Rastafari has grown into an international socio-religious movement, with adherents of Rastafari found in most of the major population centres and outposts of the world. This Very Short Introduction provides a brief account of this widespread but often poorly understood movement, looking at its history, central principles, and practices.

Reading and the Reader defends the value of reading serious literature, investigating the role of the reader in the human search for meaning outside as well as inside of books.

Placing reading in its social context, this book discusses what it means to be a reader in the modern world. It contains ideas on how to approach reading in the language classroom, and presents many text-related activities. It also invites teachers to explore the attitudes of their learners as readers, and to design reading activities for them.

'What is real?' has been one of the key questions of philosophy since its beginning in antiquity. But it is not just a question that philosophers ask. This Very Short Introduction discusses what reality is by looking at a variety of arguments, theories, and thought-experiments from philosophy, physics, and cognitive science.

A gripping new account of the reign of the early Stuarts over Scotland, Ireland, and England - and why ultimately all three kingdoms were to rise in rebellion against Stuart rule.

Kalidasa's play about the love of King Dusyanta and Sakuntala, their separation by a curse and eventual reunion, is the supreme work of Sanskrit drama its greatest poet and playwright. This new verse translation includes the famous version of the story from the Mahabharata and an introduction to classical Indian aesthetics and drama.