Balanced coverage of the entire life span is just one thing that distinguishes HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: A LIFE-SPAN VIEW, Seventh Edition. With its comprehensive, succinct, and applied coverage, the text has proven its ability to capture students' interest while introducing them to the issues, forces, and outcomes that make us who we are. Robert V. Kail's expertise in childhood and adolescence, combined with John C. Cavanaugh's extensive research in gerontology, result in a book with a rich description of all life-span stages and important topics. A modified chronological approach traces development in sequential order from conception through late life, while also dedicating several chapters to key topical issues. This organization also allows the book to be relatively briefer than other texts, a benefit given the enormous amount of information covered in the course. The authors provide theoretical and empirical foundations that enable students to become educated, critical interpreters of developmental information. A blend of basic and applied research, as well as coverage of controversial topics and emergent trends, demonstrates connections between the laboratory and life.