Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50 Political Ideas You Really Need to Know | 2007 | Tom Chatfield | Buy |
| 2 | 50 Economics Ideas You Really Need to Know | 2009 | Tom Chatfield | Buy |
| 3 | 50 Genetics Ideas You Really Need to Know | 2009 | Tom Chatfield | Buy |
| 4 | 50 Literature Ideas You Really Need to Know | 2010 | Tom Chatfield | Buy |
| 5 | 50 Ideas You Really Need to Know Religion | 2010 | Tom Chatfield | Buy |
| 6 | 50 Architecture Ideas You Really Need to Know | 2010 | Tom Chatfield | Buy |
| 7 | 50 Digital Ideas You Really Need to Know | 2011 | Tom Chatfield | Buy |
| 8 | 50 Art Ideas: You Really Need to Know | 2011 | Tom Chatfield | Buy |
| 9 | 50 Events You Really Need to Know: History of War | 2012 | Tom Chatfield | Buy |
| 10 | The Future: 50 Ideas You Really Need to Know | 2012 | Tom Chatfield | Buy |
| 11 | 50 Quantum Physics Ideas You Really Need to Know | 2013 | Tom Chatfield | Buy |
| 12 | 50 Psychology Ideas You Really Need to Know | 2022 | Tom Chatfield | Buy |
The 50 Ideas You Really Need to Know series is a reference line that takes on major academic and cultural subjects one volume at a time. Each book distills its topic into 50 short entries, making complex ideas accessible to general readers. The series began in 2007 with 50 Political Ideas You Really Need to Know and has since covered everything from quantum physics to psychology.
The books are written by various authors with expertise in their subjects. With twelve volumes published between 2007 and 2022, the series is a good starting point for readers who want a quick but solid grounding in a new field.