Aaron T Beck, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, is one of the 'founding fathers' of the cognitive revolution in psychotherapy. His Cognitive Therapy, developed during a period of great change in psychology, was innovative in its emphasis on the role of cognition in emotional distress and behavioural dysfunction, and represents a major advance in the understanding and treatment of psychological problems. Beck first established his expertise and reputation in the field of depression. His books on the subject are viewed as principal works and his Depression Inventory is widely used in clinical practice. However, Cognitive Therapy has now grown in scope to address a number of disorders and health problems - both clinical and nonclinical - so that today his work exercises an enormous influence on psychotherapy in general. In this clear and accessible book, Marjorie Weishaar presents a unique overview of Beck's life and his theoretical and practical achievements. She considers and effectively rebuts the criticisms that his ideas have attracted over the years and discusses Beck's continuing influence on the research and practice of Cognitive Therapy.