Using Piaget's cognitive-developmental psychology, Zelan views the learning process from a child's perspective; she examines the youngster's ability to learn, conscious responses to learning, and the deliberate reasons for fighting curriculum and teachers. She further documents how the student and therapist work together to analyze the child's decision to fail and what can be done to remedy the student's nonlearning and resume a learning attitude. Annotation(c) 2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews. com) | The Risks of Knowing by Karen Zelan, Hardcover | Indigo Chapters