Adult Education at the Crossroads : Learning our way out

This is a pithy assessment of where adult education now stands - the traditions out of which it came, its current problems, and possible futures. The authors are particularly concerned with how its longstanding commitment to deliver social change ran into difficulties in the less favourable circumstances of the 1980s and 1990s. They argue that its purposes now need to be reconceptualized in order for it to become, once again, a relevant and effective agent of change.

The authors remind adult educationists of their traditional commitment to social action by surveying the ideas of seminal adult education thinkers as they developed historically in Europe, North America and later the Third World. They show how today's very different context has eroded that original vision and purpose.

The book concludes by identifying four possible future scenarios; the challenges confronting an adult education still committed to social change; and the key features which they believe can contribute to 'learning our way out of' the current impasse.

“Finger and Asun bring a critical and multi-disciplinary eye to the” —challenge of deepening our theory at a time of globalization.'

“Education for adulthood finally comes of age at the hands of Finger and Asun. A brilliantly incisive critique of adult education's fall from grace and an inspiring practical plan for its re-enchantment. They return adult educators to their original moral taks and agenda of democratic political action, collective creativity and critical social change. These are uncompromising scholars who refuse to let adult education compromise itself.” —John Broughton, Columbia University

“This book captured my interest, not because I agree entirely with Finger and Asun's analysis, but because I appreciate the breadth and direction of their writing. They propose a social learning and structural change theory that challenges the hegemony of psychological explanations while navigating between rationality and postmodern standpoints.It is more than a text; it is a must read for any serious adult educator.” —Phyllis Cunningham, Northern Illinois University

“In Learning Our Way Out, Finger and Asun cogently analyze the important role that adult education has to play in building a sustainable human community, which is increasingly threatened by turbocapitalism, the decay of politics, postmodernism, and the ecological crisis. Their call to link learning with issues of power and organization needs to be on the agenda of all adult educators.” —Ron Cervero, University of Georgia