Narrative and the Practice of Adult Education

Within at least the past twenty years, there has been a dramatic "narrative turn" in the humanities and social sciences which finds its source in the understanding of narrative as the primary structure of human meaning making. Researchers and practitioners in psychology, adult development, and education have given increasing attention to the power and pedagogical effectiveness of narrative. The purpose of this book is to apply these insights to our understanding of adults as learners. We know that the telling of the personal experience narrative is a powerful avenue to self-understanding, transformative learning, and personal growth. We explore these and other ways in which narrative can inform the practice of adult education, as well as how we can understand learning as a narrative process. (From the Publisher)