30-Second – serie

This information-packed book is the complete guide to everything you need to know about the world's oceans, with each conceptOceans cover two thirds of the Earth’s surface and are the driving force behind our weather systems, taking warm and cold water around the globe.Understanding solar radiation, currents, and rising sea levels are vital starting points to understanding and dealing with global warming, and this book covers these and many more essential topics in easily accessible chunks.Join expert authors on a tour of the world’s oceans, taking in waves, continental shelves, icebergs, underwater forests, monsoons, and coral reefs along the way.Learn about the different characteristics of the world’s major oceans, the amazing array of marine life that exists at different depths, how tides work, and what pollution is doing to the seas. There’s never been a more important time to get to grips with how the oceans work.The 30 Second series presents concise, informative guides to the most important topics which shape the world around us, presenting terms which are key to understanding the subject in 30 seconds, 300 words, and one image.

Learn all you need to know about the ecosystems, animals and environments which make up life on Earth in this simple, handy and informative guide!Endowed with abundant water, extraordinary ecoystems, varied climates and biomes, our planet is teeming with creatures, great and small.What produced this rich diversity? How have so many species formed, evolved and adapted? What effects are humans having on the rest of the animal kingdom and on the natural environment we share?30-Second Zoology explains the diversificationprocess of evolution, then introduces the main groups of invertebrates and vertebrates. Breathing, seeing, communicating and other key features of animal physiology and behaviour are explored, as are the ecological relationships between Earth’s myriad species – the predators, the prey, the parasites and the positively poisonous – before assessing the anthropogenic effects of pollution, over-harvesting and a changing climate.Covering everything from the origins of life and the most basic of organisms, all the way through to the more complex creatures that we recognise today, 30-Second Zoology aims to showcase the most fantastic examples of life on our earth, all in 300 words and one stunning illustration per topic.If you like this, you might also be interested in 30-Second Literature, 30-Second Numbers or any of the other title sin the 30 Second series!

The successful 30-Second series tackles numbers, with experts on maths and data demystifying the essential numerical topics.We know that we use numbers pretty often, some of us confidently, others reluctantly. But are we aware of just how essential they are to almost every decision we make? Counting and measuring when we’re shopping, travelling, studying or playing are just the beginning; the applications of numbers are endless, from assessing variables and analysing data to the calculations and predictions of advanced artificial intelligence.30-Second Numbers exploresnumber categories,the science of measuring, how guesstimates work, and the visualisation of numbers, taking you behind the digits into the world of statistics, probability, risk and ratios.Sections include: Fundamental Numbers - A guide to the different kinds of basic numbers, from rational to prime, complex to continuous. Statistical Variations and Tests - Samples, populations and random variables are all explored in this section on all things stats! Probability and Risk - Learn about prediction and hypothesis testing, as well as absolute and relative risk. Visualising numbers - From numerical bias to logarithms and algorithms, this section shows us all the different ways we can visualise numbers. Using Numbers - Big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning are all covered in this section, about how these concepts are applied in the real world.Numbers are our way of imposing order on the world, and each of the 50 topics here uses just 300 words and one picture to give you a sense of control, helping you to understand trends in statistical data, how algorithms are used and the methods involved in machine learning.In addition, each section contains a profile of a famous mathematician whose work has greatly contributed to how we understand numbers today, from Fibonacci to Pierre de Fermat.With this book, numbers need never be daunting again.The 30 Second series is a handy collection of quick guides which explain the key aspects of core subjects, from numbers to literature to art to Ancient China to biology, and lots more! These titles use only 300 words to explore each section within a topic, making them quick and digestible for those looking to learn a lot, fast!

Whether you're looking for a new author or genre to explore, 30-Second Literature provides you with an introduction to the major literary genres, styles and histories.Part of the best-selling 30-Second series, this introductory guide to literature is split into 7 chapters. Learn about: The History of Literature – from Sanskrit to ModernismThe Novel – in all its glorious genresLiterary Prose – non-fiction from diaries to philosophiesPoetry – from the sonnet to the haikuDrama – interesting theatrical forms and genresLiterary Devices – the techniques authors use in their worksLiterary Styles – the features and history of different styles of writingEach topic is simply summarised in 300 words and contains a small bibliography for you to expand your bookworm horizons. You can also brush up on literary terms ahead of that book-club meeting, as each chapter features its own glossary. Interspersed throughout the book are profiles of key literary figures that have impacted one of our most beloved hobbies. Literature is not just any written work; it is work that has stood the test of time, that is most widely thought to be of lasting merit. Just how particular books are elevated to literary status, reflects the values and judgements of society and mirrors the development of civilisation. This book is a broad overview of the multitude of voices used to describe our human experience, perfect for beginners, new students, and lifelong lovers of Literature.If you like this, you might also be interested in 30-Second Mythology, 30-Second Numbers or any of the other title sin the 30 Second series!

