This text will provide an engaging perspective on the issues, challenges, and joys of adult development and aging. It will provide a balanced and integrated treatment of young, middle, and later adulthood, concluding with a discussion of life satisfaction and quality of life issues. In addition, this text covers areas which are often neglected, such as self development and individual differences, life-long learning, community and political life, and values and moral development. The addition of these and other topics, along with a positive-growth focused perspective set this book apart from other textbooks in this area that have grown out of gerontology backgrounds with a focus on physical decline and illness. The pedagogical features of the book will direct students to key information, and the special features will engage the reader in current ethical dilemmas and life-planning issues. Goals of text: middot; To promote a view of adult development and aging that is realistic, positive, and growth focused middot; To provide a balanced treatment of young, middle, and late adulthood middot; To included the often neglected topics of Self Development, Individual Differences (including culture, gender, sexual orientation), Education and Life Long Learning, Community Life, Political Life and Activities, Values, Morality, and Religion middot; To bring research methodology and research design to life by integrating the topic within the chapters (rather than as a separate, seemingly disconnected chapter) middot; To provide students with exercises to encourage them to plan ahead for the challenges and milestones in adult development middot; To provide students with a pedagogically sound resources, including clear writing, appropriate headings and outlines, charts, graphs, tables, summaries, self-check items, and vocabulary tools.