Autodidacts' strong preference for teaching themselves is likely to manifest itself, in childhood, as a pronounced resistance to formal schooling. However, in later life, an autodidact's passion for learning will emerge as they participate in open or distance learning or even take responsibility for devising, structuring and following their own programme of education.

Looking at education in and beyond school, Solomon considers the different meanings of energy and its effect on language and personality, the ancient and topical, cognitive growth and personal values, practical technology and abstract theory, the world of citizens and the world of schools. She highlights, through a range of practical examples, the difficultes in teaching about the concepts of energy and the problems facing school pupils who have to tackle the concept of energy in the everyday world and relate this to school text-book physics.

Looking at education in and beyond school, Solomon considers the different meanings of energy and its effect on language and personality, the ancient and topical, cognitive growth and personal values, practical technology and abstract theory, the world of citizens and the world of schools. She highlights, through a range of practical examples, the difficultes in teaching about the concepts of energy and the problems facing school pupils who have to tackle the concept of energy in the everyday world and relate this to school text-book physics.

How do people understand science? How do they feel about science, how do they relate to it, what do they hope from it and what do they fear about it? Solomon explores these questions and much more.