From Dorling Kindersley Press
Eyewitness Companions Line
"Photography" by Tom Ang
http://us.dk.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780756613259,00.html?strSrchSql=%22Tom+Ang%22/Photography_Tom_Ang
If I could use only one book to teach modern photography this might be the one.
It opens with a "gallery" of photographer from the early days to present.
Not every single one of course, but most of the most famous; and many that are less known, but played important role in the history of photography.
the second chapter is "The Story Of Photography" a concise history of the development
of photography over the last 150 years
follwed by chapters for photographic tools and working with digital images.
then finishing with chapters on "the basics" and improving technique;
and finally how to move up into the realm of getting money for what you know how to do.
the book is short, just over 300 pages including the index and a compact size at 5.5 x 8.5 inches.
I might not arrange it the way they did; but this book covers much of what I would try to cover in an "Introduction to Photography" class.
...mischance nothing, thus idle woe.
all beer has food value...
all food does not have beer value.