Easy to Read Series

By Gabriella Salas -- Críticas, 8/1/2005

U.S. booksellers and librarians have often complained about the lack of easy, yet educational and well-written nonfiction for their Spanish-reading patrons. When books are not full of technical jargon, they lack an index, or their design leaves much to be desired. But as more medium-size international publishers sign distribution deals in the States, a few collections of simple, informational books have become available.

Longseller, a medium-size Argentine house, and Paidós, a renowned social sciences publisher from Spain, each offer translations of Icon/Totem Books’s popular Introducing series. Longseller calls the series Para Principiantes (For Beginners) and Paidós dubs it Para Todos (For Everyone). The small, non-intimidating guides blend cartoon animations with simple text to attract lay readers. Some recent releases include Filosofía griega (Greek Philosophy), Islam, Psicología (Psychology), and Cervantes, a title commemorating the 400th anniversary of Don Quixote. Both the Paidós and Longseller editions are sturdy and moderately priced.

If you are looking for simple series on current affairs, Larousse’s Biblioteca Actual (Up-To-Date Library) is a sound choice. Ranging in subject matter from world politics to religion to food, the pocket-size guides in this series are filled with full-color photographs, key concept definitions, and a helpful index. In 128 pages, the books offer enough in-depth analysis of today’s most pressing debates, making them excellent choices for high school students or for adults seeking a rapid understanding of a given topic. Somewhat more expensive than other series, Biblioteca Actual includes Agentes de la economía mundial: ¿Quiénes mueven el mundo? (World Economic Agents: Who Moves the World) and Religiones en el mundo: ¿En qué creemos? (World Religions: What Do We Believe In?).

Spain’s Nowtilus offers an excellent series called Breve Historia (Brief History) on the history of ancient civilizations and memorable events. Breve historia del antiguo Egipto (Brief Story of Ancient Egypt) and Breve historia de las Cruzadas (Brief History of the Crusades) are two of the seven titles now available. The glossy paperbacks feature simple, yet rigorous prose, large print, several b&w photographs, and a detailed index.

The publishing market is saturated with self-help guides, but few are as original and well designed as those in Nowtilus’s 52 Ideas Brillantes (52 Brilliant Ideas) series. Originally published in England, these guides offer 52 practical ideas (one per week) each, aimed at improving health, relationships, career and finances, or lifestyle. Titles include Salud total: Alcanza el bienestar completo de cuerpo y mente (Whole Health: Inspirational Ideas for Mind and Body Well-Being) and Pilates total: Fuerza y equilibrio para la vida diaria (Power-Up Pilates: Power and Poise for Daily Life). Photographs and diagrams complement the easy-to-read instructions, Q&As, and tips.

Covering all kinds of subject matters in easy-to-read, non-technical prose, these series are recommended for all public libraries and bookstores seeking self-help and self-instructional materials.

Highlighted titles in order of mention:

• Filosofía griega para principiantes (Greek Philosophy for Beginners), Longseller, 2005, ISBN 987-555-023-X, $9.45.
• Islam para todos (Islam for Everyone), Paidós, 2005, ISBN 84-493-1681-2, $13.95.
• Psicología para todos (Psychology for Everyone), Paidós, 2005, ISBN 84-493-1672-3, $13.95.
• Cervantes para principiantes (Cervantes for Beginners), Longseller, 2005, ISBN 987-555-025-6, $18.90.
• Agentes de la economía mundial: ¿Quiénes mueven el mundo? (World Economic Agents: Who Moves the World?), Larousse: Anaya, 2005, ISBN 84-8332-534-9, $16.95.
• Religiones en el mundo: ¿En qué creemos? (World Religions: What Do We Believe In?), Larousse: Anaya, 2005, ISBN 84-8332-535-7, $16.95.
• Breve historia del antiguo Egipto (Brief History of Ancient Egypt), Nowtilus, 2005, ISBN 84-9763-213-3, $11.95.
• Breve historia de las Cruzadas (Brief History of the Crusades), Nowtilus, 2005, ISBN 84-9763-215-X, $6.95.
• Salud total: Alcanza el bienestar completo de cuerpo y mente (Whole Health: Inspirational Ideas for Mind and Body Well-Being), Nowtilus, 2005, ISBN 84-9763-164-1, $19.95.
• Pilates total: Fuerza y equilibrio para la vida diaria (Power-Up Pilates: Power and Poise for Daily Life), Nowtilus, 2005, ISBN 84-9763-168-4, $19.95.