Introducing... (book series)

Introducing...
Country England
Language English
Publisher Icon Books
Published 1992–present
Media type Paperback
Preceded by ...For Beginners

The Introducing... series is a book series of graphic guides covering key thinkers and topics in philosophy, psychology and science, and many others in politics, religion, cultural studies, linguistics and other areas. Books are written by an expert in the field and illustrated, comic-book style, by a leading graphic artist.

History

The Introducing... series, like the For Beginners series, has its origins in two Spanish-language books, Cuba para principiantes (1960) and Marx para principiantes (1972) by the Mexican political cartoonist and writer Rius, pocket books which put their content over in a humorous comic book way but with a serious underlying purpose. An English-language version of the first book was published in 1970 by Leviathan Press of San Francisco and Pathfinder Press of New York, to no particularly great impact. However, when Richard Appignanesi edited the first English edition of Marx for Beginners (1976) for the London-based Writers and Readers Publishing Cooperative, of which he was a co-founding member with Glenn Thompson and others, it was soon clear that the collective had a hit on their hands.[1][2] With a successful format identified, further "... for Beginners" titles soon began to appear. The line's most enduring titles, all published during this period, were Marx for Beginners (1976), Freud for Beginners (1979), Einstein for Beginners (1979), and Darwin for Beginners (1982).[3] In the early 1980s schism arose over questions of control after some members of the cooperative sold U.S. rights to part of the For Beginners series to Pantheon Books and the Cooperative officially disbanded in 1984.

In 1992, Richard Appignanesi, who had been the first editor in London for the series and had also written several of the titles, co-created the new London-based publisher Icon Books, under whose imprint he republished several of the For Beginner titles and continued to publish and expand a new version of the series. Meanwhile, Glenn Thompson, who, since 1987, had continued the For Beginners through his New York-based Writers and Readers Publishing, Inc., also established the London-based Writers and Readers Limited[4] in 1992, to protect his own continuation of the series. These two publishers continued their series in several cases commissioning new authors to create alternate books to those being published by the other, leading to a number of examples where the two series were publishing two different books under the same title. The situation was eventually resolved in 1999 by the Icon series being rebranded as the Introducing... series, with titles starting with that word instead of ending "For Beginners".

Beginning in 2008, Icon's new titles and reissues played down the "Introducing..." to the level of a series name, and the titles were instead prominently subtitled "A Graphic Guide." In 2011, the a second "Introducing..." series was launched with the subtitle "Practical Guides" focusing on topics within business, psychology and counselling.

Reception

Science writer Brian Clegg, author of Introducing Infinity (2012) in the series, states that, "It is almost impossible to rate these relentlessly hip books - they are pure marmite," as the series, "puts across the message in a style that owes as much to Terry Gilliam and pop art as it does to popular science."[5]

List of titles

Graphic Guides

The following Graphic Guides titles have been published or republished by Icon Books since 1992.

