Ian Crofton, former editor-in-chief of The Guinness Encyclopedia, has written a wide range of other general reference books, including Philosophy (Teach Yourself Instant Reference) and Science Without the Boring Bits.

With Big Ideas in Brief, Crofton provides an accessible tour of 200 key concepts that really matter. The ideas covered come from a wide range of subjects--Philosophy, Religion, Politics, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, the Arts, and Science. A series of short, lively articles, accompanied by 100 illustrations, introduces a host of diverse topics, from Existentialism to Expressionism, from Consciousness to Constitutionalism, from Feminism to Free Trade, from Class to Cognitive Theory, from Reincarnation to Relativity--all explained simply and clearly.

From the Trade Paperback edition.