This volume, edited by Linda King, brings together contributions on indigenous knowledge, the cultural context of learning and the interplay between so-called `traditional' and `modern' forms of education. Various different communities and cultures are examined, ranging from Egypt to Benin, and from central Brazil to New Caledonia. The contributions bear witness to the extraordinary diversity and richness of educational approaches found in these communities. At the same time, the approach of this volume is to emphasize not so much the exotic nature of otherness and difference, but rather the sense of common humanity which all cultures share with one another and which can lead us to appreciate the universal joy of learning.