For years, whenever I have needed to get “up to speed” quickly on a subject, one of the first sources of information I turn to is the Oxford University Press Very Short Introductions series. For those who might not be familiar with this extraordinary collection, the Very Short Introductions (or “VSI”) series presently contains over four hundred volumes ranging in subject matter from Accounting to Writing and Script. And within these hundreds of volumes, there are nearly forty that pertain either directly or indirectly to natural history.
All VSI volumes are written by internationally noted authorities on their title subjects. Generally running to around one hundred fifty pages in length, VSI volumes are perfect for anyone who would like to know more about a particular subject but who might not quite know where to begin their inquiries. They are also very handy for those who might already have some understanding of a subject but who would like to discover a new perspective on it. And what’s more, they’re pocket sized; perfect for toting around throughout the day so as to be readily available whenever a few spare minutes appear that could be used for a bit of enlightening reading.
Therefore, for the benefit of those who might not have yet explored what the VSI series has to offer, as well as for those who already know it’s immense value but might not be aware of just how many volumes in it fall within or at least near the category of natural history, I’ve assembled a list of all the VSI volumes that readers of The Well-read Naturalist might find to be of interest.
The Antarctic: A Very Short Introduction
Archaeology: A Very Short Introduction
Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction
Bacteria: A Very Short Introduction
Black Holes: A Very Short Introduction
The Cell: A Very Short Introduction
Climate: A Very Short Introduction
Coral Reefs: A Very Short Introduction
Cosmology: A Very Short Introduction
Darwin: A Very Short Introduction
Deserts: A Very Short Introduction
Developmental Biology: A Very Short Introduction
Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introduction
The Earth: A Very Short Introduction
Epidemiology: A Very Short Introduction
Evolution: A Very Short Introduction
Fossils: A Very Short Introduction
Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction
The History of Astronomy: A Very Short Introduction
The History of Life: A Very Short Introduction
Human Evolution: A Very Short Introduction
Landscapes and Geomorphology: A Very Short Introduction
Marine Biology: A Very Short Introduction
Minerals: A Very Short Introduction
Molecules: A Very Short Introduction
The Periodic Table: A Very Short Introduction
Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction
Physical Chemistry: A Very Short Introduction
Plants: A Very Short Introduction
Rivers: A Very Short Introduction
Stars: A Very Short Introduction
Stem Cells: A Very Short Introduction
Viruses: A Very Short Introduction
