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Evolutionary models of depression have become increasingly popular in recent years. Nesse (2000), for example, published a provocative piece in the Archives of General Psychiatry arguing that the symptoms of mild depression may provide a fitness advantage in certain situations. Subsequently, Andrews and Thomson (2009a) published an influential article in Psychological Review maintaining that depression increases attention and problem-solving abilities. In the popular press, recent articles presenting an evolutionary model of depression have appeared in Scientific American (Andrews & Thomson, 2009b), The New York Times (Lehrer, 2010), and The Atlantic magazine (Gabriel, 2012), among others. Now, Jonathan Rottenberg, a psychologist at the University of South Florida, has published a new book, The Depths: The Evolutionary Origins of the Depression Epidemic. The book is well written and easy to follow, containing much useful, scientifically derived information written for a lay audience. First, Rottenberg discusses data showing that more than 30 million U.S. adults meet criteria for a depressive disorder and more than 27 million Americans take antidepressant medication. Indeed, it does seem as if there is a depression epidemic. Moreover, the dat