Professor Peter Mittler brings together 20 of his key writings in one place, including chapters from his best-selling books and articles from leading journals which give a flavour of the impact or controversy they aroused. This unique collection illustrates the development of Professor Mittler'¬"s thinking over the course of his long and esteemed career, encompassing his work on the origins of under-achievement and ways in which obstacles to learning can be understood and overcome. In essence, these readings follow the thread of Professor Mittler'¬"s growing awareness that human development depends on a series of complex interactions between the '¬Üdouble helix'¬" of nature and nurture.