Agriculture: A Very Short Introduction
Paul Brassley and Richard Soffe
Agriculture: A Very Short Introduction explains what farmers do and why they do it. Beginning with the most basic resource, the soil, it shows why it is important, and how ...
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Algebra: A Very Short Introduction
Peter M. Higgins
Algebra marked the beginning of modern mathematics, moving it beyond arithmetic, which involves calculations featuring given numbers, to problems in which some quantities are unknown. Now, ...
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Amphibians: A Very Short Introduction
T. S. Kemp
Amphibians: A Very Short Introduction discusses amphibian evolution, adaptations, and biology. From frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders, to the lesser-known caecilians, there ...
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Animal Behaviour: A Very Short Introduction
Tristram D. Wyatt
How animals behave is crucial to their survival and reproduction. Animal Behaviour: A Very Short Introduction discusses how animal behaviour has evolved, how behaviours develop in each ...
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The Animal Kingdom: A Very Short Introduction
Peter Holland
The Animal Kingdom: A Very Short Introduction presents a modern tour of the animal kingdom. Beginning with the definition of animals, this VSI goes on to show the high-level ...
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The Antarctic: A Very Short Introduction
Klaus Dodds
Antarctic: A Very Short Introduction provides a modern account of Antarctica, highlighting the main issues facing the continent today, looks at how the Antarctic has been ...
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Anthropocene: A Very Short Introduction
Erle C. Ellis
Humanity’s impact on the planet has been profound. From fire, intensive hunting, and agriculture, it has accelerated into rapid climate change, widespread pollution, plastic accumulation, ...
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Anxiety: A Very Short Introduction
Daniel Freeman and Jason Freeman
Anxiety: A Very Short Introduction explains what anxiety is, why it is a normal and vital part of our emotional life, and the factors that cause it. Are we born with fears or ...
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Applied Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction
Alain Goriely
Mathematics is playing an increasingly important role in society and the sciences, enhancing our ability to use models and handle data. Applied Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction ...
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The Arctic: A Very Short Introduction
Klaus Dodds and Jamie Woodward
The Arctic: A Very Short Introduction provides an account of the Arctic, its physical environment, and its people. The Arctic is demanding global attention as it warms, melts, ...
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Artificial Intelligence: A Very Short Introduction
Margaret A. Boden
The applications of Artificial Intelligence lie all around us and affect all aspects of our lives. The results of Artificial Intelligence have been invaluable to biologists, psychologists, ...
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Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction
David C. Catling
What fascinates people about astrobiology is that it seeks answers to long-standing unsolved questions: How quickly did life evolve on Earth and why did life persist here? Is there life ...
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Astrophysics: A Very Short Introduction
James Binney
Astrophysics is the physics of the stars and, more widely, the Universe. It explores the structure and evolution of planetary systems, stars, galaxies, interstellar gas, and the cosmos as a ...
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The Atmosphere: A Very Short Introduction
Paul I. Palmer
The atmosphere is the thin, diffuse fluid that envelops the Earth’s surface. Despite its apparent fragility, the existence of this fluid is vital for human and other life on Earth. The ...
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Autism: A Very Short Introduction
Uta Frith
Autism: A Very Short Introduction asks: What causes autism? Is it a genetic disorder, or due to some unknown environmental hazard? Are we facing an autism epidemic? What are ...
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Bacteria: A Very Short Introduction (2 ed.)
Sebastian G. B. Amyes
Bacteria: A Very Short Introduction explores the nature of bacteria, which are the most abundant form of life on the planet. The first organisms to evolve, they include forms that can ...
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Big Data: A Very Short Introduction
Dawn E. Holmes
Since long before computers were even thought of, data has been collected and organized by diverse cultures across the world. Once access to the Internet became a reality for large swathes ...
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Biochemistry: A Very Short Introduction
Mark Lorch
Biochemistry: A Very Short Introduction discusses the key concepts of biochemistry, as well as the historical figures in the field and the molecules they studied. From bacteria ...
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Biogeography: A Very Short Introduction
Mark V. Lomolino
Biogeography: A Very Short Introduction explains how our ability to place life in an explicit geographic context is key to understanding our natural world. The geological ...
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Biometrics: A Very Short Introduction
Michael Fairhurst
Biometrics is the scientific discipline of identifying individuals by means of the measurement of unique personal attributes, such as facial appearance, fingerprints, iris patterning, the ...
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