Series: Beginner's Guides

A comprehensive and engaging guide to Imperial China Imperial China, dating from the Qin conquest of China in 221 BCE until the final abdication of the last Qing emperor on 12 February 1912, maintained many consistent threads over its two millennia but was neither static nor unchanging. This introduction will examine both the changes and the consistencies of imperial Chinese...

The Northern Ireland Conflict was one of the most bloody, protracted, and bitter campaigns of terrorist violence in modern history. Rooted in the partition of Ireland in 1921, over 50,000 people were killed or seriously injured because of the hostilities between Catholic nationalists and Protestant unionists. Despite the landmark Good Friday Agreement in 1998, violent incidents are still rife and...

With coverage of all the recent events, the new edition of this bestselling book gives a thorough and accessible account of the history behind the Palestine–Israeli conflict, its roots, and the possibilities for the future. New material outlines recent developments, while an updated conclusion consists of a direct debate between the two authors, which raises many issues, yet offers real...

Our future is closely tied to that of the variety of life on Earth, and yet there is no greater threat to this than us. From population explosions and habitat destruction to climate change and mass extinctions, John Spicer explores the causes and consequences of our biodiversity crisis. In this revised and updated edition of Biodiversity, he examines how grave...

With his famous equation, E=mc2, Einstein showed us that all matter can be described as energy. It is everywhere; it is everything. In this engaging introduction, renowned author and scientist Vaclav Smil covers a wide range of topics, from the inner workings of the human body to the race for more efficient and eco-friendly fuels. Shedding light on the science...

Beginning with our earliest explorations of the night sky, William Waller takes us on an enthralling journey through the Milky Way and far, far beyond. He combines science and history to show how our understanding of everything from black holes to the structure of the universe has evolved over time, illuminating past discoveries and offering contemporary insights into the cosmic...

Feminism is arguably the most significant social movement of the last century and it is far from over. But what appears as a single, unified movement on behalf of women's liberation is really a fascinating coalition of social and political causes, goals, and ideals. By highlighting the themes that form the enduring nexuses between the three waves, taking powerful examples...

From Confucianism to Kant's categorical imperative, from the Ancient Greeks to Amnesty International, this essential volume presents ethics through a fascinating global historical lens and relates it to everyday life and 21st-century politics. Peter Cave traces the development of this key branch of philosophy up to the present day, introducing readers to all the main schools of thought. With his...

From l'objet petit a to the mirror stage – the ultimate introduction to Lacan's canon 'Well-written, carefully structured and broadly accessible.' Dany Nobus, Chair of Psychology and Psychoanalysis, Brunel University and author of Jaques Lacan Jacques Lacan was one of the most important psychoanalysts ever to have lived. Building upon the work of Sigmund Freud, he sought to refine Freudian...

Criminal Psychology is the discipline which tackles these challenges head on. From the signals which give away we're lying to the psychological profiling of violent offenders, this exhaustive guide, written by the UK's top experts, is the perfect introduction. Also covering policing, and the much debated topic of sexual offenders and their treatment, it will demonstrate how understanding the mind...

Since the terrible events of 9/11, more attention than ever has been paid to the threats and challenges posed by contemporary terrorists. From suicide bombers to the latest cybertechnology, Leonard Weinberg's readable and objective introduction explains who the terrorists are, where they came from, what motivates them and what, if anything, can be done to stop them. It provides a...

The ultimate introduction to the greatest medieval philosopher, Saint Thomas Aquinas “At last. A concise, accessible and compelling introduction to Aquinas’s thought.” Kelly James Clark, Professor of Philosophy, Calvin College The greatest of the medieval philosophers, Thomas Aquinas sought to reconcile Christian doctrine with the classical philosophy of Aristotle and Plato. As controversial in his time as he is influential...

From original sin to eternal life, the function of prayer to the role of the church, renowned theologian Keith Ward offers a comprehensive survey of the diversity of Christian thinking in this introduction to the world’s largest faith. By presenting three different interpretations for over fifteen key doctrines, he invites anyone interested in the contemporary spiritual landscape to consider the...