For Beginners – serie

Part of the best-selling '...for Beginners' series that brings to life the wide world of physics. Rather than explaining details about how to do physics, this book focusses on explaining what different branches of physics are about, how we know about them, and what mysteries remain for budding physicists to uncover. It doesn't shy away from the hard stuff, tackling black holes, quantum mechanics and even Einstein's theories of relativity.Chapters in this book include:- What is physics?- Asking questions?- Physics is everywhere- What do physicists do?Forces & motionWhat makes things move, what makes things stop, and why some things move faster and easier than others.WavesHow sounds travel, how light works, and the mysterious connection between electricity and magnetism.The speed of light and the shape of the universeAlbert Einstein came up with two of the most significant theories in modern physics: special relativity, which explores the speed of light, and general relativity, which unpacks the shape of the universe. But what actually ARE these theories?Nuclear and particle physicsIntroducing the very smallest things physicists have discovered, and seeing what happens when they try to break those things apart into even smaller pieces.Quantum mechanicsThe smallest particles don't seem to follow the same rules as bigger things. So what rules do they follow, and why don't they seem to make sense?SpaceWhat is out there, beyond the Earth? And where exactly did it all come from?Unsolved mysteriesThere are plenty of things physicists don't understand about how things work, whether on Earth or out in space. Discover some of the mysteries that YOU might help to solve one day.

A highly illustrated, fun and easy-to-read guide to politics in the modern world.An informative guide to political systems, elections, voting and government, and issues including feminism, human rights, freedom of speech and fake news, all explained with clear text and bright, infographic style illustrations.Includes tips on how to argue and debate, a glossary, and links to specially selected websites with more information."Clearly explains the basic principles of decision-making and political representation."The Guardian"A brilliant resource for all ages, this book explores the big issues in both the political world today & political systems throughout history."Just Imagine"An exciting and informative book helping children understand everyday politics."Hive, selected as Children's Book of the Month- A Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week- Winner of the Junior Design AwardsChapters in this book include:- What is politics?- Who's in charge?- What is a government?All kinds of governmentsHow societies have run themselves from Ancient Athens and Rome, to China, Europe and the Birth of the United States of AmericaPolitical systemsHow does democracy actually work? How do countries get things done? And what about the alternatives - dictatorship, communism and even total anarchy?Elections and votingWho can vote? Who can't? And is there a way to count all the votes up that's fair to everyone?Political changeHow can people influence their governments in between elections - or in countries where elections don't happen at all?Political ideologiesWhat are the big ideas that politicians use to decide how to run a country? What's the difference between 'left' and 'right' in politics, and why does it matter? How can work out where YO are on the political spectrum?Big questionsSometimes what matters most isn't who is in charge, or what they stand for, but what they're actually going to do to fix the world's problems...- Is there such a thing as 'human rights'?- Can war ever be justified?- Why are some countries poor?- What is terrorism?- What is prison for?- What is freedom of speech?- How does the media affect politics?- What is immigration?- Am I a feminist?- Who's responsible for the planet?- Is corruption inevitable?- How to argue- Learn to debate- What next?

Dive into the world of business with this lively introduction, whether you want to be an entrepreneur or a smarter consumer. With bright, infographic pictures, it describes how to start your own business, manage your money and beat the competition and explains global supply chains and interest rates. Includes links to websites to find out more.Chapters in this book include:- What is a business?- Why do we need businesses?- Business is everywhere- Why set up a business?How to start a businessDo you want to start a business? Here are the basics you need to get stuck in: think up business ides, testing them, sussing out your competition, and raising the money you need to start.How to sell your stuffRaring to go? Now you need to answer these questions: where should your goods or services be on sale? How much should you charge? And how do you persuade people to buy them?Keeping track of moneyHow do businesses make sure they spend less money than they make? Why do you need to pay taxes? And why do some businesses fail?People in businessHere's where to find out who does what in business. Read about what makes a good leader, how leaders get the best out of their employees, and how businesses can affect consumers and communities.Making a productHow do you make something that is high quality, without it costing too much? How do businesses satisfy customers and protect the environment at the same time?Growing the businessBigger is better, isn't it? But how do you grow your business? And can a business ever get too big?The bigger pictureAll businesses are affected by the world around them. Find out about the economy and interest rates and how they affect business. Discover how governments support and control businesses, and the impact of new technology.What now?