The successful 30-Second series tackles coding, the science of programming the technology which operates in almost every aspect of modern life. Computer code operates behind nearly everything we do – from small calculations in the home to complex executions that drive the global economy. It influences who we see, follow, and like online and describes the websites we visit, the connections between them, the sounds heard on Spotify and videos watched on YouTube.  There is very little we do which hasn’t, in some way, been codified, analysed, and computed electronically, yet few of us possess a basic understanding of that ultimate language barrier. That’s a shame, because coding is the key to so much. Simple programming concepts can explain plenty about the modern world and the changes to come in the age of AI.With insightful text edited by computer scientist and technology podcaster Mark Steadman and contributions from other industry experts, learn the origins of computer code, from the first computers developed in during the Industrial Revolution, through the codebreaking machines used during World War II to the hyperfast computers of the present day.Have all the key terms of this fascinating science explained in simple, bitesize chunks of information-rich text, as well as meeting the key figures who have helped make computer science what it is today.From algorithms and scripts to block-chain, bits and bots, turn to 30-Second Coding to reveal the secrets behind this fascinating subject.

The successful 30-Second series tackles biochemistry, the science of the chemical processes which underpin the workings of all organic life.30-Second Biochemistry takes 50 of the most significant ideas relating to the study of the chemical processes connected to living organisms, simplifying each concept using just 300 words and one picture.By using chemical procedures to tackle biological challenges, biochemistry reveals the behaviour of complex molecules and how they combine to form the building blocks of life.Through this book you will gain a clear understanding of a fascinating area of science, embarking on a journey that reveals how new life is created, the path molecules take to develop from microscopic cells into complete organisms and how energy is harvested and harnessed to help organisms function efficiently.Have all the key terms of this fascinating science explained in simple, bitesize chunks of information-rich text, as well as meeting the key figures who have helped make biochemistry what it is today.

The 50 most significant principles and styles in architecture, each explained in half a minute. The bestselling 30-Second series offers a new approach to learning about those subjects you feel you should really understand. Every title takes a popular topic and dissects it into the 50 most significant ideas at its heart. Each idea, no matter how complex, is explained using a mere two pages, 300 words, and one picture: all easily digested in only half a minute. 30-Second Architecture presents you with the foundations of architectural knowledge. Expert authors are challenged to define and describe both the principles upon which architects depend, and the styles with which they put those principles into practice. So, if you want to know your arch from your elevation, and your Baroque from your Brutalism, or you wish to top off your next dinner party with a stirring speech on how form follows function, this is the quickest way to build your argument.

The 50 most important structures and systems in the human body, each explained in half a minute. The bestselling 30-Second series offers a new approach to learning about those subjects you feel you should really understand. Every title takes a popular topic and dissects it into the 50 most significant ideas at its heart. Each idea, no matter how complex, is explained using a mere two pages, 300 words, and one picture: all easily digested in only half a minute. 30-Second Anatomy offers you an instant diagnosis of how your body works. Whether youre a medical student, an artist, a body worker, or simply want to know what your doctor is talking about when he mentions your humerus, this is the quickest way to get under your own skin. Dissecting the workings of everything from your heart to your brain into 30-second summaries, this is the quickest way to understand the structures and systems that are you. Supported by biographies of the pioneers in anatomy studies, its the book that would have kept Burke and Hare home at night.

The bestselling 30-Second... series takes a revolutionary approach to learning about those subjects you feel you should really understand. Each title selects a popular topic and dissects it into the 50 most significant ideas at its heart. Every idea, no matter how complex, is explained in 300 words and one picture, all digestible in 30 seconds. 30-Second Leonardo da Vinci uses this unique approach to grapple with the truly diverse thoughts of the ultimate Renaissance Man. Artist, anatomist, sculptor, inventor, architect, cartographer, mathematician, musician, botanist, geologist the word polymath does not quite do Leonardo justice. The painter of the Mona Lisa and conceptualizer of the helicopter seems like a Renaissance superhero. Here, the worlds leading Leonardo scholars present an instant and expert guide to the breadth and brilliance of his greatest innovations.

