The beautiful tree : a personal journey into how the world's poorest people are educating themselves / James Tooley.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 277-282) and index.

A discovery in India... -- ...That was no discovery after all -- A puff of logic, Nigeria -- The shifting goalposts, Ghana -- The logically impossible, China -- A Kenyan conundrum-and its solution -- Poor ignoramuses -- An inspector calls -- Old monk, and young nuns on motorbikes -- Making enemies with joy beside me -- The men who uprooted the beautiful tree -- Educating Amaretch.

"While researching private schools in India, Tooley wandered into the slums of Hyderbad's Old City. He found it overflowing with small, parent-funded schools and set out to discover if they could help achieve universal education. This is the story of Tooley's travels in developing countries and of the children, parents, teachers and entrepreneurs who taught him that the poor are not waiting for educational handouts. They are building their own schools and learning to save themselves"--From publisher description.