Oxford University Press has published hundreds of 'very short introductions' to a very wide range of topics, ranging from great thinkers, intellectual movements, academic topics to popular culture. These are written by leaders in each field and provide accessible and quality background for writers.

The Kirkreview has no commercial association with OUP, other than buying many of their titles. Reviews will be posted in reverse order of publication date. Some of the VSI topics, while subject to revisionist thinking, do not date. For example, the first book on the classics was first published as a VSI in 2000 and remains a sound introduction. Books on other topics, Islam, archaeology, the European Union, terrorism, globalisation and global warming, have had new editions published and it is the latest edition which will be reviewed.