Nobody has everything they need, all the time - so how can we make do with what we have? Economics is all about understanding the choices we make to solve this problem. With bright, infographics pictures, this informative book describes why markets are so important, how businesses work out what to sell, and how governments choose how to run a country. Includes Usborne Quicklinks to specially selected websites for more information.Chapters in this book include:- What is economics?- What is an economy?- What do economists study?- How do you do economics?Not enough to go aroundThe things we need to survive, how we choose them, and why there's never enough time: the big reasons why economies exist.MarketsBuying and selling and how prices are set - as if by magic.Making choicesHow do people make choices and why are those choices often unexpected? How can businesses and governments change people's choices? Why would they want to?Production, profit and competitionWhat big choices do businesses face? Why is competition so important? Why do some businesses produce pollution and what should we do about it?Economic systemsIs there a set of rules that would make it possible to share everything fairly? Or is it better to have winners and losers? What systems have people tried?MacroeconomicsWhat tools do governments use to measure the economy? What effects do their choices have on individual people and the economy as a whole?International tradeWhy everyone from around the world benefits from buying and selling each other's products - and why governments sometimes don't like it.Big questions (and a few answers)How the tools of economics help us make sense of everything, from war to famine to saving the planet.What's next?

Philosophy is a way of thinking about just about anything. It asks big questions, such as "how can I be good?" or "what makes something beautiful?" Using lively examples, humorous illustrations and simple thought experiments, this book opens up the world of philosophy to children and adults with enquiring minds.Chapters in this book include:- What is philosophy?- A world of philosophy?- Doing philosophy- How to argue- Thought experiments- Why do philosophy?KnowledgeHow do we know anything about the world around us - can we be sure that we know anything at all?The mindIs your mind somehow different from your body, and are you even in control of it?Beauty and artWhat is beauty, and what is art?And why is it so hard to answer these questions?GodIf there is a God, is it possible to prove that he or she exists?PoliticsAre there any rules that everyone can agree on that would make a society a fair and happy place for everyone to live in?How to be goodIf you're not sure of the right thing to do, can the tools of philosophy help you find an answer?Time and IdentityEverything changes with time - but how much can something change and still count as the same thing? What is time, anyway?Logic and languageWhat are the rules of philosophy, and how can you follow them if people don't agree on what words themselves actually mean?The meaning of lifeIs philosophy merely a way asking questions about the world - or can it also be a way of life itself? Can it answer the ultimate question: what is the meaning of life?What next?Multiple mysteriesFamous Philosophers

An informative introduction to the world of money, covering everything from bank accounts, earning and borrowing to government spending, taxes and inflation. With bright, infographic pictures, a detailed glossary and links to specially selected websites where you can visit a virtual bank, see money from around the world and more.Chapters in this book include:- What is money?- How money moves- Money around the world- Money customsHow money worksWhat makes cash, banknotes and anything else count as money? And why do we all trust it?The story of moneyMoney has existed long before the first coins were made, and over the centuries it has taken on many unusual forms. How did it all come about?In the bankAlmost every adult has a bank account - but why? What do banks actually do? Are there any alternatives? And was it really the banks' fault that the world suffered a financial meltdown in 2008?Earning and borrowingDon't have any money? No problem! Almost anyone can get hold of some money, by working for it, or borrowing from someone who has it.Spending, growing and givingSome people spend everything they have very quickly. Others prefer to save up. If you have some money to spare, you should give it away to charity - shouldn't you?Governments and moneyTaxes, deficits, inflation, deflation, quantitative easing - what does it all mean, and who's in charge?Big questionsHow to be a billionaire, how to buy happiness, how to make the world a fairer place - and other important questions that nobody knows the answers to - yet.What next?

