This book offers a collection of essays on teaching, written by teachers who, though they represent high school to professional school levels and diverse fields of interest, favor teaching by discussion. Part I introduces key principles in "Barriers and Gateways to Learning" (David A. Garvin) and "Premises and Practices of Discussion Teaching" (C. Ronald Christensen). Part II contains the following personal and autobiographical essays: "Tulips, Tinfoil, and Teaching: Journal of a Freshman Teacher" (Colleen Burke); "Great Beginnings" (Melissa Mead); "Changing Ground: A Medical School Lecturer Turns to Discussion Teaching" (Daniel A. Goodenough); and "Every Student Teaches and Every Teacher Learns: The Reciprocal Gift of Discussion Teaching" (C. Roland Christensen). The essays in part III examine the building blocks of the discussion approach from an applied perspective. Papers are: "Establishing a Teaching/Learning Contract" (Abby J. Hansen); "With Open Ears: Listening and the Art of Discussion Leading" (Herman B. Leonard); and "The Discussion Teacher in Action: Questioning, Listening, and Response" (C. Roland Christensen). Essays in part IV consider critical challenges of discussion teaching. Papers included are: "Patterns of Participation" (Julie H. Hertenstein); "Teaching Technical Material" (Bruce Greenwald); "To See Ourselves as Others See Us--The Rewards of Classroom Observation" (James Austin with Ann Sweet and Catherine Overholt); "Discovering the Semester" (Laura L. Nash); and "Encouraging Independent Thinking" (James Wilkinson and Heather Dubrow). Part V explores the limits, dilemmas, and joys of the craft from a philosophical perspective in the following papers: "Having It by Heart: Some Reflections on Knowing Too Much" (John Hildebidle); "Undue Influence: Confessions from an Uneasy Discussion Leader" (Joyce Garvin); and "A Delicate Balance: Ethical Dilemmas and the Discussion Process" (David A. Garvin). Many papers include references. The book contains an index. (JB)