The ’Big Ideas Simply Explained’ books explained

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Manila, Philippines — Going into your local bookstore, you might have noticed those bright monochromatic books usually arranged in a pyramid or stacked upon one another (or both). They typically carry big bold text saying “THE (INSERT TOPIC HERE) BOOK” in all caps.

In case you were wondering, these books are part of DK’s Big Ideas Simply Explained series.

The series, now with 19 titles under its belt, has been a global success and has sold more than 7 million copies to date. The books capture the fascination of many readers through their eclectic mix of topics, ranging from more serious ones like science, politics, and religion to more contemporary obsessions such as movies, Sherlock Holmes, and Star Trek.

Best and most important of all, the book series doesn’t seek to intimidate. They aim instead to make even the most complex of subjects easier to digest via a mix of creative design, eye-catching graphics, and writing that’s straightforward but still conversational.

So where do you start?

For the deep-thinkers

The Philosophy Book, P999 

Caught yourself daydreaming? Always taking the time to ponder on the meanings of existence and purpose? Who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself relating to one or more philosophers and their ideas in The Philosophy Book.

In this book, unpack theories from the brightest minds in history, as well as the social movements that have rippled from them. Expose yourself to a history of thought the go back from Ancient Greece to present day — from Plato’s Allegory of the Cave to rationalism and feminism.

 

For those unlocking the power of the mind

 The Psychology Book, P869

The mind is a complex system. Understanding how things connect — how one’s actions, thoughts, and even history, lead to what we know of a person — can be a lot to digest.

Luckily, works like The Psychology Book can make tough-to-crack ideas such as behaviorism, and the findings of Freud and Jung more accessible. To help you even further, there are graphics to illustrate the complex theoretical frameworks and foundations one could encounter in the pages within.

 

For the bookworms

The Literature Book, P999

Literature exposes our minds to new corners of imagination, worlds we barely even knew existed in our heads.

Through the works of Homer, we learn of gods and the glory that was Greece. Through a classic tragedy such as Frankenstein, we learn the irony of gentleness housed inside savagery.

In The Literature Book, go through around 100 articles that introduce you to the most celebrated and most timeless pieces of literature worldwide. From the Eastern literature of Modern-day Korea to the tales of Victorian Era London, this is just the primer you need.

For the inner detective

The Crime Book, P895

Care for the bizarre? How about the horrific? The Crime Book is your guide to the most shocking cases that have stunned this world.

Through deep dives and examinations of both villains and victims, The Crime Book is your detective’s guide to understanding the science, psychology, and the history of crime.

Revisit cases that have kept people awake at night for a century now, such as of Jack the Ripper and the Black Dahlia. Learn about still pervading cultures in the underworld, like the Yakuza and the Mafia.

The Crime Book may just be the comprehensive crime compendium for your bookshelf.

Whether young or old, the Big Ideas Simply Explained series is just the right medium for anyone who wants to push themselves further, to learn about pockets of the world they’ve yet to know. – Rappler.com