Fifty years ago Holt woke the dreary world of educational theory by showing that for small children "learning is as natural as breathing." His brilliant observations are as true today as they were then. As a hero of progressive education and homeschoolers, his time has come again.

John Holt (1927-1985), one of this country's leading educational and social critics, was the author of ten influential books which have been translated into fourteen languages. Known both as a passionate reformer and as "the gentle voice of reason" (LIFE magazine), John Holt offers insights into the nature of learning that are more relevant today than ever before.