Oxford University Press

This Very Short Introduction provides a concise overview of the main themes of contemporary philosophy of science. Beginning with a short history of science to set the scene, Samir Okasha goes on to investigate the nature of scientific reasoning, scientific explanation, revolutions in science, and theories such as realism and anti-realism. He also...

In his book, Ali Gheissari and Vali Nasr look at the political history of Iran in the modern era, and offer and optimistic assessment of the prospects for democracy to flourish there....

A Very Short IntroductionWhat causes autism? Is it a genetic disorder, or due to some unknown environmental hazard? Are we facing an epidemic? What are the main symptoms, and how does it relate to Asperger syndrome? This  Very Short Introduction answers the key questions and offers a clear statement on what is currently known about autism and...

What Ice Age Extinctions Tell Us About the Fate of Earth&'s Largest AnimalsUntil about 13,000 years ago, North America was home to a menagerie of massive mammals. Mammoths, camels, and lions walked the ground that has become Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles and foraged on the marsh land now buried beneath Chicago&'s streets. Then, just as the...

A Very Short IntroductionThis Very Short Introduction traces the history of paleoanthropology from its beginnings in the eighteenth century to the very latest fossil finds. Bernard Wood shows how evidence from both fossils and the Human Genome Project can explain where modern-day humans fit into the Tree of Life....

A Very Short IntroductionTimothy Beal describes many aspects of religion in contemporary America that are typically ignored in other books on the subject, including religion in popular culture and counter-cultural groups; the growing phenomenon of "e;hybrid"e; religious identities, both individual and collective; the expanding numbers of...