This two-volume set is the fifth offering in The American Psychological Association Handbooks in Psychology series, which is envisioned to constitute about 20 titles focused on core subfields, as well as handbooks such as this one devoted to thorough, nuanced coverage of narrower subject areas. Addiction expert editor-in-chief Shaffer (psychology, Harvard Medical School) was assisted by two colleagues--Debi A. LaPlante and Sarah E. Nelson--in assembling this compendium. The first volume, subtitled Foundations, Influences, and Expressions of Addiction, contains 17 contributions addressing such topics as the genesis and evolution of the idea of addiction and its consequences, epidemiological and individual dynamics, neurobiology, psychiatric co-morbidity, self control, psychological and sociological factors, and universal and unique characteristics and consequences of addiction. The second volume, Recovery, Prevention, and Other Issues, contains 18 chapters on these subjects. A sampling of specific topics: diagnosis and assessment, relapse and relapse prevention, what self-help organizations tell us about the syndrome model of addiction, prevention models in schools, special populations, driving under the influence, HIV infection and AIDS, and homelessness. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)