Behavioral Endocrinology

Behavioral Endocrinology. By Jill B. Becker, S. Marc Breedlove, David Crews, and Margaret M. McCarthy. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2002. 806 pp. $50.00. It is a rare thing to find a text written as clearly, as accurately, and that is as engaging as this! Although designed to provide a basic understanding of the field of behavioral endocrinology for the college and university-level student, there is much in this volume that will be of interest to the seasoned researcher. Put simply, behavioral endocrinology is the study ofhow hormones influence an animal's behavior; however, it is not a simple topic at all and, in the wrong hands, has the potential to be not only confusing but also tedious. This book is neither confusing nor tedious. The authors will, from time to time, warn the reader that specific sections of information contained in the book may be "densely packed"and they are. However, this does not happen frequently, and when it does, it facilitates the progression of the material covered. What I found quite extraordinary about the book is the way the authors made an effort to engage the reader as to why a particular issue in behavioral endocrinology is important. (They have not assumed that all readers or students who use their book have plans to become behavioral endocrinologists.) They link their topics to contemporary social and cultural issues such as drug doping within the athletic community, methods to enhance or control fertility, and ways to enhance human memory and cognitive performance. From topics such as "Molecular Approaches to Behavioral Neuroendocrinology" to "Hormones and Cognition in Non-human Animals," the authors consistently engage and challenge the reader in order to facilitate an understanding ofboth the material and the potential implications of this information in our world. A terrific volume.