Depression: Theories and Treatments: Psychological, Biological, and Social Perspectives

I used this book in an undergraduate course on depression. The writing is clear and it provides solid coverage of how to define and categorize depression, how it's diagnosed, current knowledge of biological issues (genetics and physiology of depression), and all the major psychological theories and approaches to treatment (behavioral, cognitive, psychodynamic, interpersonal). Social and cultural aspects of depression are covered too. There's a lot here; you could read just what interests you and skip any sections that don't, or use the book as a reference. I like the comprehensiveness and the clear writing style. Definitely a good source for learning about depression. This is written for people interested in the technical stuff, the research and theory of depression.