Book excerpt: This volume sets the stage for understanding the evolution and importance of nursing science in the field by providing a brief historical overview of the tobacco epidemic and emerging science, describing changing trends in tobacco use, reviewing health risks of smoking and benefits of quitting, reviewing concepts in nicotine addiction and evidence-based recommendations for tobacco dependence treatment. Also highlighted are nursing science efforts and leadership in addressing two barriers to mounting programs of nursing research in tobacco control: the lack of nursing education and training in tobacco control and the limited research funding and mentorship. Finally, the contributors to this volume address the issue of smoking in the profession as it influences nurses' health, interventions with patients, and, potentially, scholarship efforts.