Climate change is having an enormous impact on the world around us - it has become a Climate Crisis. This book uses simple language and vivid illustrations to explain complex questions clearly. How does the climate work? What are we doing to change it? What can we do differently to avoid the worst outcomes? Why do we all find change so hard? The Climate Crisis is a troubling and sensitive topic, especially for children, so the book includes vital tips on how to set realistic goals and not get overwhelmed by bad news.Chapters in this book include:- What is the climate?- What is the crisis?- How important is the crisis?The basicsWhat is the greenhouse effect? What are fossil fuels, and why do we love burning them so much?How sure are we?Are we really, really sure that the crisis is happening? Could some people be exaggerating? Meet the IPCC - an international team that studies the crisis and provides us with the most reliable information about it.What do we do?The crisis is big and daunting, but we know what we need to do. There's a VERY long list of changes we need to make: how we grow and eat our food; how we move around; how we get all the power we use to run our machines; how we stay warm - and keep things cold. Almost every part of how we live will have to change, in big and small ways.What's stopping us?If we know what we need to do, why aren't we already making those changes? Some of it is about getting big groups of people to agree on which changes are the most important, and some of it is to do with what's going on in our brains.What can I do?One person can't fix the crisis alone. But there are a lot of things that individual people CAN do, no matter how old or young, or how much power they have.What happens next?

Fully-illustrated and filled with real-world examples, this book explains the basics of psychology, from how people think, feel and behave to how scientists can study and be sure about what is actually going on in other people's brains.Chapters in this book include:- What is psychology?- So much to explore...- Looking for answers- Psychology's close relativesExperimentsPsychologists ask questions about how people think, feel or behave. They then find a way to test possible answers.The core functions of the mindHow do we sense our surroundings, learn language or remember things?Thinking things throughHow do we make judgements and decisions? And do they always make sense?Differences between peopleWe're all unique but we're also very similar. How do psychologists define the difference between us?Growing up and upWe turn from a tiny cell to a baby, to a child, to an adult. Psychologists call this development.We are social creaturesDiscover how our behaviour is affected by the people around us.Brains and mental healthMeet your brain, and find out about brain illnesses, injuries and other mental health problems.Jobs in psychology

An entertaining and thought-provoking guide to what laws are, who makes them and how people enforce them. It covers crime and punishment as well as social and citizenship issues such as politics and international law, using a mixture of debates, cartoon strips and clear diagrams.Chapters in this book include:- What is law?- Why do we need laws?- How does the law work?- Right and wrong- It isn't black and whiteCriminal LawAn unlucky accident, or a serious crime? Follow a story to see what happens, and who gets involved, from a person's arrest to trial and beyond.Civil lawMost law isn't about crime and punishment - it's about settling arguments, and making sure people behave fairly to each other. This is 'civil' law.How is law made?Laws used to be made by leaders with limitless powers. Today, most laws are made by elected politicians, who have to follow all sorts of rules.Law across bordersAre there laws that the whole world has to obey? How are those made - and how are they enforced?Human rightsSome of the most important laws, or rights, are meant to ensure that all people can live safe, healthy lives with equal opportunities. But does this actually happen?JusticeJustice means fairness. It's what law is all about, isn't it? But are laws themselves fair? And what about the system that enforces the law - is that fair?Big questionsOften in law, there are questions that don't have simple answers. Read some of the arguments and see if you can make up your own mind.What next?What about YOU? Could you be a lawyers, or a lawmaker, or a law enforcer?

