Big Ideas Simply Explained

From the first novel, A Study in Scarlet, through to the masterpiece that is The Hound of the Baskervilles and the detective's last story, The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place, The Sherlock Holmes Book explores every facet of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most memorable creation. Discover how Holmes reaches his conclusions through deductive reasoning, plus in-depth biographies of key characters, from Holmes and Watson themselves to Inspector Lestrade, Mrs Hudson and the detective's arch-enemy, Professor Moriarty.

This comprehensive, accessible and factual guide to Islam is essential to understanding the world's fastest-growing religion. This essential guide to Islam covers every aspect of the Muslim faith and its history - from the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the teachings of the Koran to Islam in the 21st century. Celebrating the scientific, literary and artistic achievements of the Islamic Golden Age and the ideas of philosophers and theologians across the centuries, it opens a window on the Islamic world.

Discover the key battles, tactics, technologies and turning points of the Second World War—the epic conflict that shaped the modern world. The World War II Book explores the causes, key events and lasting consequences of the Second World War. Using the original approach of the series, entries profile more than 90 of the key ideas and events during and surrounding the conflict—from the rise of Hitler and Fascism in the 1930s, to Pearl Harbor, the D-Day landings and the bombing of Hiroshima, to the founding of the State of Israel in 1948.

Arranged in chronological order, the book covers key themes in the physical and natural sciences, such as geochemistry and the elements. Within each chapter, a series of articles traces the history of scientific thought and introduces the work of the scientists who have shaped the subject such as John Dalton, Marie Curie, Dmitri Mendeleev, Kathleen Lonsdale and Stephanie Kwolek. Along the way, the audiobook addresses some of the most fundamental questions in science, such as what is the universe made of, how is matter created and what are the chemical bonds that make life possible?

Exploring and explaining the most important ideas and events in LGBTQ+ history and culture, this book showcases the breadth of the LGBTQ+ experience. This diverse, global account explores the most important moments, movements, and phenomena, from the first known lesbian love poetry of Sappho to Kinsey's modern sexuality studies, and features biographies of key figures from Anne Lister to Audre Lorde. The LGBTQ+ History Book celebrates the victories and untold triumphs of LGBTQ+ people throughout history.

Discover the big ideas behind more than 90 of history's most important legal rulings and milestone laws - from the earliest civilizations to the 21st century. Using the Big Ideas series' trademark combination of authoritative, informative text, The Law Book makes each entry accessible and easy to understand. Packed with inspirational quotations and more, it offers essential listening for anyone with a professional or personal interest in law, the legal system or history and social change. 

Tracing the epic 5,000-year story of warfare from the earliest battles to the War on Terror, The Military History Book explores and explains the causes and consequences of each, offering a new angle on military history. Entries analyse the key social and political driving forces, the arms and armaments, and the technologies and tactics of war over the last 7,000 years – from the tactics of early infantry and siegecraft to the rise of naval combat steel, steam, and shellfire, and from trench warfare and aerial dogfights to chemical weapons and cyber warfare.

Explore and understand the key ideas and movements in anthropology – the study of human societies and cultures and how they work. What does it mean to be human? Why do we have rituals? How do family structures differ around the world, and why? The Anthropology Book answers questions like these...

Discover the key theories and milestone developments in the field of geography – the study of Earth’s diverse landscapes and climates, and the ways in which we have interacted with them through history and across the world. Applying the series’ accessible approach to the subject, The...

Find out how warriors lived and the importance of family life in this bold new audiobook about the astonishing Aztec civilization. When the migrating Aztec people saw an eagle on a cactus in Lake Texcoco, they knew it was a sign from the god of sun and war, Huitzilopochtli. They founded a great...

Most of what happens in our world has been thoroughly investigated. But that’s not true for everything! Listen to learn more about the events, activities, disappearances, and creatures that are yet to be explained. Can you solve the mysteries that have puzzled scientists for generations? What...

Experience the greatest breakthroughs in science, with the DK Science Stories series. In 1870s America, two brilliant scientists, Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Marsh, are locked in a ruthless competition. They're not fighting over gold, but something much more incredible: dinosaur bones. This...

It’s a cold night on the Atlantic Ocean. An exciting journey on the grandest ship in the world turns into chaos when the ship hits an iceberg. How will Agnes survive the ship’s plunge under the icy waves? And will she be able to save her younger brother and sister, too? This audiobook is...

Through adventure and luck, we have unearthed many objects and places that reveal the story of our past, and this treasury for children is filled with some of the most fascinating. On an autumn day in 1940, four boys explored a tunnel that their dog had gone into. They had no idea that they had...

Humans – who are we? Physically, we’re unremarkable in the animal world – a hairless ape. But somehow, in combination, our characteristics make us remarkable. How can our ears listen to this audiobook with such precision, differentiating each specific word? How can we understand the...

Discover the spellbinding history of fairies. Travel through time and across the globe to discover fantastic folklore, magical chance encounters, and mythical beings. This audiobook covers everything from the origin of the word “fairy” to the modern tales and superstitions that still exist...