background information on something or someone; basic facts in order to get a take (probably from “glossary”, the part of a book which lists sources of information)
A new book* by a pair of academics from America's Johns Hopkins University finds lots of facts to cheer Europeans up.
美国约翰霍普金大学的两位学者出版了一本新书，列举了许多事实来让振奋欧洲人。
3
In their book, "Secrets of the Lost Symbol: the Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind the Da Vinci code Sequel," they uncover anagrams and coded phrases and a host of other curious facts.