A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window is the debut studio album proper by the English rock band Cardiacs. Released on 21 March 1988, its single "Is This the Life?" saw brief chart success due to exposure on mainstream radio, and garnered the attention of a wider audience when it entered the Independent Top 10 in the UK, peaking at number 80. Its reputation was very mixed due to its progressive nature, complex sound, and for being artistically abstract with its lyrics and themes. Some have described its release as a defining moment in 1980s underground culture considering the group's large influence, while the single's airplay achieved a much wider audience for the band.