Very Short Introductions
From Free net encyclopedia
The Very Short Introductions series (or VSI series) is a book series published by the Oxford University Press publishing house. Each book in the series offers a concise yet cogent introduction to a particular subject. Written by acknowledged experts, most books are between 100-150 pages and contain suggestions for further reading. Authors often present personal viewpoints, but each introduction is intended to be balanced and complete.
As of October 2005, there are more than 125 titles in the series, including History, Theology, Literary Theory, Philosophy of Science, Postmodernism, Emotion, Animal Rights, Shakespeare, Hume, Terrorism, The Spanish Civil War and Evolution. The publisher states that "the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all readers an accessible and abundant reference library."
The VSI series has been extremely successful, both commercially and critically, since its inception in 1998. Many of the books have been used as textbooks in introductory university courses.