Pedagogy of the Oppressed

'A transformative text' – George Monbiot

'Truly revolutionary' – Ivan Illich

Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed is widely acknowledged as one of the most important and influential books in the field of education. 

Arguing that 'education is freedom', Paulo Freire's radical international classic contends that traditional teaching styles keep the poor powerless by treating them as passive, silent recipients of knowledge. Grounded in Freire's own experience teaching Brazilian adults to read and write, this pioneering book instead suggests that pedagogy should treat the learner as a co-creator of knowledge, and that through co-operation, dialogue and critical thinking, every human being can develop a sense of self and fulfil their right to be heard.

Originally published in 1968 and influenced by the work of Fanon and Marx, this groundbreaking book continues to be one of the most important books on education and learning ever written, and offers a transformative way of thinking about the relationship between teacher and student, grounding it in revolutionary politics.