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 Relativityâ??all explained simply and clearly.