Editing For Dummies

{{short description|Series of instructional/reference books}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox book series
| name             = ''For Dummies''
| title_orig       = 
| image            = For Dummies logo.svg
| image_caption    = 
| author           = Various
| illustrator      = [[The 5th Wave (comic strip)|Rich Tennant]] (UK editions use ''[[Ed McLachlan]]'')
| cover_artist     = 
| translator       = 
| country          = United States
| language         = English
| genre            = Instructional/reference
| publisher        = [[International Data Group|IDG Books]]/[[International Data Group|Hungry Minds]]. Later [[Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]].
| pub_date         = October 1, 1991 (''DOS For Dummies'') 
| english_pub_date = 
| media_type       = 
| preceded by      = 
| followed by      = 
| website          = {{URL|dummies.com}}
}}

'''''For Dummies''''' is an extensive series of instructional [[Reference work|reference books]] that strive to present non-intimidating guides for readers new to the various topics covered. The series has been a worldwide success, with editions in numerous languages.

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 the "Dummies Man", and an informal, blackboard-style logo. Prose is simple and direct. Bold icons—such as a piece of string tied around an index finger—indicate particularly important passages.

== History ==
The first "...for Dummies" titled book was ''Plumbing for Dummies'' by Don Fredriksson, published by the [[Bobbs-Merrill Company]] in 1983. The first book in the on-going series was ''DOS For Dummies'',{{r|Success-Story.id-323929}}, written by [[Dan Gookin]] and published by [[International_Data_Group#Publisher_history|IDG Books]] in November 1991. ''DOS For Dummies'' became popular due to the rarity of beginner-friendly materials for learning to use the [[DOS]] operating system. The publisher soon released a [[Microsoft Windows]] title written by [[Andy Rathbone]]. Initially, the series focused solely on software and technology, but later branched out to more general-interest titles—with topics as diverse as ''[[Acne]] For Dummies'', ''[[Chess]] For Dummies'', ''[[Fishing]] For Dummies'' and many other topics. The series is now published by [[John Wiley & Sons, Inc.]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/32777761/john_wiley_takes_over_blackwell/|title=John Wiley takes over Blackwell Publishing|last=Fletcher|first=Carol|date=8 February 2007|work=The Record|publisher=New Jersey Media Group|issue=249|location=Hackensack, New Jersey|volume=112|page=B3|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> which acquired Hungry Minds (the new name for IDG Books as of 2000) in early 2001.{{r|pressReleaseId-48771}}

[[File:Dummies (2973280850).jpg|thumb|Various books in the series]]
Notable ''For Dummies'' books include:
* ''DOS For Dummies'', the first, published in 1991, whose first printing was just 7,500 copies{{r|eyepopping}}{{r|Group Grant 1999 p.222}}
* ''[[Windows]] for Dummies'', asserted to be the best-selling computer book of all time, with more than 15 million sold{{r|eyepopping}}
* ''L'Histoire de France Pour Les Nuls'', the top-selling non-English ''For Dummies'' title, with more than 400,000 sold{{r|eyepopping}}

== Parts ==
Almost all ''Dummies'' books are organized around sections called "parts", which are groups of related chapters. Parts are almost always preceded by a [[The 5th Wave (comic strip)|Rich Tennant]] comic that refers to some part of the subject under discussion, though the comics were discontinued in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Ruth |date=April 4, 2016 |title=Don't Feel Like a Dummy for Loving the Dummies Guides |url=https://slate.com/culture/2016/04/the-history-and-delights-of-the-for-dummies-how-to-books.html |website=Slate Magazine}}</ref> Sometimes the same Tennant drawing reappears in another ''Dummies'' book with a new caption.

Another constant in the ''Dummies'' series is ''The Part of Tens'', a section at the end of the books where lists of 10 items are included. They are usually resources for further study, and sometimes also include amusing bits of information that do not fit readily elsewhere.

== Expansions and alternative versions ==
Several related series have been published, including ''Dummies 101'', with step-by-step tutorials in a large-format book (now discontinued); ''More&nbsp;... for Dummies'', which are essentially sequels to the first ''...&nbsp;For Dummies'' book on the subject; and ''For Dummies Quick Reference'', which is a condensed alphabetical reference to the subject. A larger ''All-in-One Desk Reference'' format offers more comprehensive coverage of the subject, normally running about 750 pages.  Also, some books in the series are smaller and do not follow the same formatting style as the others.

Wiley has also launched an interactive online course with Learnstreet based on its popular book, ''Java for Dummies'', 5th edition.{{r|learnstreet}}

A spin-off board game, ''[[Crossword]]s for Dummies'', was produced in the late 1990s.{{r|Parker}}  The game is similar to ''[[Scrabble]]'', but instead of letter tiles, players draw short strips of cardboard containing pre-built English words.  The words vary in length from three to seven letters, with more points acquired for playing longer words. Another board game, ''SAT Game For Dummies'', is used in [[SAT]] preparation. A ''[[Chess]] for Dummies'' was made, a black-and-yellow chessboard with a picture of a piece, along with a summary of how the piece moves, printed its starting positions, although there is a book with the same name.

