The Handy Psychology Answer Book

March 1, 2011

As part of the "Handy Answer Book" series, this title intends to provide a rigorous scientific look at psychology that is practical, accessible, and engaging to general readers. Editor Cohen (clinical psychiatry, Beth Israel Medical Ctr./Albert Einstein Coll. of Medicine) is a prolific author in the field. After an introduction, the book continues with background information on basic terms and topics in the field. The next chapter presents major movements in psychology; subsequent coverage is devoted to the brain and behavior, psychology across the lifespan, the psychology of everyday life, group dynamics, abnormal psychology, the psychology of trauma, and forensic psychology. The book concludes with a glossary, bibliography, and index. As with all books in the series, chapters are made up of paragraphs answering over 1000 general questions about basic concepts, terms, people, and events in an easy-to-understand and entertaining manner. Questions range from "Who was Abraham Maslow?" to "Why do battered women stay?" The book aims to bridge the gap between academic and popular psychology and does a good job overall, although its Q&A format could be strengthened with suggestions for further readings within the chapters. BOTTOM LINE A solid, affordable supplement to introductory psychology texts for readers with a general interest in psychology.--Samantha Schmehl Hines, Univ. of Montana Lib., Missoula

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