Very Short Introduction Books

Oxford University Press VSIs are Bite-Sized Intellectual Stimulation

Oct 22, 2009
Linda Gentile

Very Short Introduction Book - Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press' tiny Very Short Introductions present intellectual topics in understandable form. Not dumbed-down, but simply clear, VSIs are fascinating reads.

The Very Short Introduction series of books is published by the Oxford University Press. Since the introduction of VSIs in the year 2000, over 200 books have been released on numerous topics. Very Short Introductions are academic-level essays designed to be enjoyed by the general public. Each book is fully illustrated.

VSIs are decidedly intellectual, but many of the authors employ a sense of humor which, while never laugh-out-loud funny, takes the dry edge off the subject. This may be a function of their British origins and the British penchant for irony, or it may be quite deliberate. So saying, some of the books are quite dry.

Reading VSI Books From Oxford University Press

The diminutive size of the VSI books is highly misleading. The reader may think that he is going to have a quick, easy read and then find himself absorbed for hours. The topics are written such that anyone who is willing to stretch his mind a little can understand the principles inside, even if the topic falls well beyond his normal comfort level.

These are not books to skim and read through quickly; they have many ideas and require some thought. As such, they are excellent for waking up the mind. Each one is distinctly the product of its author; however opinionated the author, however, the books are always a well-rounded introduction to the topic.

Appearance of the Oxford University Press Very Short Introduction Series

VSI books are physically attractive; each one is around two-thirds the size of a novel, slender, in the range of 100-150 pages. The books may be physically small, but their print is tiny. Thus, the content is probably the equivalent of a short novel, though much more intellectually stimulating.

Covers of Very Short Introductions invariably feature a design where stripes of different colors merge in the center. No two are alike, but on the shelf they are striking and, presumably quite on purpose, very collectible. (Each comes with an alluring number printed on the spine, all the better to captivate collectors.)

Subject Matter of Very Short Introductions

As the name suggests, Very Short Introductions are introductions to a topic, and all include long further-reading lists. According to the Oxford University Press website, VSIs are frequently included in university-level reading lists. Indeed, OUP offers professors the chance to request reading copies for possible inclusion in their classes.

Ultimately, the Oxford University Press aims to publish VSIs for every major academic discipline. It currently divides its offerings into eight broad categories, ranging from philosophy to science to economics.

For a sense of this diversity, the reader need only examine the most recent books. The OUP's most recent offerings, Fashion: A Very Short Introduction and The Reformation: A Very Short Introduction, were both published on October 22, 2009. Typically, the Oxford University Press publishes 1-4 VSIs a month, and shows no sign of slowing down.