In 2004, French publisher [[Anuman Interactive]] obtained the digital exploitation rights and launched many applications based on the ''For Dummies'' collection, such as ''Home Design 3D For Dummies'' and ''History For Dummies''.{{r|lesechos}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Books}}
* ''[[Complete Idiot's Guides]]''&nbsp;– a similar series of how-to books from [[Alpha Books]]
* [[FabJob]]&nbsp;– a similar series of how-to-books for starting a business or dream career
* ''[[:fr:Pour_les_nuls|Pour les nuls]]'', the French edition
* [[Teach Yourself]]&nbsp;– another similar series published by [[Headline Publishing Group|Hodder Headline]]
* ''[[Very Short Introductions]]'', a series of introductory books on scholarly subjects published by the [[Oxford University Press]]
* [[Introducing... (book series)|''Introducing...'' (book series)]]

== References ==
{{reflist|1=2|refs=
<!-- unused 
<ref name="All-Titles">{{cite web
  | title = All Titles – For Dummies, page 100
  | url   = http://www.dummies.com/store/All-Titles.html?sort=TITLE&sortDirection=ASC&page=100
}}</ref>
-->

<!-- unused
<ref name="dummies.com 2016">{{cite web
  | title        = Write Dummies Books - For Dummies
  | website      = dummies.com
  | date         = January 10, 2016
  | url          = http://www.dummies.com/about-for-dummies/write-dummies-books.html
  | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160110184437/http://www.dummies.com/about-for-dummies/write-dummies-books.html
  | archive-date = January 10, 2016
  | url-status     = dead
  | access-date  = February 3, 2018
}}</ref>
-->

<ref name="eyepopping">{{cite web
  | url       = http://www.dummies.com/Section/Ten-or-So-Eye-Popping-Statistics.id-420239.html
  | title       = Ten (or So) Eye-Popping Statistics
  | publisher       = For Dummies
  | access-date       = November 26, 2014
  | archive-url       = https://web.archive.org/web/20160228004732/http://www.dummies.com/Section/Ten-or-So-Eye-Popping-Statistics.id-420239.html
  | archive-date       = February 28, 2016
  | url-status       = dead
  }}</ref>
<ref name="Group Grant 1999 p.222">{{cite book
  | last1       = Pederson
  | first1      = Jay P. 
  | last2       = Derdak
  | first2      = Thomas
  | last3       = Grant
  | first3      = Tina
  | title       = International Directory of Company Histories
  | publisher   = St. James Press
  | series      = Gale virtual reference library
  | issue       = v. 27
  | year        = 1999
  | isbn        = 978-1-55862-386-6
  | url         = https://books.google.com/books?id=WgG7AAAAIAAJ
  | access-date = February 3, 2018
  | page        = 222
  | quote       = Not knowing anything about computers, the customer suggested, 'Something like DOS for dummies.' The remark stuck with Kilcullen. In 1991 he was attending a publishing conference as the co-founder and publisher of IDG Books Worldwide. One of the speakers at the conference was author Dan Gookin. Impressed with Gookin's take on the publishing industry, Kilcullen signed him up to author ''DOS for Dummies''. The first print run of ''DOS for Dummies'' was 7,500 copies. The book ...
}}</ref>
<ref name="learnstreet">{{cite web
  | url        = https://www.learnstreet.com/lessons/java/
  | title        = Online Java for Dummies
  | access-date        = March 28, 2017
  | archive-url        = https://web.archive.org/web/20140324094245/https://www.learnstreet.com/lessons/java/
  | archive-date        = March 24, 2014
  | url-status        = dead
  }}</ref>
<ref name="lesechos">{{cite web
  | url        = https://www.lesechos.fr/05/01/2004/LesEchos/19065-118-ECH_logiciels---anuman-interactive-s-attaque-au-marche-americain.htm
  | title      = Logiciels: Anuman Interactive s'attaque au marché américain
  | date       = January 5, 2004
  | access-date = March 28, 2017
}}</ref>
<ref name="Parker">{{cite news
  | last      = Parker
  | first     = E. Timothy
  | title     = Tips for Solving Crossword Puzzles
  | url       = http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/tips-for-solving-crossword-puzzles.html
  | newspaper = dummies.com
}}</ref>
<ref name="pressReleaseId-48771">[http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/PressRelease/pressReleaseId-48771.html John Wiley & Sons, Inc. to Complete Acquisition of Hungry Minds, Inc.] Wiley, September 21, 2001</ref>
<ref name="Success-Story.id-323929">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dummies.com/Section/The-For-Dummies-Success-Story.id-323929.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629022504/http://www.dummies.com/Section/The-For-Dummies-Success-Story.id-323929.html|url-status=dead|title=The For Dummies Success Story|archivedate=June 29, 2011}}</ref>
<!-- unused 
<ref name="Wiley Dummies">{{cite web
  | title      = Wiley: For Dummies
  | url        = http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Brand/id-9.html
  | publisher  = [[John Wiley & Sons]]
  | access-date = August 29, 2014
}}</ref>
-->
}}

== External links ==
{{Commonscat}}
* {{Official website|http://www.dummies.com/}}
* [http://www.dummies.com/store/All-Titles.html Titles and Description of all ''For Dummies'' titles] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925062752/https://www.dummies.com/store/All-Titles.html |date=September 25, 2019 }})

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2001 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Book series introduced in 1991]]
[[Category:Handbooks and manuals]]
[[Category:Book series]]
[[Category:Study guides]]
[[Category:Textbooks]]