IDG Books Worldwide
IDG Books Worldwide was the US publisher that launched the For Dummies series with DOS For Dummies in 1991, renamed itself Hungry Minds in 2000 and was bought by Wiley in 2001.
- Editions tracked
- 25
- First editions
- 23
- Books
- 24
- Years
- 1991 to 2000
About IDG Books Worldwide
IDG Books Worldwide was the American computer-book publisher that launched the For Dummies series in 1991 and published it until 2000.
The series began when John Kilcullen, co-founder and publisher of IDG Books Worldwide, signed Dan Gookin to write DOS For Dummies. It appeared in November 1991 with a first printing of only 7,500 copies. (An earlier, unrelated Plumbing for Dummies had been issued by Bobbs-Merrill in 1983, but the continuing series starts with Gookin's book.)
Its best-selling English-language title was Windows 95 for Dummies, at around three million copies.
In 2000 the company renamed itself Hungry Minds, and in 2001 it was bought by John Wiley & Sons, which still publishes the For Dummies line. Books with the IDG Books Worldwide imprint therefore date from roughly 1991 to 2000; later printings and new titles carry the Hungry Minds or Wiley name.
We have not yet written the guide to IDG Books Worldwide's first-edition conventions. Until we do, check each book's own page: we list its points where we know them. Know how IDG Books Worldwide marked its firsts? Tell us.
Published by IDG Books Worldwide
Frequently asked questions
How many IDG Books Worldwide books does MyVolumes track?
We track 25 editions published by IDG Books Worldwide, 23 of them first editions, across 24 books.
Where these facts come from
- For Dummies, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Wiley (publisher), Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Dan Gookin, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 19 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.