Cover of HTML 4 for Dummies.

...For Dummies is a prolific, commercially available series of instructional books which are intended to 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. The subtitle for every book is "A Reference for the Rest of Us!" Image File history File links Cover of HTML 4 for Dummies. ... Image File history File links Cover of HTML 4 for Dummies. ... Idiot is a word derived from the Greek , idiōtēs (person lacking professional skill, a private citizen, individual), from , idios (private, ones own).[1] In Latin the word idiota (ordinary person, layman) preceded the Late Latin meaning uneducated or ignorant person. ...

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. A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting, and trademarks of an original work of media (usually a work of fiction), such as a film, a work of literature, a television program, or a video game. ...

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.[1] 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. IDG (International Data Group) is a publisher of magazines which focus on information technology. ... Dan Gookin is the author of the first . ... A BlueGene supercomputer cabinet. ... An operating system (OS) is a computer program that manages the hardware and software resources of a computer. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Andy Rathbone is the author of the Windows for Dummies as well as numerous other computer books. ... John R. Levine is an Internet consultant specializing in email infrastructure, spam filtering, and software patents. ...

In 1993, just two years after the launch of the series, the series branched out from just being about computers when Eric Tyson signed on to write Personal Finance for Dummies. 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, Home Buying 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[2], including instructional videos, sewing patterns, and a board game for Chess for Dummies. World History is a field of historical study that emerged as a distinct academic field in the 1980s. ... Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. ... Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Chess is an abstract strategy board game for two players that is played both recreationally and competitively. ...

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, German (für Dummies), French (pour Les Nuls), Spanish (para Dummies), Bulgarian (for Dummies), Chinese, Dutch (voor Dummies), Estonian (Võhikutele), Lithuanian (žaliems), Greek (για Πρωταρηδες), Polish (dla opornych), Portuguese (para totós), Portuguese (Brazil) (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). Portuguese ( , also língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is today Galicia (Spain) and northern Portugal. ... Chainik (Russian: чайник, teakettle). Almost synonymous with muggle. ... Serbian (српски језик; srpski jezik) is one of the standard versions of the Shtokavian dialect, used primarily in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, and by Serbs everywhere. ...

The ...For Dummies book series is now published by John Wiley & Sons Publishing, which acquired Hungry Minds (the new name for IDG Books circa 2000) in 2001. The Wiley Building in Hoboken, New Jersey, located on the waterfront between River Street and Frank Sinatra Drive. ... IDG (International Data Group) is a publisher of magazines which focus on information technology. ... IDG (International Data Group) is a publisher of magazines which focus on information technology. ...

See also

• The Complete Idiot's Guide to..., a similar series of how-to books.

The Complete Idiots Guide to. ...

External links

• Publisher's website for the series (includes categorized lists of all titles)
• Online store for the ...For Dummies series

Trivia

IDG's book was not the first How To book to use For Dummies in the title. Auto Repair for Dummies was published in 1976 by McGraw Hill, and written by Deanna Sclar.

Image File history File links Sclar. ...

Tighelander 18:42, 24 February 2007 (UTC)