Introduction -- In praise of meandering -- The art of possibility -- On being brave -- It takes a village -- On telling the truth -- The linguistic genius -- An Irish educationalist -- Music and the child (I) -- Music and the child (II) -- Learning in and out of school -- Curiosity -- Natural wisdom -- Missing the gift -- The village schoolmaster -- Everyone is good at something -- The power of uncertainty -- The hedge school -- On doing nothing -- Sunlight (I) -- Sunlight (II) -- Seven handy propositions -- Learning to live -- The last days -- Tools for thinking -- Paradise lost -- The challenge of postmodernity -- Babies need books -- And so do big babies... -- On dreaming -- Second chance -- Guess who? -- The master -- Last words -- Bibliography -- Acknowledgements.