Includes bibliographical references (p. 232-243) and index.

What is "English"?. A brief history of a nebulous subject -- The power of softness: intimations of deepened humanity from stories of classroom life -- Understand the power of softness through the deep prehistory of English -- The way life teaches: revisiting the three dimensions of aesthetic, transactional responsiveness. The evocative dimension: story time and human life -- The connective dimension: finding love by sharing insight with implied authors -- The reflective dimension: response and responsibility, love and loving wisdom -- Reading beyond the book: moving from a transactional worldview to a transactional world. Aesthetic education: the artistry of transactional life in classrooms -- Aesthetic democracy: government of people by people for the shared life of people, write small and writ large -- Aesthetic humanity: the history, and possible future of wisdom.

This book lays out a new vision for the teaching of English, building on themes central to Wilhelm's influential "You Gotta BE The Book." With portraits of teachers and students, as well as practical strategies and advice, they provide a roadmap to educational transformation far beyond the field of English. --from publisher description