Information: A Very Short Introduction
Title | Information: A Very Short Introduction PDF eBook |
Author | Luciano Floridi |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Pages | 153 |
Release | 2010-02-25 |
Genre | Computers |
ISBN | 0199551375 |
Introduction; 1 The information revolution; 2 The language of information; 3 Mathematical information; 4 Semantic information; 5 Physical information; 6 Biological information; 7 Economic information; 8 The ethics of information; Conclusion; References.
Drugs
Title | Drugs PDF eBook |
Author | Leslie L. Iversen |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Pages | 145 |
Release | 2016 |
Genre | Drug abuse |
ISBN | 0198745796 |
The twentieth century saw a remarkable upsurge of research on drugs, with major advances in the treatment of bacterial and viral infections, heart disease, stomach ulcers, cancer, and metal illnesses. These, along with the introduction of the oral contraceptive, have altered all of our lives. There has also been an increase in the recreational use and abuse of drugs in the Western world. This Very Short Introduction, in its second edition, gives a non-technical account of how drugs work in the body. Reviewing both legal (alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine) and illegal drugs, Les Iversen discusses why some are addictive, and whether drug laws need reform. ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Viruses
Title | Viruses PDF eBook |
Author | Dorothy H. Crawford |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Pages | 177 |
Release | 2018 |
Genre | Medical virology |
ISBN | 0198811713 |
Viruses are big news. From pandemics such as HIV, swine flu, and SARS, we are constantly being bombarded with information about new lethal infections. In this Very Short Introduction, Dorothy Crawford demonstrates from their discovery and the unravelling of their intricate structures, how clever these entities really are.
Humanism: A Very Short Introduction
Title | Humanism: A Very Short Introduction PDF eBook |
Author | Stephen Law |
Publisher | Oxford University Press, USA |
Pages | 169 |
Release | 2011-01-27 |
Genre | Philosophy |
ISBN | 0199553645 |
Summary: Philosopher Stephen Law explains why humanism--though a rejection of religion--nevertheless provides both a moral basis and a meaning for our lives.-publisher description.
History: A Very Short Introduction
Title | History: A Very Short Introduction PDF eBook |
Author | John Arnold |
Publisher | Oxford Paperbacks |
Pages | 152 |
Release | 2000-02-24 |
Genre | History |
ISBN | 019285352X |
Starting with an examination of how historians work, this "Very Short Introduction" aims to explore history in a general, pithy, and accessible manner, rather than to delve into specific periods.
Memory: A Very Short Introduction
Title | Memory: A Very Short Introduction PDF eBook |
Author | Jonathan K. Foster |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Pages | 153 |
Release | 2009 |
Genre | Philosophy |
ISBN | 0192806750 |
"Why can we sometimes remember events from our childhood as if they happened yesterday, but not what we did last week? How are memories stored in the brain, and how does our memory change as we age? What happens when our memory goes wrong, and how easy is it for others to manipulate our memories?" "This fascinating Very Short Introduction brings together the latest research in psychology and neuroscience to address these and many other important questions about the science of memory - revealing how our memory works, why we couldn't live without it, and even how we may learn to remember more."--BOOK JACKET.
Time: A Very Short Introduction
Title | Time: A Very Short Introduction PDF eBook |
Author | Jenann Ismael |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Pages | 137 |
Release | 2021-10-28 |
Genre | Science |
ISBN | 0192568957 |
What is time? What does it mean for time to pass? Is it possible to travel in time? What is the difference between the past and future? Until the work of Newton, these questions were purely topics of philosophical speculation. Since then we've learned a great deal about time, and its study has moved from a subject of philosophical reflection to instead became part of the subject matter of physics. This Very Short Introduction introduces readers to the current physical understanding of the direction of time, from the Second Law of Thermodynamics to the emergence of complexity and life. Jenann Ismael charts the line of development in physical theory from Newton, via Einstein's Theory of Relativity, to the current day. Einstein's innovations led to a vision of time very different from the familiar time of everyday sense. In this new vision, time is one of the dimensions in which the universe is extended alongside the spatial dimensions. The universe appears as a static block of events, in which there is no more a difference between past and future than there is between east and west. Discussing the controversy and philosophical confusion which surrounded the reception of this new vision, Ismael also covers the contemporary mixture of statistical mechanics, cognitive science, and phenomenology that point the way to reconciling the familiar time of everyday sense with the vision of time presented in Einstein's theories. Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.