[Dale King]

In 1991, Mariah Carey was sitting on top of the music world with her smash sophomore album, "Emotions."

New technologies had taken the world by storm. However, computer manuals were bulky, boring and difficult to understand. The "For Dummies" series of how-to books was started by John Kilcullen for book publisher IDG Books with the book DOS for Dummies in November 1991, written by Dan Gookin about the computer operating system DOS.

According to legend, a frustrated customer in a computer store, who knew nothing about computers, was looking for a simple, basic book about the difficult DOS operating system. "Something," he suggested, "like DOS for dummies." Thus, the For Dummies phenomenon began.

From the start, For Dummies was a simple yet powerful concept: Relate to the anxiety and frustration that people feel about technology by poking fun at it with books that are insightful and educational and make difficult material interesting and easy. Add a strong dose of personality, a dash of comic relief with entertaining cartoons, and — voilá — you have a For Dummies book.

In November 1991, DOS For Dummies by Dan Gookin initially met with skepticism — most bookstore chains didn't want to carry the book at all, claiming that the title insulted their customers and readers in general. But the publishers responded to the critics by calling the title a "term of endearment" that readers would immediately relate to and identify with. After convincing the bookstores to give the book a chance, it's obvious that consumers agreed.

And the rest as they say is history! In 1993, just two years after the launch of the series, the series branched out from just being about computers when Eric Tyson signed on to write Personal Finance for Dummies. With the immense success of that book the company expanded their series into what it is today with such diverse subjects as World History for Dummies, Rabbits for Dummies, Home Buying for Dummies, Spirituality for Dummies, and Sex for Dummies. The "For Dummies" brand has been licensed for a wide variety of instructional non-book products, including instructional videos, sewing patterns, a board game for Chess for Dummies, and even a slot machine, Winning for Dummies.

For Dummies now covers virtually all topics, including Dating For Dummies, Shakespeare For Dummies, National Parks of the American West For Dummies, and even Choosing a Dog For Dummies. For Dummies tackles any topic that's complex, confusing, intimidating, or conjures up any feelings of anxiety. In addition, For Dummies books are now translated into 39 languages and are distributed in more than 40 countries.

For Dummies products have shown millions how to make the most of their PCs, get on the Internet, and explore the world of Windows. Now — with more than 125 million books in print — For Dummies products show you how to do everything — cook, garden, manage finances, run a business, plan a trip, exercise, even eat right.

Source: (Wikipedia/Dummies.com)