Cornel West Princeton University USA. This major contribution to theliterature on adult education provides adult educators with an accessibleoverview of critica... » 

Cornel West Princeton University USA. This major contribution to theliterature on adult education provides adult educators with an accessibleoverview of critical theorys central ideas. Using many direct quotes from thetheorists works Brookfield shows how critical theory illuminates the everydaypractices of adult educators and helps them make sense of the dilemmascontradictions and frustrations they experience in their work. Drawing widelyon central texts in critical theory Brookfield argues that a critical theoryof adult learning must focus on understanding how adults learn to challengeideology contest hegemony unmask power overcome alienation learnliberation reclaim reason and practice democracy. These tasks form the focusof successive chapters while later chapters review the central contentions ofcritical theory through the contemporary lenses of race and gender. The finalchapter reviews adult educational practices and looks at what it means to teachcritically. This is an essential reading for anyone teaching working instudying or researching adult education. «