Over the years, Gonick has published several incredibly entertaining, humorous and beautifully illustrated books-- on several rather serious, important and weighty subjects. His most famous work, the multi volume ‘Cartoon History of the Universe’ is perhaps one of the best examples of the power and reach of comics and cartoons. A study in contrasts, Gonick's Cartoon Guides are a revelation. To think that before they came along, we thought, mistakenly of course, that cartoons couldn't sit right with calculus, statistics would never make you rock with silent laughter, and Genetics would never be good for a giggle.
Published in India by Harper Collins, the thick, black and white volumes, their pages covered with cartoons in Gonick's trademark style, are every bit educational as they are entertaining. Somehow, Gonick has managed to take complicated formula, theories and concepts, only to explain them not just in a simple, but also an extremely engaging manner. What emerges, after Gonick is through with each subject, is in no way a “For Dummies” book with oversimplifications. Instead, Gonick delves deep into each subject, be it Environment, Physics, Chemistry, Genetics or Sex. Of course, while these books in no way promise a college level understanding, they do go a very long way in clarifying conceptual overviews of each subject and can serve wonderfully as supplements to school and college course books. On the other hand, they also make for perfectly good non-academic reading material, and when it comes to dealing with a subject like sex, Gonick manages to steer clear of the numerous loaded associations that come with the topic, staying frank, honest and matter of fact. Conveying the importance of issues such as birth control and sexually transmitted diseases, Gonick’s illustrations are neither obscene not overly scientific.
Anyone who wishes to understand the world a little more, and grasp the theories and ideas behind things a little better, can turn to Gonick's guides. While certain topics, like Genetics and Environment, are out of date due to sheer passage of time and scientific progress, Gonick still manages to keep the guides relevant, by including examination and explanation of the concepts that form the base of each subject's study.
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It's interesting to note that Gonick's books are 'cartoon' guides, the word harking back to the old, conventional understanding of comics. His drawings too, bring to mind the old, fuss-free style of art work, each stroke speaking of the light-heartedness and easy humour.
Of course, it helps that the books do not contain long winded, heavy chunks of texts, relying instead on short explanations combined with attractive illustrations. Gonick throws in an equal measure of history and humour, transforming subjects that are usually seen as tedious, time consuming and serious, into entertaining and engaging reads.