Pedagogy of the Oppressed

This book was a very good read in terms of opening my eyes to the interrelated aspects of oppression, liberation, and education (pedagogical methods). The author as well as the translator use very eloquent words in expressing the meanings they wish to convey, and thus define new concepts for the mind of the reader to use them throughout the whole text repeatedly in a very effective manner.The author discusses the banking model of education in this book, and elaborates on this model's purpose of continuous oppression of the masses. He also offers a comprehensive analysis between dialogical and antidialogical approaches, and connects them very well (thought sometimes it was hard to comprehend from the first time) with the process of oppression. He simply puts education, liberation, and oppression together throughout the whole text in a way that ties them together as if it was the most obvious thing in the world (and it is to a certain extent, though I think that he got carried away).On a con note, the book is too idealistic, and it also promotes several well-known dictators (or controversial at best) as dialogical and freedom-fighting figures. Probably that wasn't clear for the author when he wrote this book, or probably he wanted to see the cup half full with these characters as they resembled the closest relation the model he discusses.On a pro note, the author elaborates (although not for long) on a modern approach towards a Socratic dialogue-like method in education and knowledge seeking, with the main aim of infusing the world with the people and reclaiming the people's ability to "name the world", leading them towards a higher critical consciousness which would eventually allow them to overthrow any form of oppression and create a prosperous critically thinking and acting (through reflection and action; "Praxis" as he defines it) society.A great read, and a very strong book for all the third world nations and their peoples. It hits the right spots and the right buttons and I would recommend it as one of the essential-reading books of any nation-uplifting efforts around the world (especially in the face of oppressive regimes).

Paulo Freire was a Brazilian educator and philosopher whos experiences of the depression in the 1930s, left within him a calling to try and change society. He says that poverty and hunger severely affected his ability to learn at school and that “experience showed me once again the relationship between social class and knowledge”.I might describe this book as having a very high density to volume ratio. I agree with many of the other reviewers here, that this is not a text easily dealt with. I personally found some of it impenetrable. At one point I was wondering if the fact that it had been translated from Portuguese might have resulted in a certain `lost in translation` effect, but I suspect that I am making excuses! I was a little surprised that many of the references which Freire uses come from unpublished texts - they are annotated thus. Some of the words used require their own investigation - assuming you are not an aficionado of course.But, and it is a big BUT, the intention of this work is of the highest order and is quite awe inspiring. I was brought to tears on one occasion when contemplating my own personal feelings regarding my own consciousness of freedom. There is a great potential catharsis underlying this kind of investigation.Freire states his intention in the penultimate paragraph, `just as the oppressor, in order to oppress, needs a theory of oppressive action, so the oppressed, in order to become free, also need a theory of action.`I like to imagine Che Guevara as a champion of this theory.Today we see uprisings as never before all over the world. The Ukraine being the latest such case at the time of my writing. So the issues that this book is raising and the awareness that it attempts to promote are as urgent and relevant as ever!

I bought this book because of the course I am studying and in the booklist they recommended his newer book "Pedagogy of hope", which confused me, as I would have thought both books would have been listed. So I purchased this book, so as to see what my Uni was trying to hide from me and et voila.I get what he is saying and will go with him part of the way. It must be said he hits the nail on the head in certain areas. However, as I went deeper into the book I whinced at a few conclusions and think there is either a little naivety posited, or a Marxist agenda, which is never a good thing.Can we get this clear, we do not live in a CAPITALIST soicety, so please do not allow the Marxist nuts to convince you that we do. They are consumate liars and only wish to hide the fact that we live in a PLUTOCRACY with such power it seeks the demise of all stable societies that believe in the one God, as opposed to mammon/materialism/Consumerism

One of my favourite books of all time. Be warned- the translation from portugese to English can make the text seem a little impenetrable at first. In fact, I've been using this book on various courses through the years, and would say it took many readings to grasp the timeless wisdom contained within. Freire understands deeply what it means to be oppressed, and manages to illustrate how many routes to freedom simply 'flip flop' the power of the oppressor onto the previously oppressed. That might not be too illuminating a review, but I ensure you grappling withthis book will leave you with a much more developed understading of power, love and the human condition. A must read for all and particularly relevant to professions where there's a vested interest in dismantling inequality.