Weve all heard of pyramids, hieroglyphs and Cleopatra, but how much do you really know about ancient Egypt? Why was the Nile integral to the unification of Egypt? What is the mystery surrounding Queen Hetepheres tomb? What did the Amarna Letters reveal? What did the ancient Egyptians eat and drink? 30-Second Ancient Egypt presents a unique insight into one of the most brilliant and beguiling civilizations, where technological innovations and architectural wonders emerge among mysterious gods and burial rites. Each entry is summarized in just 30 seconds using nothing more than two pages, 300 words and a single picture. From royal dynasties and Tutankhamuns tomb, to hieroglyphs and mummification, interspersed with biographies of Egypts most intriguing rulers, this is the quickest path to understanding the 50 key ideas and innovations that developed and defined one of the worlds great civilizations.

You know that Rome wasn't built in a day, but just how did a cluster of small hilltop villages expand to become one of the greatest empires in history? Why did Romulus kill his brother Remus? How was a legion organized? Did people really speak Latin? What entertainment could you see at the Colosseum? And what was daily life like for a Roman citizen? This book takes a novel approach to answering all these questions and more. 30-Second Ancient Rome presents a unique insight into one of the most brilliantly governed societies, where military might and expansive empire paved the way for technological advances that helped shape our modern existence. From aqueducts to sewers, from mosaics to medical diagnoses, this is the straightest road toward understanding the 50 key innovations and ideas that developed and defined one of the worlds great civilizations.

The bestselling 30-Second series takes a revolutionary approach to learning about those subjects you feel you should really understand. Each title selects a popular topic and dissects it into the 50 most significant ideas at its heart. Every idea, no matter how complex, is explained in 300 words and one image, all digestible in just 30 seconds. 30-Second Shakespeare uses this unique approach to grapple with the worlds most famous playwright. From what we know of his life and the intrigue of the authorship question, to uncoding the meanings of key concepts, themes and motifs, and the Bards extraordinary enduring literary and linguistic legacy.

In the West, the story of Ancient China is less familiar to us than that of Ancient Egypt or Rome, but it is no less absorbing, and its rollcall of achievements is easily as impressive. 30-Second Ancient China unlocks the secrets of its Bronze Age glories and offers summaries of everything from the lost cities of the Zhou kings and the elaborate oracle-bone rituals that were practiced at their courts to the exquisite bronze vessels that gave the age its name, and the birth of Confucianism. Add topics dealing with everyday life in Ancient China, and succinct biographies of some powerful figuresfrom Wu Ding, king of the Shang, to Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War, the first ever treatise on military strategyand 30-Second Ancient China becomes the perfect introduction to one of the great ancient civilizations.

The bestselling 30-Second… series takes a revolutionary approach to learning about those subjects you feel you should really understand. Each title selects a popular topic and dissects it into the 50 most significant ideas at its heart. Every idea, no matter how complex, is explained in 300 words and one image, all digestible in just 30 seconds. Live operatic performance was once part of popular culture yet in modern times it has become caricatured as exclusive, overwhelming and, often, very very long. 30-Second Opera raises the curtain so that anyone can enjoy opera, classical or contemporary, without the elitism. Compiled by opera buffs, not the bourgeoisie, it serves up all you need to enjoy the spectacle, the music, and above all the voices – from Farinelli to femme fatale.

The bestselling 30-Second series takes a revolutionary approach to learning about those subjects you feel you should really understand. Each title selects a popular topic and dissects it into the 50 most significant ideas at its heart. Every idea, no matter how complex, is explained in 300 words and one image, all digestible in just 30 seconds. 30-Second Wine uses this unique approach to decant the subject for everyone. Compiled by wine experts, not elites, this beginners guide serves up all you need to read the message in the bottle in 50 small sips or rather, a mere 300 words and one picture. Heres how to enjoy wine without the waffle, all the way from Appellations of the old world to Zinfandel of the new.

Who invented photography first, Fox Talbot or Louis Daguerre? Who got the patent? Who made the most money? Who are the greatest photographers and what have their contributions been?This book takes the 50 most important aspects of photography – both the major styles and the key technical aspects that make them possible – and explains each in two pages, 300 words and one picture. The book also includes six profiles of the greatest names in the history of photography and shares their contributions. Whether you pick it up for 30-seconds at a time or read  it from cover-to-cover, this book is guaranteed to have you thinking about your own and other people’s photography in a whole new way.

