Readers should accompany Beard on his travels - not only because the subject of his inquiry is so important, but because after myriad engaging anecdotes and encounters, he arrives at some conclusions with universal relevance

Invigorating...one of the most optimistic, thought-provoking and ambitious educational books of recent years. Natural Born Learners is audacious, sassy, unafraid of big questions about what our children deserve and what our culture needs from education...bold and exuberant

In this vital and vitalising exploration of the future of education, Alex Beard has written a compelling work of non-fiction. A meditation, a rallying cry and an inspirational call to cut a new educational path, this is an incredibly important book. As Beard powerfully illustrates, if we get education right for everyone then we'll be well on the way to solving so many of our other problems

A timely and passionate book on the need for a global educational renaissance

Lively and provocative ... Beard is inspirational on the capabilities of the brain. Fizzing through the neuroscience he encourages readers to admire the potential for learning in even a lowly slug, and makes a powerful case against the old ideas of fixed or hereditary intelligence

Fascinating

A dazzlingly fast-paced journey through the classrooms and laboratories of the globe in an attempt to tackle the Big Questions of our age . . . This is a book that sets out to explore our deepest dreams and most profound possibilities

Wide-ranging, often humorous and consistently fascinating, this is a book for all those interested in learning - a process that, as the author stresses, should be lifelong