The editors identify the main purpose of the book as providing an overview of adult development and ageing contextualised within a broadly bio-psycho-social framework. Their stated intention is to provide a range of commentary on aspects of ageing as a lifecourse process although they also highlight that considerations of ‘age’ and ‘ageing’ inevitably mean a focus on mid and later life.

Twenty-four chapters are divided into seven sections, each of which deal with a different aspect of the study of ageing: ‘Foundations (Theory)’; ‘Physical Changes and Health’; ‘Cognition’; ‘Personality’; ‘Abnormal Aging’; ‘Social Processes’; ‘Well-being and Creativity’. Within each section, three or four chapters from a large number of different authors provide evidence and discussion within the context of the section. The order of sections is designed to lead the reader from the theoretical underpinnings of a bio-psycho-social approach through the most common areas of concern for those studying the ageing individual. Unfortunately, just one section, ‘Social Processes’, includes any focus on the social interactions and relationships that may affect the ageing individual.

Some of the comments that can be made about the book's strengths and limitations must be mediated by definitions of ‘adult development’ and ‘ageing’. While the terms may traditionally refer to the trajectories described by Erikson and others, the editors of this book clearly define ‘ageing’ as a lifecourse process. As a result, ageing must be considered within the context not only of current psychological or biological status but also within individual circumstances, social influences and personal histories. It follows from this that ‘adult development’ can also be seen as a process which incorporates not only psychological or biological markers of change but also of the factors which influence them. Unfortunately, the chapter authors do not always provide the bio or social counterpoints which would strengthen the predominantly psychological discussions making up the majority of the book's content.

In addition, most authors are from North America and present their work for readers who are also predominantly North American. The demographic and epidemiological statistics used reflect this and are therefore interesting but less useful to readers outside that system of health and welfare. It would have been helpful to incorporate some global information or, at least, some comparison with other developed nations or economic groupings such as Europe or Scandinavia in a book which will be sold worldwide.

Some sections were of greater personal interest than others but overall did not adequately reflect the range of potential discussion. For example, Part V, ‘Abnormal Aging’, focused on three areas of psychological interest and on assessment of older adults within a psychological perspective. It therefore gave no voice to the contrasting views expressed within other disciplines such as Disability Studies and which relate to the physical (bio) and social in addition to or even in priority to the psychological. Similarly, the discourses of Social Gerontology are insufficiently represented in a work which purports to provide a comprehensive collection of writing on the processes of adult development and of ageing.

The title is the Handbook of Adult Development and Aging and the editors' preface clearly identifies the intention of providing an ‘overview’. Unfortunately, the majority of material focuses on the psychological aspects of ageing with insufficient acknowledgement of the effects of either biological change or social influences. This seems to indicate that the editors' intention to create a collection of bio-psycho-socially inclusive writing has been unsuccessful.

A plus point is that the writing style makes the content accessible to a wide audience without being simplistic. It would therefore be useful to students in order to expand their reading around psychological issues in ageing. However, the emphasis on the psychological simultaneously limits the utility of the book as a reference source for those seeking the more comprehensive overview intimated by the title ‘Handbook’.

We are perhaps at a point in gerontology where an all-encompassing Handbook of Ageing is no longer possible as filtering such a large and varied body of literature without being superficial is difficult if not impossible. In this context the book is no less able to provide sufficient breadth and detail than any similar work and is a readable source of information despite the title being slightly misleading.