Essentials of Psychology is a streamlined version of Dr. Franzoi's flagship text Psychology: Journey of Discovery. Both texts approach the first course in psychology as a discovery experience, both in describing the scientific theory and research within the discipline and in describing the introductory students' personal journey in learning about themselves and others. Dr. Franzoi uses a story-telling approach to describe the science of psychology, often humanizing himself in humorous personal stories, making the material relatable and engaging for the students. He reinforces the discovery experience theme by including "Journey of Discovery Questions" and "Self-Discovery Questionnaires," "Closer Look," and "Exploring Culture & Diversity" boxed inserts throughout the chapters. Each chapter ends with a "Psychological Applications" section in which the students learn how the theories and research in that chapter can be applied to real-world settings in the students' lives.