For its initiates, jazz is instinctive and engaging the way that popular music should be. For non-aficionados, it can be slippery and difficult to grasp: without familiar forms or a hard-and-fast format, and largely ruled by improvisation, jazz leaves the novice baffled, not sure how to listen, and asking how is it that they know what to play? 30-Second Jazz explains, in easy, short riffs that keep you engaged, taking readers from the African-American roots of jazz all the way to todays global mix of musicians and styles. Along the way, it looks at the shape, style, and instruments of jazz, at key personalities and recordings in the jazz canon and at what might be expected next from this most diverse of musical forms.

If you only have 30 seconds, there is time using this book to make sense of the science behind the seeming vagaries of the weather, the controversies, predictions and forecasts for climate change that shape our day-to-day experiences of the great outdoors. Ever since Aristotle first tried to explain the forces that seem to fall from the heavens, meteorology has opened up the study of weather, and caused disputes over the reasons why seasons change, where precipitation falls, why winds blow and when the sun shines. From halcyon days to hurricanes, super cells to silver linings, global warming to giant hailstones, here is the ultimate guide to a near universal preoccupation: whats the weather like?

The 50 fundamentals of his work, life and legacy, each explained in half a minute Spend 30 seconds a day in the company of a colossus from the world of science, and you will soon have his whole story— both his scientific attainments and his extraordinary life— in your head. Einstein was not only an unparalleled scientific genius, but also a human rights campaigner, a political activist, and the iconic archetype of the mad professor. Is it any wonder that he continues to fascinate scientists and non-scientists alike? 30-Second Einstein will show you why at approximately the speed of light.An internationally bestselling series presents essential concepts in a mere 30 seconds, 300 words, and one image Einstein’ s complex life and theories, explained concisely and without jargon The quickest way to understand einstein’ s starring role in the history of science

The 50 most important achievements of a timeless civilization, each  explained in half a minute.Ancient Greek civilization laid the foundations for so many aspects of  modern western life, from architecture to philosophy. But can you recite  the Classical orders with confidence (are you sure what an order actually  is?), and would you be able to define the key contributions of Socrates,  Plato, and Aristotle? 30-Second Ancient Greece offers an engrossing tour of  the Hellenic world, appealingly served up in easily absorbed nuggets.  An internationally bestselling series presents essential concepts in a mere 30 seconds, 300 words, and one image; Presents a unique insight into one of the most creative and influential civilizations, where military might and architectural brilliance flourished; From temples and oracles to soldiers and slavery, from beautiful pottery to tragic drama, this is the key to understanding the 50 crucial ideas and innovations that developed and defined one of the world’ s greatest civilizations.

The 50 most thought-provoking theories of life, each explained in halfa minute.30-Second Biology tackles the vital science of life, dissecting the 50 most thought-provoking theories of our ecosystem and ourselves. At a time when discoveries in DNA allow us to feel more connected than ever to the natural world, this is the fastest route to an understanding of the tree of life. Whether you’re dipping into the gene pool, unlocking cells, or conversing on biodiversity, this is all the knowledge you need to bring life to the dinner-party debate.An internationally bestselling series presents essential concepts in a mere 30 seconds, 300 words, and one image;The 50 most important ideas and innovations in biology dissected and explained clearly without the clutter;The fastest way to learn about cells, reproduction, animals, plants, evolution and ecosystems.

The 50 key modes, garments, and designers, each explained in half a minute!Even if you’ re not a regular follower of Suzy Bubble, Le Happy, or The Sartorialist, you probably have some feeling for fashion. Most people have a vague idea of what’ s in, what’ s out, and what they might consider putting on their own backs. Less familiar to most, however, is the way fashion works as a global business – a multi-billion-pound industry, employing over 27 million people – just who decides what’ s cutting edge and what’ s long past its sell-by date. 30-Second Fashion offers an engrossing crash course to how the style world works today, alongside an engaging look at the founding fathers (and mothers) of fashion who set it up that way.

Do you know a capella from zarzuela, or your major from your minor? Can you distinguish between a serenade and a symphony? If you only have 30 seconds, there is time – using this book – to understand the creative journey taken by classical music from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Our early ancestors understood pitch and rhythm, the basic tools that have been worked and ordered by composers and performers over the past 400 years into an extraordinary body of music written for soloists, chamber musicians and entire orchestras. Today, everyone has access to a prodigy of classical music which, far from being traditional or elitist, is alive and magical. From plainsong to programme music, appreciate the magnitude and majesty, the passion and the pathos of sounds that have the power to stir our emotions to great joy or infinite sadness. Here’s music to your ears.

