This review covers a wide range of topics including thermal, thermo-oxidative, photochemical, photo-oxidative, chemical, mechanochemical, hydrolytic and biochemical degradation, as well as providing information on the relative efficiencies of the various stabiliser systems available. Also covered are the effect of various additives, such as dyes, fillers, flame retardants, etc., both on the overall mechanism of degradation and on the efficacy of the additives. Coverage includes all polyamides (at least those for which information is available) not just the better-known ones such as Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6. Depolymerisation recycling of polyamides is also discussed as this is regarded as controlled degradation.