David Cormier is one of Canada’s leading practitioners and thinkers about instructional design and learning possibilities. This becomes clear in his book, which despite its serious content, is written in a conversational style with compassion and insight. The book explores the idea of the community of inquiry and engagement as the basis for learning. Cormier suggests that collaboration, communication and mutual respect among learners are the key ingredients for effective learning design. In doing so, he challenges the traditional hierarchical and authoritarian structures of education. Well written and insightful, this book is full of useful ideas for practice.