OUP’s Very Short Introductions hit 600

Oxford University Press will publish Reading, the 600th title in its Very Short Introductions (VSI) series, next month. 

Launched in 1995 to fill a perceived gap for a general introduction series for intelligent readers, the VSI series features pocket-sized books in “almost every subject area”, according to the OUP. 

In Reading: A Very Short Introduction, Fellow and Tutor at Christ Church, University of Oxford, Belinda Jack “explores the fascinating history of literacy, and the opportunities reading opens” and investigates “why it is such an important aspect of our society.” 

Commissioning editor Andrea Keegan said when deciding the title of the 600th VSI the topic of reading was an obvious choice. 

Keegan said: “Reading is vastly important in this increasingly digitised world. It can expand imagination, reduce stress, improve memory, help with communication and increase knowledge – and if the VSI series can make even a small contribution to this, then I think it is a worthwhile endeavour.

“I cannot quite believe that back in 2009 we were deciding which VSI should be the 200th (in the end it was on Free Speech), and ten years later here we are, publishing the 600th book in this incredible series. There are many things I love about working on the VSIs, but the variety of topics and the number of talented, passionate authors I get to work with are the main reasons that I have been the series’ editor for 15 years.”
 
Reading: A Very Short Introduction will be published on 18th April in paperback, priced at £8.99.