Big Ideas Simply Explained books in order

Big Ideas Simply Explained is a nonfiction reference series published by DK that breaks down complex subjects into accessible overviews, with contributions from Peter James.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The History Book 2010 Peter James Buy
2 The Psychology Book 2011 Peter James Buy
3 The Economics Book 2012 Peter James Buy
4 The Religions Book 2013 Peter James Buy
5 The Science Book 2014 Peter James Buy
6 The Business Book 2014 Peter James Buy
7 The Shakespeare Book 2015 Peter James Buy
8 The Politics Book 2015 Peter James Buy
9 The Philosophy Book 2015 Peter James Buy
10 The Sociology Book 2015 Peter James Buy
11 The Literature Book 2016 Peter James Buy
12 The Art Book 2017 Peter James Buy
13 The Crime Book 2017 Peter James Buy
14 The Bible Book 2018 Peter James Buy
15 The Mythology Book 2018 Peter James Buy
16 The Classical Music Book 2018 Peter James Buy
17 The Ecology Book 2019 Peter James Buy
18 The Maths Book 2019 Peter James Buy
19 The Sherlock Holmes Book 2019 Peter James Buy
20 The Marvel Book 2019 Peter James Buy
21 The Movie Book 2020 Peter James Buy
22 The Physics Book 2020 Peter James Buy
23 The Islam Book 2020 Peter James Buy
24 The Law Book 2020 Peter James Buy
25 The Star Wars Book 2020 Peter James Buy
26 The Medicine Book 2021 Peter James Buy
27 The Biology Book 2021 Peter James Buy
28 The DC Book 2021 Peter James Buy
29 The World War II Book 2022 Peter James Buy
30 The Chemistry Book 2022 Peter James Buy
31 The LGBTQ+ History Book 2023 Peter James Buy
32 El libro de la historia LGBTQ+ 2023 Peter James Buy
33 The Poetry Book 2023 Peter James Buy
34 The World War I Book 2024 Peter James Buy
35 The Psychology Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained 2024 Peter James Buy
36 The Design Book 2024 Peter James Buy

Big Ideas Simply Explained is DK’s long-running nonfiction reference series that presents complex subjects in clear, visual formats. Each volume tackles a different field, from science and philosophy to economics and crime, using infographics, timelines, and plain-language summaries to make the material approachable.

Peter James contributed to volumes in this series, bringing his subject expertise to the accessible reference format. The books are popular with students and general readers who want broad introductions to major intellectual topics without heavy academic jargon.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Big Ideas Simply Explained series?

There are 36 books in the Big Ideas Simply Explained series, published between 2010 and 2024.

What is the first book in the Big Ideas Simply Explained series?

The first book in the Big Ideas Simply Explained series is The History Book, published in 2010.

What subjects does Big Ideas Simply Explained cover?

The Big Ideas Simply Explained series covers a wide range of subjects including science, philosophy, psychology, economics, politics, and more. Each book uses visual explanations, timelines, and summaries to make complex topics accessible to general readers. Peter James contributed to volumes in the series.

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