This book is the perfect answer to the question "What is Ecology, and why should I care?"Explore the basics of Ecology by following a wide variety of real-world examples about how living things cope in all sorts of environments. Learn how ecosystems work, explore how these complicated systems go wrong, and discover what we can do to protect our planet in the future.An ideal book to explain to curious minds what ecology is all about, and what questions ecologists are trying to find answers to, from how to save dying species, to fixing ecosystems through rewilding.Chapters in this book include:- What is ecology?- The big questions- What do ecologists do?- Why is ecology important?The basicsHow is life organized? How does life adapt to its environment, survive and thrive?Ecosystems explainedFind out how every part of an ecosystem works together to keep things balanced. What does it mean to be resilient? How do feedback loops work? And why is biodiversty so important?What's going wrong?Ecosystems are constantly changing, but in the last two centuries these changes have accelerated for one main reason - people. Ecologists investigate what's happening and why.A fight worth havingEcologists have LOTS of ideas about how to help restore ecosystems. Many of the solutions are in the hands of governments and big businesses. Getting them to make changes won't be easy, but it's a fight worth having.Being an ecologistAs well as being a science, ecology is also a way of seeing the world. Find out how you can be an ecologist and live in an ecologically-minded way.

The world we live in is complex and constantly changing. It's battered by weather, shaken by earthquakes, and mined, farmed and polluted by humans. This book helps readers understand these processes, make sense of our relationship with the planet, and find ways to change it for the better. Geography is a HUGE subject area that deals with so much more than map-making, rocks, and town planning. This book unpicks how an awareness of geography helps people think about how important the world around us is, from the landscape we live on to the relationships between entire countries.Part of the award-winning 'for Beginners' series, which explains big subjects to kids in late primary and early secondary education. Each book outlines what those subjects are about, which big questions experts are grappling with, and what jobs people who study them might go on to do.Chapters in this book include:- What is geography?Journey into the EarthWhat the Earth itself is made of, how that all works, and how we find out more about it.Weather and climateWhat goes on in the Earth's atmosphere, the difference between weather and climate, and how they both affect people's lives around the world.Watery worldAll about oceans, rivers and ice - and how people's lives depend on water in all sorts of ways.Homes, towns, citiesWhere people live, why they live there, and how people shape the places around them.How money and power shape the worldHow countries and borders work, and how and why some countries are more powerful than others.Improving livesUsing the tools of geography to find out how people live in different countries and identify ways to improve lives.Big issuesWhat are some of the big questions that geographers ask? What geography mysteries are yet to be solved?Geography is EVERYWHERE!Jobs in geography

This book WON'T test your mental maths or teach you countless ways to find x. It WILL show you just how fascinating maths can be.Can maths make people rich? Can formulas predict which sports teams will win more games? Can equations explain the mysteries of the universe? The short answer to all these is YES. This book explores and explains the ways that the tools of mathematics help people make sense of the world around them, predict the future and, just maybe, how to make life itself better.Chapters in this book include:- What is maths?- What is maths for?- How do you do maths?The beginning of mathsWhat did the first numbers look like, and what did people use them for?NumbersNumber shapes, number patterns, prime numbers and numbers that go on and on and on...to infinity.Shapes and measuringHow and why people use the tools of mathematics to describe the shapes of everything, from everyday objects to the entire universe.How maths is shownMaking graphs, drawing diagrams and using pictures to explain the world better, and to help solve problems.Prove itIn mathematics, you can find an answer to a problem and know for certain that it is correct. But how? With a PROOF.Probability and statisticsMaths can tell you the truth and predict the future - up to a point. How does it do this, and how can you spot when people are (mis)using maths to lie?Maths, computers and the futureNo mathematics, no computers. But what kind of maths do people use to make computers works?Mathematical modelsDescribing real-world problems with maths to give insights into future weather, profits, and even human behavior.What's next?Jobs in maths