TitleISBNWriter(s)Artist(s)PagesPublication DateNotes
Aesthetics 978-1-84831-167-1Christopher Kul-WantPiero1762007 
Alain Badiou 978-1-84831-665-2Michael J. KellyPiero1762014 
American Politics 978-1-84046-098-8Patrick BroganChris Garratt1921999 
Anthropology 978-1-84831-168-8Merryl Wyn DaviesPiero1762002 
Aristotle 978-1-874166-36-8Rupert WoodfinJudy Groves1761996Originally published as Arostotle for Beginners
Artificial Intelligence 978-1-84831-214-2Henry BrightonHoward Selina1762003 
Astrology 978-1-87416-626-9Geoffrey Cornelius, Maggie HydeChris Webster1761995 
Barthes 978-1-84831-204-3Philip ThodyPiero1761997Originally published as Barthes for Beginners
Baudrillard 978-1-874166-36-8Chris HorrocksZoran Jevtic1761996Originally published as Baudrillard for Beginners
Bertrand Russell 978-1-84831-302-6Dave RobinsonJudy Groves1762002
Buddha 978-1-84831-011-7Jane HopeBorin Van Loon1761994Originally published as Buddha for Beginners
Camus 978-1-84046-000-1David MariowitzAlain Korkos1761998Originally published as Camus for Beginners, discontinued
Capitalism 978-1-84831-055-1Dan Cryan, Sharron ShatilPiero1762009 
Chaos 978-1-84831-013-1Ziauddin SardarIwona Abrams1761998Originally published as Chaos for Beginners
Chomsky 978-1-87416-642-9John MaherJudy Groves1761996Originally published as Chomsky for Beginners
Consciousness 978-1-84046-115-2David PapineauHoward Selina1762000 
Continental Philosophy 978-1-84831-417-7Christopher Kul-WantPiero1762013 
Critical Theory 978-1-84831-059-9Stuart SimBorin Van Loon1762001 
Cultural Studies 978-1-84046-074-2Ziauddin SardarBorin Van Loon1761997Originally published as Cultural Studies for Beginners
Cyberspace 978-187416-624-5Joanna BuickZoran Jevtic1761995Originally published as Cyberspace for Beginners, discontinued
Darwin 978-1-84831-117-6Jonathan MillerBorin Van Loon1761992Previously published as Darwin for Beginners (Writers and Readers, 1982)
Derrida 978-1-874166-38-2Jeff CollinsBill Mayblin1721996Originally published as Derrida for Beginners (distinct from Derrida for Beginners by Jim Powell & Van Howell, Writers and Readers, 1997)
Descartes 978-1-84046-719-2Dave RobinsonChris Garratt1761998Originally published as Descartes for Beginners
Eastern Philosophy 978-1-84046-150-3Richard OsborneBorin Van Loon1761996Originally published as Ancient Eastern Philosophy for Beginners
Economics 978-1-84831-215-9David OrrellBorin Van Loon1762011 
Einstein 978-1-874166-02-3Joseph SchwartzMichael McGuinness1741992Previously published as Einstein for Beginners (Writers and Readers, 1979), discontinued
Empiricism 978-1-84046-545-7Dave RobinsonBill Mayblin1762004 
Enlightenment 978-1-84831-179-4Lloyd SpencerAndrzej Krauze1761997Originally published as The Enlightenment for Beginners
Environmental Politics 978-1-874166-03-0Stephen CroallWilliam Rankin1741992Previously published as Ecology for Beginners (Writers and Readers, 1981), discontinued
Epigenetics 978-1-84831-862-5Cath EnnisOliver Pugh1762017 
Ethics 978-1-84831-008-7Dave RobinsonChris Garratt1761996Originally published as Ethics for Beginners
Evolution 978-1-84831-186-2Dylan EvansHoward Selina1762001 
Evolutionary Psychology 978-1-84831-182-4Dylan EvansOscar Zárate1761999 
Existentialism 978-1-84046-266-1Richard AppignanesiOscar Zárate1762001 
Fascism 978-1-84046-154-1Stuart HoodLitza Jansz1761993Originally published as Fascism for Beginners
Feminism 978-1-84831-121-3Cathia JenainatiJudy Groves1762007 
Feminism 978-1-874166-04-7Susan Alice WatkinsMarisa Rueda, Marta Rodriguez1761992Originally published as Feminism for Beginners, discontinued
Foucault 978-1-84831-060-5Christopher HorrocksZoran Jevtic1761997Originally published as Foucault for Beginners
Fractals 978-1-84831-087-2Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon, Will RoodRalph Edney1762000Originally published as Introducing Fractal Geometry
Freud 978-1-84046-851-9Richard AppignanesiOscar Zárate1761992Originally published as Freud for Beginners (Writers and Readers, 1979)
Freud Wars 978-1-84046-381-1Stephen WilsonOscar Zárate1762002Discontinued
Game Theory 978-1-78578-082-0Ivan Pastine, Tuvana PastineTom Humberstone1762017 
Genetics 978-1-84831-295-1Steve JonesBorin Van Loon1761993Originally published as Genetics for Beginners
Hegel 978-1-84046-111-4Lloyd SpencerAndrzej Krauze1761996Originally published as Hegel for Beginners
Heidegger 978-1-84831-174-9Jeff CollinsHoward Selina1761998Originally published as Heidegger for Beginners
Hinduism 978-1-84831-114-5Vinay LalBorin Van Loon1762001 
Holocaust 978-1-87416-616-0Haim Bresheeth, Stuart HoodLitza Jansz1761994Originally published as The Holocaust for Beginners
Infinity 978-1-84831-406-1Brian CleggOliver Pugh1762012 
Internet 978-187416-684-9Laurel BrunnerZoran Jevtic1761997Originally published as The Internet for Beginners, discontinued
Islam 978-1-84831-084-1Ziauddin SardarZafar Abbas Malik1761994Originally published asMuhammad for Beginners (distinct from Islam for Beginners by Nabil Ibrahim Matar & H.N. Haddad, Writers and Readers, 1992)
