"Big Ideas Simply Explained" series by DK

This is a wonderful series used apparently at UCT by way of introduction to such topics as: Philosophy, Psychology, Politics and Economics.   They are quite expensive at R 270 each, but, hopefully, this is money well spent.  Dorling Kindersley is well-known for its visually appealing, informative publications.  The guides have clear graphics and are filled with diagrams, photos, thought-provoking quotations (such as those below), and text that is very accessible. You start looking something up and want to keep reading and learning about concepts that might otherwise have seemed difficult to follow.

"The purpose of studying economics is...to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists".  Joan Robinson UK economist (1903-83)

"Wonder is very much the affection of a philosopher; for there is no other beginning of philosophy than this". Plato

"The philosophers have only interpreted the world... the point is to change it". Karl Marx

"The purpose of psychology is to give us a completely different idea of the things we know best" Paul Valery