Every nation tells its own history in its own way. This important book explains what's going on behind the scenes in those tellings - who gets to decide which facts are taught, and which truths are massaged, or even denied. Using a mix of comic strips, diagrams and clear, simple language, this book shows readers how to dig deeper into any story, how to investigate recent and ancient history for themselves, and learn why it's vital to understand how the world has ended up where it is today.This is a History book unlike any other you've read. It doesn't just tell stories from the past, it explains where those stories came from, and why they can change, depending on who is telling them.Chapters in this book include:- What is history?How to look at the pastWhat is - and what isn't - part of the study of history.How to be a historianHow historians investigate the past, what tools they use, and how to decide which accounts you can trust - and which you can't.Different approachesThere are many ways to explore history, and many types of stories to tell. What's the difference between them, and why do historians choose different approaches anyway?Histories of whoHow to investigate stories that focus on people: from heroes and villains to ordinary people, large groups - and those that historians have often ignored.Histories of whereHow historians make sense of what has happened in different parts of the world, whether a village, a city, a nation - or the entire globe.Histories of whyTrying to find out why something happened often means exploring big ideas, and how people were thinking and feeling at the time. But how can you investigate that?Everyday historyWith the tools you've gathered in this book, find out how YOU can start to make sense of the world you live in.The end of history?

This engaging introduction to chemistry tackles the key concepts and big ideas in a friendly and accessible way. From atoms to molecules, discover the basic building blocks of the universe and find out how chemists use them to create amazing new medicines, materials and more. Follow step-by-step chemical reactions, explore the periodic table and learn all about chemistry's real-life applications from solving crimes to producing green energy.Chapters in this book include:IntroductionFind out what chemistry is, and the amazing things chemists have learned to do with it over the centuries.What's the world made of?Discover the basic building blocks of EVERYTHING around you, why they're always changing and how they join together.Journey into an atomThe smallest building block - an atom - is itself made of even smaller parts. Keep track of the 118 atoms we know about so far in a handy chart called the periodic table.Making connectionsChemistry is all about what happens when atoms connect and make - or break - bonds with each other.Chemical reactionsYou can't see atoms, but how they behave can be spectacular. This is the fizzy, foamy, explosive world of chemical reactions.See, smell, taste, touchSome chemicals have a taste, smell or even a colour. Others form incredible structures and materials. Together they shape your experience of the world.Your bodyChemists are fascinated by how the body works, and what to do when it doesn't - from diagnosing diseases to designing medicines.Keeping us safeWhat makes a good or bad chemical? Is there even such a thing? Find out about chemists working to keep us safe.Saving the planetThe Earth's chemical balance is changing. What can chemists do about it?SpaceThe universe is full of chemical secrets - including how our planet and its inhabitants came to be.What's next?What are some of the most exciting things chemists are working on right now? Might you join them one day?

Artificial Intelligence is all about humans asking computers and other machines to think and even behave like humans, and to take on jobs that people find too difficult or too boring. But how do you actually define the term? What exactly can machines with AI already do, and what might they be able to do in the future?AI For Beginners answers all the questions - where answers exist - and raises debating points at every turn about what it all means. Should we be asking machines to do creative tasks, such as writing and illustrating books? Do we need to worry if intelligent machines need to be treated like people? Is there a chance that machines might take over the world, either by accident or on purpose? Is there any point going to school and doing homework if computers can do it all for us, and better?Chapters in this book include:- What is artificial intelligence?- How far has AI come?- How will the world change?How does AI work?AI only exists thanks to computeres. Find out the basics about what computers are and how they work - before diving into the coding secrets that explain how people can teach computers... too teach themselves.AI in actionFind out how AI is being used in everything from searching the internet to solving crimes, looking after people and even waging war.Perhaps most interesting of all, AI tools have given computers the power to talk to people and even create art in ways that feel more and more human.Find out how these tools work, how smart they can be and their limits, too.How AI is changing our worldAs AI-powered machines take on more and more tasks, the way people live is changing. It's not just about what jobs people do - or don't do - anymore. It's about how we make friends and share ideas, and learn about the world. AI might even have the power to solve the climate crisis - or, perhaps, make it worse.Into the futureSome experts are trying to create machines that are just like people. But how similar to a human can a computer program actually be? How much closer might AI ever comt to being.. a 'living' thing?What next?