Jesus 978-1-87416-610-8Anthony O'HearJudy Groves1761993Originally published as Jesus for Beginners, A.K.A. Introducing Christianity
Joyce 978-1-87416-619-1David NorrisCarl Flint1761994Originally published as Joyce for Beginners
Jung 978-1-84831-010-0Maggie HydeMichael McGuinness1761992Originally published as Jung for Beginners
Kafka 978-1-84046-122-0David Zane MairowitzRobert Crumb1761993Originally published as Kafka for Beginners, discontinued
Kant 978-1-84046-664-5Christopher Kul-WantAndrzej Klimowski1761996Originally published as Kant for Beginners
Keynes 978-1-84046-157-2Peter PughChris Garratt1761993Originally published as Keynesian Economics for Beginners
Kierkegaard 978-1-84046-758-1Dave RobinsonOscar Zarate1762003 
Lacan 978-1-84046-168-8Darian LeaderJudy Groves1762000 
Learning & Memory 978-1-840463-50-7Ziauddin Sardar, Richard AppignanesiRalph Edney1202002discontinued
Lévi-Strauss 978-1-87416-662-7Boris WisemanJudy Groves1761997Originally published as Lévi-Strauss for Beginners
Linguistics 978-1-84831-088-9R. L. TraskBill Mayblin1762000 
Literary Criticism 978-1-84831-904-2Owen HollandPiero1762016 
Logic 978-1-84831-012-4Dan Cryan, Sharron ShatilBill Mayblin1762001 
Machiavelli 978-1-84046-116-9Patrick CurryOscar Zarate1761995Originally published as Machiavelli for Beginners
Mafia 978-1-87416-620-7Arnd SchneiderOscar Zarate1761995 
Mandela 978-187416-622-1Tony PinchuckRoger Trask1761994 
Marx 978-184046-055-1RiusRius1601999Translated from Marx para principiantes (1972)
Marxism 978-1-84831-058-2Rupert WoodfinOscar Zárate1762004 
Mathematics 978-1-84046-011-7Ziauddin SardarBorin Van Loon1761999 
Media Studies 978-1-84046-114-5Ziauddin SardarBorin Van Loon1762000discontinued
Melanie Klein 978-1-87416-661-0Robert Hinshelwood, Susan RobinsonOscar Zarate1761997Originally published as Melanie Klein for Beginners
Mind & Brain 978-1-84046-854-0Angus GellatlyOscar Zárate1761998Originally published as Mind & Brain for Beginners, discontinued
Modernism 978-1-84831-116-9Chris RodriguesChris Garratt1762001 
Newton 978-1-87416-607-8William RankinWilliam Rankin1761993Originally published as Newton for Beginners
Nietzsche 978-1-84831-009-4Laurence GaneKitty Chan (1997), Piero (2005)1761997Originally published as Nietzsche for Beginners
Particle Physics 978-1-84831-589-1Tom WhyntieOliver Pugh1762013 
Philosophy 978-1-84046-853-3Dave RobinsonJudy Groves1761999Originally published as Western Philosophy for Beginners
Philosophy of Science 978-1-84046-358-3Ziauddin SardarBorin Van Loon1761998Originally published as Science Studies for Beginners
Picasso 978-1-874166-29-0Andrew BrightonAndrzej Klimowski1761995Originally published as Picasso for Beginners, discontinued
Plato 978-1-84046-113-8Dave RobinsonJudy Groves1762000
Political Philosophy 978-1-84046-450-4Dave RobinsonJudy Groves1762003 
Postfeminism 978-1-84046-010-0Sophia PhocaRebecca Wright1761999Discontinued
Postmodernism 978-1-84046-849-6Richard Appignanesi, Chris Garratt, Ziauddin SardarPatrick Curry1921995Originally published as Postmodernism for Beginners
Psychiatry 978-1-84046-537-2Nigel C. BensonPiero1762004discontinued
Psychoanalysis 978-1-84046-176-3Ivan WardOscar Zárate1762000 
Psychology 978-1-84046-852-6Nigel C. BensonNigel C. Benson1761998Originally published as Psychology for Beginners
Psychotherapy 978-1-84046-441-2Nigel C. BensonBorin Van Loon1762003 
Quantum Theory 978-1-84046-850-2J.P. McEvoyOscar Zárate1761996Originally published as Quantum Theory for Beginners
Relativity 978-1-84831-057-5Bruce BassettRalph Edney1762002 
Romanticism 978-1-84046-009-4Duncan HeathJudy Boreham1761999 
Rousseau 978-1-84046-232-6Dave RobinsonOscar Zarate1762001 
Sartre 978-1-84046-007-0Philip ThodyHoward Read1761998Originally published as Sartre for Beginners
Semiotics 978-1-84046-073-5Paul CobleyLitza Jansz1761997Originally published as Semiotics for Beginners
Shakespeare 978-1-84831-115-2Nick GroomPiero1762001 
Slavoj Žižek 978-1-84831-057-5Christopher Kul-WantPiero1762011 
Sociology 978-1-84831-085-8Richard OsborneBorin Van Loon1761996Originally published as Sociology for Beginners, discontinued
Sociology 978-1-78578-073-8John NaglePiero1762016Replaces previous edition.
Statistics 978-1-84831-056-8Eileen MagnelloBorin Van Loon1762009 
Stephen Hawking 978-1-84831-094-0J. P. McEvoyOscar Zárate1761995Originally published as Stephen Hawking for Beginners
Thatcherism 978-1-87416-653-5Peter PughCarl Flint1761997Originally published as Thatcher for Beginners
Time 978-1-84831-120-6Craig CallenderRalph Edney1762001 
Trotsky 978-1-84046-001-8Tariq AliPhil Evans1761998Previously published as Trotsky for Beginners (Writers and Readers, 1998), discontinued
Universe 978-1-84046-761-1Felix PiraniChristine Roche1761993Originally published as The Universe for Beginners, discontinued
Wagner 978-1-87416-627-6Michael WhiteKevin Scott1761995Originally published as Wagner for Beginners
Walter Benjamin 978-1-84831-692-8Howard Caygill, Alex Coles,Andrzej Klimowski1761998Originally published as Walter Benjamin for Beginners
Wittgenstein 978-1-84831-086-5John M. HeatonJudy Groves1761994Originally published as Wittgenstein for Beginners

