Psychology is a broad and complex subject and I was afraid any sort of overview meant for "the masses" would fall into one of two categories: too complex and dry to be considered appropriate for a Complete Idiot's Guide (CIG), or too superficial to be considered a decent overview. I was amazed to find that this book was neither. Instead of dumbing down or over-simplifying her topic, Dr. Johnston instead chose to make it interesting by writing with personality, wit, and style, illuminating her points with anecdotes and illustrative examples, and making her points relevant to everyday life. This book strikes a surprising balance between covering the theories and history of psychology and applying it to things everybody cares about.
Make no mistake--this isn't an afternoon's beach reading. It took me some time to get through this book because it's fat with information on everything from language development to schizophrenia. For anyone with an interest in studying psychology this book would make a fantastic introduction; I find it much easier to remember information about such figures as Jung and Freud when it's made relevant to modern and everyday affairs than when it's simply written as history. This book would also make a perfect resource for parents, as it delves quite a bit into how we develop as people, and how parents and childhood both do and don't influence us--including plenty of practical tips.
This book is also wonderful for pretty much anyone who could use some help coping with stress or figuring out how to deal with their troubles, or who wants to better understand a mental illness they suffer from. In particular it would be handy for folks who might not need the full help of a therapist but who could use some tips for healthier living, or people who want to know how to cope with a loved one's illness.
Whether you want an overview on the nature vs. nurture debate, the brain vs. mind delineation, issues of memory, emotions, motivation, stress, self-concepts, personality, or the difference between "normal" and "abnormal" behavior, it's covered in here--and it's covered in a fascinating and detailed manner.