The study of human development, faced with the constant and complex transformation in the interdisciplinary theoretical-practical domains, has been thought in different ways. Although financial resources continue to be relevant, economic growth ceases to be paramount in the composition of this concept, and is complemented by the human factor. The  present a brief comprehensive rescue on human development. The bibliographical method is used, with the search through the descriptor human development, being directed to books and scientific journals, published from 1980, starting from the IDH / PNUD, for other interdisciplinary approaches. It is perceived the importance of understanding human development beyond economic aspects, without disregarding the IDH that includes income, health and education. It is concluded that the expanded notion of the term highlights beyond these indicators the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, historical, cultural and especially subjective aspects for the understanding of human development.