The Basics Box

Books that are perfect to pop in your pocket now packaged to make the ideal gift!Five of the best-selling introductory books from the highly acclaimed Very Short Introductions series packaged in a stylish case to make the ideal gift or way-in to five of the most important subjects.This boxed set gives a great introduction to five key subjects: politics, mathematics, philosophy, psychology, and history.Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Edward CraigISBN-10: 0-19-285421-6/ ISBN-13 978-0-19-285421-6'[The Very Short Introduction to Philosophy] shows that philosophy really can be fascinating, broad-minded and full of surprise. As a means of stimulating interest in the subject it has few rivals.' Julian Baggini, The Philosopher's MagazineMathematics: A Very Short Introduction by Timothy GowersISBN-10: 0-19-285361-9/ ISBN-13 978-0-19-285361-5'a marvellously lucid guide to the beauty and mystery of numbers' Gilbert AdairThis book explains, 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 ofparadoxical-sounding concepts such as infinity, curved space, and imaginary numbers.History: A Very Short Introduction by John ArnoldISBN-10: 0-19-285352-X/ ISBN-13 978-0-19-285352-3The book begins by inviting us to think about various questions provoked by our investigation of history, and explores the ways these questions have been answered in the past. Concepts such as causation, interpretation, and periodization, are introduced by means of concrete examples of howhistorians work, to give a sense of the excitement of discovering not only the past, but also ourselves.Politics: A Very Short Introduction by Kenneth Minogue ISBN-10: 0-19-285388-0/ ISBN-13: 978-0-19-285388-2In this provocative but balanced essay, Kenneth Minogue discusses the development of politics from the ancient world to the twentieth century. He prompts us to consider why political systems evolve, how politics offers both power and order in our society, whether democracy is always a good thing,and what future politics may have in the twenty-first century.Psychology: A Very Short Introduction by Gilian Butler and Freda McManusISBN-10: 0-19-285381-3/ ISBN-13: 978-0-19-285381-3Psychology is part of everyone's experience: it influences the way we think about everything from education and intelligence, to relationships and emotions, advertising and criminality. But what exactly are psychologists trying to do? This book provides an understanding of some of psychology'sleading ideas and their practical relevance, making it a stimulating introduction for anyone interested in understanding the human mind.