Pinel's Biopsychology is a masterful work. I can only imagine the immense amount of time and effort that has gone into it. I don't think you can find another book in this field that appeals to such a wide range of readers. I have used this book and previous editions of it as the primary text in the graduate Biopsychology courses I have taught over the past 8 years. This book has consistently earned accolades from my students for presenting what is an otherwise complicated and highly technical subject, in a graspable and witty manner.

I have degrees in neurophysiology, molecular biology, and bioorganic chemistry. I really dislike psych texts; in fact, I really dislike psych. What a bunch of fluff BS. This book accomplishes something rare. It effectively frames discussions of psych topics in terms of their hard science antecedents. Pinel makes it seem as though the field of psych actually lives in reality, or at least has a summer home here. Pinel also tells the story, in segments throughout the book, of a traumatic and relevant experience, making the book read more like an engrossing biography than a text. He always relates his personal experinces, but not so much as to distract from the material itself. Extremely well done. One of the only books I had to buy that I actually wanted to keep.