...For Dummies
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...For Dummies is a prolific, commercially available series of instructional books which may present non-intimidating guides for readers new to the various topics covered. Despite the title, their publisher takes pains to emphasize that the books are not literally for dummies. Some (potential) readers report feeling patronised, but the books are apparently commercially successful nevertheless. The subtitle for every book is "A Reference for the Rest of Us!"
The books are an example of a media franchise, consistently sporting a distinctive cover -- usually yellow and black with a triangular-headed cartoon figure known as "Dummies Man", and an informal, hand-writing style logo. Prose is simple and direct; bold icons such as a piece of string tied around an index finger, indicate particularly important passages.
The "For Dummies" series of how-to books was started by John Kilcullen for book publisher IDG Books with the book DOS for Dummies in November 1991, written by Dan Gookin about the computer operating system DOS. The story goes that a customer back in 1987 wanted a book that was simple and easy to use, as he considered computer books at the time dull and dreary reading.[link] Next came PCs For Dummies, by Gookin and Andy Rathbone, propelling the series' popularity, along with The Internet For Dummies, by John Levine, Carol Baroudi, and Margaret Levine Young.
With the immense success of that book the company expanded their series into what it is today with such diverse subjects as World History for Dummies, Rabbits for Dummies, Parenting for Dummies, Spirituality for Dummies, and Sex for Dummies. The "For Dummies" brand has been licensed for a wide variety of instructional non-book products[link], including instructional videos, sewing patterns, and even a slot machine, "Winning for Dummies"[link].
Several related series have published, including Dummies 101, with step-by-step tutorials in a large-format book (now discontinued); More ... For Dummies, which are essentially sequels to the first ...For Dummies book on the subject; For Dummies Quick Reference, which is a condensed alphabetical reference to the subject.
The ...for Dummies series has been a world-wide success with editions in English, French (pour Les Nuls), Spanish (para Dummies), Bulgarian (for Dummies), Chinese, Dutch (voor Dummies), Estonian, German (für Dummies), Lithuanian (žaliems), Greek (για Πρωταρηδες), Polish (dla opornych), Portuguese (para leigos), Russian (для "чайников" - dlya "chainikov", see also chainik), Serbian (za Neupućene) and Romanian (pentru tonţi, which is a clever translation: toţi means all, whereas tonţi means dummies).
The ...For Dummies book series is now published by John Wiley & Sons Publishing, which acquired Hungry Minds (the new name for IDG Books as of the year 2000) in 2001.
FOR DUMMIES® is a registered trademark of Wiley Publishing, Inc., a subsidiary of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
See also
- List of ...For Dummies books
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to..., a similar series of how-to books.
External links
- [Publisher's website for the series (includes categorized lists of all titles)]
- [Read Chapter 1, the TOC, and reviews of Spirituality For Dummies]
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