A.)(Paperback)

Native American Literature: A Very Short Introduction: A Very Short Introduction (Teuton Sean)(Paperback)

North American indigenous literature began over thirty thousand years ago when indigenous people began telling stories of emergence and creation, journey and quest, and heroism and trickery. By setting indigenous literature in historical moments, Sean Teuton skillfully traces its evolution from the

North American Indians: A Very Short Introduction (Perdue Theda)(Paperback)

Environmental Economics (Smith Stephen)(Paperback)

In this Very Short Introduction, Stephen Smith shows how the field of environmental economics looks at how economic activity and policy can affect the environment in which we live. The book discusses environmental issues including pollution control, reducing environmental damage, global climate

The American Presidency: A Very Short Introduction (Jones Charles O.)(Paperback)

The American founding fathers were dedicated to the project of creating a government both functional and incapable of devolving into tyranny. To do this, they intentionally decentralized decision making among the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches. They believed this separation of

Colonial Latin American Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Adorno Rolena)(Paperback)

American Politics: A Very Short Introduction (Valelly Richard M.)(Paperback)

American politics seems to grow more contentious and complicated by the day, and whether American democracy works well is hotly debated. Amidst all this roiling partisan argument and confusing claims and counterclaims, there has never been a greater need for an impartial primer on the basics of the

Christian Ethics: A Very Short Introduction (Long D. Stephen)(Paperback)

Christian ethics, writes theologian D. Stephen Long, is the pursuit of God's goodness by people 'on the way' to a city not built by human hands. The cultivation of practical wisdom that comes from diverse sources, it draws on all that is good in God's creation and among the nations. In this Very

The Brain: A Very Short Introduction (O'Shea Michael)(Paperback)

The Brain: A Very Short Introduction provides a non-technical introduction to the main issues and findings in current brain research and gives a sense of how neuroscience addresses questions about the relationship between the brain and the mind. Short, clear discussions on the mechanical workings

American Foreign Relations: A Very Short Introduction: A Very Short Introduction (Preston Andrew)(Paperback)

For better or worse--be it militarily, politically, economically, technologically, or culturally--Americans have had a profound role in shaping the wider world beyond them. The United States has been a savior to some, a curse to others, but either way such views are often based on a caricature of

The Best American Short Stories (King Stephen)(Paperback)

In his introduction to this volume, Stephen King writes, 'Talent does more than come out; it bursts out, again and again, doing exuberant cartwheels while the band plays 'Stars and Stripes Forever' . . . Talent can't help itself; it roars along in fair weather or foul, not sparing the fireworks. It

The American Revolution: A Very Short Introduction (Allison Robert J.)(Paperback)

Here is a brisk, accessible, and vivid introduction to arguably the most important event in the history of the United States--the American Revolution. Between 1760 and 1800, the American people cast off British rule to create a new nation and a radically new form of government based on the idea

Aristotle: A Very Short Introduction (Barnes Jonathan)(Paperback)

The influence of Aristotle, the prince of philosophers, on the intellectual history of the West is second to none. In this book, Jonathan Barnes examines Aristotle's scientific researches, his discoveries in logic and his metaphysical theories, his work in psychology and in ethics and politics, and

American Slavery: A Very Short Introduction (Williams Heather Andrea)(Paperback)

Europeans, Africans, and American Indians practiced slavery long before the first purchase of a captive African by a white land-owner in the American colonies; that, however, is the image of slavery most prevalent in the minds of Americans today. This Very Short Introduction begins with the

Napoleon: A Very Short Introduction: A Very Short Introduction (Bell David A.)(Paperback)

This Very Short Introduction might prove disappointing to those expecting an introduction to a very short man. Dispelling the myth of Napoleon Bonaparte's short stature, as well as the other rumors and legends, David A. Bell provides a concise, accurate, and lively portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte's

American Naval History: A Very Short Introduction (Symonds Craig L.)(Paperback)

This fast-paced narrative charts the history of the US Navy from its birth during the American Revolution through to its current superpower status. The story highlights iconic moments of great drama pivotal to the nation's fortunes: John Paul Jones' attacks on the British during the Revolution, the

Superconductivity: A Very Short Introduction (Blundell Stephen J.)(Paperback)

Superconductivity--the flow of electric current without resistance in certain materials as temperatures near absolute zero--is one of the greatest discoveries of 20th century physics, but it can seem impenetrable to those who lack a solid scientific background. Outlining the fascinating history of

Taxation: A Very Short Introduction (Smith Stephen)(Paperback)

Taxation is crucial to the functioning of the modern state. Tax revenues pay for public services - roads, the courts, defence, welfare assistance to the poor and elderly, and in many countries much of health care and education too. More than one third of national income in the industrialized (OECD)

The Aztecs: A Very Short Introduction (Carrasco David)(Paperback)

This Very Short Introduction employs the disciplines of history, religious studies, and anthropology as it illuminates the complexities of Aztec life. Readers meet a people highly skilled in sculpture, astronomy, city planning, poetry, and philosophy, who were also profoundly committed to cosmic

The Beats: A Very Short Introduction (Sterritt David)(Paperback)

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the writers of the Beat Generation revolutionized American literature with their iconoclastic approach to language and their angry assault on the conformity and conservatism of postwar society. They and their followers took aim at the hypocrisy and taboos of their

Work: A Very Short Introduction (Fineman Stephen)(Paperback)

The image of a job captures our imagination from an early age, usually prompted by the question 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'. Work -- paid, unpaid, voluntary, or obligatory -- is woven into the fabric of all human societies. For many of us, it becomes part of our identity. For others