What does the Hippocratic oath actually say? Who originally discovered antibiotics? And is it true that technology now allows reconstructive surgery to use customized 3D-printed body parts? Find out the answers to these questions and many others in 30-Second Medicine, an intriguing visit to the world of illness and those who treat it. It takes the reader on an engrossing journey from the first “medicines”, drawn direct from the natural world , to today’s keyhole surgery, bionic limbs, and breakthrough drug treatments. It’s an essential and engaging read for anyone who wants to know more about the contemporary state of medicine, and where it may go next.

New York never sleeps, they say, and 30-Second New York offers up an energetic tour of the city, looking at its founding fathers (and mothers), at key events in its history, and at the buildings and people that make up its unique character, taking in all of the Five Boroughs, not just Manhattan. Find out who gave the city Central Park and the Empire State Building, learn what it was like to arrive off the boat at Ellis Island, relive the glory days of Coney Island, and admire the way New York has presented itself to the world culturally, in the art, literature, and music of those who love it. It’s an absorbing virtual visit to the liveliest city on Earth.

30-Second Chemistry presents the 50 most important ideas in the science of matter – its composition, structure, properties and how it changes.As the central science that bridges biology and physics, chemistry explains the diversity of all things tangible at a molecular level. Understand chemistry, and you’ll know why some things oxidize and others explode; why food is good to eat and coal is not. 30-Second Chemistry breaks the subject down into 50 bitesize elements that help us understand the nature of matter, including:  • Atoms, molecules and compounds• States of matter• Chemical reactions and energetics• Inorganic chemistry• Organic chemistry• Biochemistry• Nuclear chemistryChemistry is the heart of cooking, it can keep you safe, and it explains why things work. This book brings the subject out of the lab and boils it down to its essential elements – in just 30 seconds.  If you like this, you might also be interested in 30-Second Elements, 30-Second Physics and 30-Second Biology.

This whistlestop guide teaches you everything you need to know about the fascinating science of genetics!Genetics is the study of heredity, and reveals how the characteristics of living organisms are determined by the genes passed down the generations. In humans, it can determine how we think,who we are, and how long we live.The human genome was mapped in 2003, and this enhanced ability to study our genes is transforming medicine, from CRISPR, the gene editing technology that allows us to alter the course of hereditary disease, to using genetics to identify the types of bacteria that populate our bodies.Stripping the subject to its bare necessities,30-Second Genetics charts the most extraordinary discoveries, from the fundamentals of cell biology to the almost unbelievable advances in DNA sequencing and stem cell technology.Each subject, concept or term is explored in a mere 30 seconds, 300 words, and one image, making this the perfect book to understand the field of genetics at lightening speed! Authors (and identical twin brothers) Jonathan and Matthew Weitzman are both expert professors in the field, and they write with clarity, exploring these complicated terms in easy to understand language.From advances in stem cell therapy to animal cloning, genetically modified crops and genetically tailored treatments, the Weitzman brothers demystify this essential science which is shaping our future, today!

Who are we? What is it about our species that sets us apart from every other living creature, past and present, on this planet? These are perennially compelling questions about human evolution and development that continue to cudgel the best brains on earth. Anthropology seeks to understand the roots of our common humanity, the diversity of cultures and world-views, and the organisation of social relations and practices. If you only have 30 seconds, that is enough time – by reading this book – to meet the ancestors and master the basic ideas, personalities, controversies and future directions of the study of humankind.

Do you know your fission from your fusion? You will have heard of Einstein’s theory of relativity and his synonymous equation E=mc2, but do you really understand what they mean? With renewable energy a hot topic of conversation, arm yourself with the 50 most significant theories and developments that will allow you to contribute to any debate about this integral force in the universe.30-Second Energy charts the fascinating and fundamental topics behind this phenomenon that resides in everywhere and in everything. Exploring energy as it is best understood – by example – discover how it cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed, and how plankton and other ocean-dwelling organisms can be used to power your car. From the nuclear fusion reactor at the heart of the sun to the elusive dark energy which makes up most of the content of the universe, each topic is summarized in just half a minute using no more than two pages, 300 words and one picture.