This book explores the fascinating world of biology - the study of all life, from tiny bacteria to plants, animals and entire ecosystems. Discover how living things behave and interact, and the amazing ways they adapt to the world around them. Find out how life on Earth began, how it has changed, and what living things might look like in millennia to come. Take a closer look at cells - the building blocks of life itself - and the vital role they play. Through a mix of diagrams, infographics, comic strips and clear, engaging text, this book shows readers what the study of biology is about, how much it covers, and why YOU might want to study it further yourself. It investigates some of the big issues that biologists are grappling with today, from preventing the spread of ever-evolving diseases to saving animals and plants from extinction.Chapters in this book include:- What is biology?- Life and death- The meaning of lifeLife on EarthWhat different forms does life take, and can we make sense of the sheer variety of it all? How did life begin in the first place?Cells and DNAFind out all about cells - the tiny building blocks that are part of EVERY living thing. What is DNA, the chemical at the heart of cells?EvolutionEvolution is all about how living things change, very gradually. How does it work? Why do some creatures survive, while others die out? And how did anyone manage to hit upon and test out this grand idea?The human bodyThere's one kind of living thing that biologists are more interested in than any other. It's us - human beings. What are we made of? How do our bodies work? And what's so special about our brains?EcologyEcology is the part of biology that studies how living things grow and change together as a group. This can mean studying small, local habitats, or it can mean looking at how life all over the world is affected by changes, such as deforestation or warming seas.MicroorganismsThe very smallest living things - known as microorganisms - are some of the most fascinating. Find out about the bacteria and fungi that play a role in the cycle of life and death, help plants talk to each other, and make all sorts of things from food to medicine.DiseaseAll living things can get sick. Often, the cause is another living thing. Find out where diseases come from, how they spread, how they actually make you sick, and how to stop them.Big questionsThere are endless questions about life that people want answers to. Some of the answers depend on clever experiments and in-depth research. Others come only from debate. For example, if it was possible to live forever, would you even want to?Biology all roundJobs in biology

Have you ever wondered what stars are made of, or how they blaze into life? What about how a black hole works, or whether there's alien life somewhere in the universe?These are the kinds of incredible questions that astronomers spend their days trying to answer. This book won't only give you basic answers, it really digs in to explain some seriously cool and mysterious ideas, from gravity to the origin of the universe to the problem of warping through spacetime.Find out what Astronomers and Cosmologists have discovered so far, how on Earth they figured it all out, and the head-scratching problems they're still puzzling over in this thrilling introduction.Chapters in this book include:- Space rocks- How light works- Studying stars- Black holes- Gravity- Is anybody out there?Exploring complex ideas in easy-to-digest chunks, with expert input from astronomer Dr. Sheila Kanani MBE, Astronomy for Beginners is perfect for space-obsessed children aged 10 and above. Discover more from Usborne's award-winning For Beginners series

Why does philosophy give some people a headache, others a real buzz, and yet others a feeling that it is subversive and dangerous? Why do a lot of people think philosophy is totally irrelevant? What is philosophy anyway? The ABCs of philosophy --easy to understand but never simplistic. Beginning with basic questions posed by the ancient Greeks - What is knowledge? What is good and evil?"Philosophy For Beginners" traces the answers given by western philosophy over the last 2,500 years.

Virtually anyone, anywhere knows that six million Jewish human beings were killed in the Jewish Holocaust. But how many African human beings were killed in the Black Holocaust–from the start of the European slave trade (c.1500) to the Civil War (1865)? And how many were enslaved? The Black Holocaust, a travesty that killed millions of African human beings, is the most underreported major event in world history. A major economic event for Europe and Asia, a near fatal event for Africa, the seminal event in the history of every African American–if not every American!–and most of us cannot answer the simplest questions about it. The Black Holocaust For Beginners–part indisputably documented chronicle, part passionately engaging narrative–puts this tragic event in plain sight where it belongs! This long overdue book answers all of your questions, sensitively and in great depth.