--- product_id: 1919703 title: "An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn't" price: "£29.26" currency: GBP in_stock: false reviews_count: 11 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/1919703-an-incomplete-education-3-684-things-you-should-have-learned store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn't **Price:** £29.26 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn't - **How much does it cost?** £29.26 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/1919703-an-incomplete-education-3-684-things-you-should-have-learned) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description A completely updated, revised edition of the classic, outfitted with a whole new arsenal of indispensable knowledge on global affairs, popular culture, economic trends, scientific principles, and modern arts. Here’s your chance to brush up on all those subjects you slept through in school, reacquaint yourself with all the facts you once knew (then promptly forgot), catch up on major developments in the world today, and become the Renaissance man or woman you always knew you could be! How do you tell the Balkans from the Caucasus? What’s the difference between fission and fusion? Whigs and Tories? Shiites and Sunnis? Deduction and induction? Why aren’t all Shakespearean comedies necessarily thigh-slappers? What are transcendental numbers and what are they good for? What really happened in Plato’s cave? Is postmodernism dead or just having a bad hair day? And for extra credit, when should you use the adjective continual and when should you use continuous? An Incomplete Education answers these and thousands of other questions with incomparable wit, style, and clarity. American Studies, Art History, Economics, Film, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Science, and World History: Here’s the bottom line on each of these major disciplines, distilled to its essence and served up with consummate flair. In this revised edition you’ll find a vitally expanded treatment of international issues, reflecting the seismic geopolitical upheavals of the past decade, from economic free-fall in South America to Central Africa’s world war, and from violent radicalization in the Muslim world to the crucial trade agreements that are defining globalization for the twenty-first century. And don’t forget to read the section "A Nervous American’s Guide to Living and Loving on Five Continents" before you answer a personal ad in the International Herald Tribune. As delightful as it is illuminating, An Incomplete Education packs ten thousand years of culture into a single superbly readable volume. This is a book to celebrate, to share, to give and receive, to pore over and browse through, and to return to again and again. Review: Thousands of facts, familiar but forgotten - There is no story here, just short reminders of interesting things long forgotten. None are very useful for dealing with daily life in and of themselves. But collectively, the define our culture and character. I enjoyed making my way through these almost random facts and remembering when they were first introduced to me and by whom. It is also interesting to take note of my initial reaction and my current concepts after almost 80 years of living with them forgotten in the basement of my life. I suppose the surprise was that education and facts provide only the bare skeleton for living. The flesh of life comes from our interaction with friends, family and nature. Review: Relevant Irreverence - A book of snippets about some important and some not so important things could be a jumbled mess more reflecting the authors and their tastes rather than a pocket full of miracles which is what this book is. I had my shoulder in a sling following a total replacement and needed something to read that didn't require me to remember plot elements, wasn't spiritually uplifting but yet rose above best seller list trash, memoirs of the unimportant and books aimed at self improvement; Given surgical help, I'd been as improved as, for that time, as I wished to be. Of the thousands of articles, many with illustrations, there's not one that could not be said to have value at some point in some way. Sure, you may never wander into a dinner party where the topic is the Dialogues of Plato but, should that happen, you'll be at least a leg up and not think that Plato is a Greek restaurant or a brand of yoghurt. Even subjects that have some depth are treated with a lighter touch, not dismissive or as parody, but they keep you reading just to see where it's going. Which is another great point; Nothing in here is to long that, looking at it, you're immediately persuaded that, even if it were started, it would never be finished. Think of it as the book to take to the beach when you want more than romance and triviality. It doesn't demand to be read but suggets it's a good idea. perfect gift for a teenager who thinks they know everything; this will persuade them otherwise. But, I think, its greatest gift to the reader is to inspire curiosity, to go on to find out what happened after the article ended. I have it by my bed and still, just before I turn out my light, open it randomly and always find something I didn't know but am glad to learn. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #131,099 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #18 in Research Reference Books #288 in Trivia (Books) #1,077 in Encyclopedias & Subject Guides | | Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 503 Reviews | ## Images ![An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn't - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91X8u1t4B-L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good *by J***K on December 15, 2024* Educational and entertaining book. Enjoyable for students. Good for young adults and adults. Highly recommended. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Relevant Irreverence *by L***P on August 1, 2013* A book of snippets about some important and some not so important things could be a jumbled mess more reflecting the authors and their tastes rather than a pocket full of miracles which is what this book is. I had my shoulder in a sling following a total replacement and needed something to read that didn't require me to remember plot elements, wasn't spiritually uplifting but yet rose above best seller list trash, memoirs of the unimportant and books aimed at self improvement; Given surgical help, I'd been as improved as, for that time, as I wished to be. Of the thousands of articles, many with illustrations, there's not one that could not be said to have value at some point in some way. Sure, you may never wander into a dinner party where the topic is the Dialogues of Plato but, should that happen, you'll be at least a leg up and not think that Plato is a Greek restaurant or a brand of yoghurt. Even subjects that have some depth are treated with a lighter touch, not dismissive or as parody, but they keep you reading just to see where it's going. Which is another great point; Nothing in here is to long that, looking at it, you're immediately persuaded that, even if it were started, it would never be finished. Think of it as the book to take to the beach when you want more than romance and triviality. It doesn't demand to be read but suggets it's a good idea. perfect gift for a teenager who thinks they know everything; this will persuade them otherwise. But, I think, its greatest gift to the reader is to inspire curiosity, to go on to find out what happened after the article ended. I have it by my bed and still, just before I turn out my light, open it randomly and always find something I didn't know but am glad to learn. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Armchair Education *by N***S on November 9, 2006* Have you longed to be able to pick up a reference book for an instant, uncomplicated answer to that vexing question Do you shrink from discussing such topics as why all of Shakespeare's comedies are not "thigh slappers"? Or maybe you caught yourself referring to Evelyn Waugh as "she". An Incomplete Education is just the sort of book that provides a framework in twelve areas of knowledge including the Arts, Philosophy, Political Science, World History, Music and much more. The original edition was published in 1987; the third updated and expanded edition came out in 2006. It's a book of knowledge that is also very well paced and entertaining. For example, in the literature section, they identify "twelve fictional characters with whom you should have at least a nodding acquaintance"; in political science: "What you need to know before answering a personals ad in the International Herald Tribune". According to authors Judy Jones and William Wilson, "In a world of bits and bytes, of reruns and fast forwards, of information overloads , . . it feels good to be grounded." Clearly, this is not a COMPLETE Education. To wit: the title. After all, how would anyone define what might be a COMPLETE education. Rather, the book is a useful volume which helped me to organize my thinking. It is a companion that sits on my bookshelf "at the ready" when questions arise, (what do I really understand about the difference between Shiites and Sunnis) or when a Lexicon is needed to settle the question of whether continual or continuous is the appropriate word. It is a great addition to anyone's library, or a gift for someone who asks a lot of questions. I found myself savoring--and chuckling over-- each section. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/1919703-an-incomplete-education-3-684-things-you-should-have-learned](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/1919703-an-incomplete-education-3-684-things-you-should-have-learned) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-06-03*