Practical Guides

The following Practical Guides titles have been published by Icon Books since 2011.

TitleISBNWriter(s)PagesPublication DateNotes
Assertiveness 978-1-84831-505-1David Bonham-Carter2242013 
Body Language 978-1-84831-421-4Glenn Wilson2242012 
Business Creativity 978-1-84831-400-9Roger Neill2242013 
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) 978-1-84831-254-8Elaine Iljon Foreman, Clair Pollard2242011 
CBT for Work 978-1-84831-419-1Gill Garratt2242012 
Child Psychology 978-1-84831-258-6Kairen Cullen2242011 
Confident Speaking 978-1-84831-679-9Alan Woodhouse2242014 
Counselling 978-1-84831-626-3Alistair Ross2242013 
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) 978-1-84831-662-1Judy Byrne2242014 
Emotional Intelligence 978-1-84831-422-1David Walton2242012 
Entrepreneurship 978-1-84831-625-6Alison Price, David Price2242013 
Ethics for Everyday Life 978-1-84831-341-5Dave Robinson2242012 
Family Psychology 978-1-84831-518-1James Powell2242013 
Getting the Job You Want 978-1-84831-506-8Denise Taylor2242013 
Happiness 978-1-84831-362-0Will Buckingham2242012 
Leadership 978-1-84831-511-2Alison Price, David Price2242013 
Management 978-1-84831-401-6Alison Price, David Price2242012 
Mindfulness 978-1-84831-255-5Tessa Watt2242012 
NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) 978-1-84831-256-2Neil Shah2242011 
NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) for Work 978-1-84831-380-4Dianne Lowther2242012 
Overcoming Phobias 978-1-84831-650-8Patricia Furness-Smith2242014 
Overcoming Problem Eating 978-1-84831-721-5Patricia Furness-Smith2242015 
Personal Finance 978-1-84831-723-9Michael Taillard2242015 
Persuasion 978-1-84831-722-2Anthony McLean2242014 
Philosophy for Everyday Life 978-1-84831-356-9Trevor Curnow2242012 
Positive Psychology 978-1-84831-277-7Bridget Grenville-Cleave2242012 
Productivity 978-1-84831-649-2Graham Allcott2242014 
Psychology of Relationships 978-1-84831-359-0John Karter2242012 
Psychology of Success 978-1-84831-259-3Alison Price, David Price2242011 
Resilience 978-1-84831-512-9Gladeana McMahon2242013 
Self-Esteem 978-1-84831-365-1David Bonham-Carter2242012 
Sport Psychology 978-1-84831-257-9Arnold LeUnes2242011 
Stress Management 978-1-84831-420-7Graham Price2242014Publication cancelled.
Well-Being 978-1-84831-796-3Patricia Furness-Smith2242015 

See also

References

  1. The history of Introducing books, introducingbooks.com. Accessed 2011-01-29.
  2. Our Story Archived 2014-10-16 at the Wayback Machine., For Beginners books. Accessed 2011-01-29.
  3. MacDonald, H. (2003), "Pantheon re-offers 'for beginners' series," Publishers Weekly, 250(51), 26.
  4. "Writers and Readers Limited," DueDil.com Accessed Jan. 12, 2015.
  5. "Introducing Evolution: A Graphic Guide". Popular Science. Retrieved 2017-01-21.
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