Book excerpt: This collection of 33 papers deals with mechanical behaviors associated with systems ranging from diamond reinforced silicon carbide to rare earth pyrosilicates. Presented at The Mechanical Behavior and Performance of Ceramics & Composites Symposium in January 2012 during the 36th International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC), it offers researchers from around the world the opportunity to explore new and emerging issues in all aspects of the field.