Is addiction a matter of chemistry, social learning, or a basic human deficiency? This has been a question of concern and a matter of controversy for some time. While Addictions will not put the problem to rest, it is an excellent introduction to the concept of addictive behavior. Hyde's basic premise is that cigarette smoking, compulsive gambling, coffee drinking, food intake, and even jogging are similar, and that we should encourage positive addictions while discouraging undesirable ones. The weakness of the book is the inconsistent content, with some chapters more complete than others which are quite superficial. For example, alcohol, barbiturates, and tranquilizers are treated in one chapter. There is also a lack of documentation. Many resources, including interviews and research studies, are cited, but it would be impossible to locate them without any bibliographic material. The text is relatively short but the writing generally easy to follow. (pp. 11-12)