Book excerpt: This book brings out the need for lifelong learning theory and explores how it is possible from a postmodern perspective. The book uses life history that has gained its popularity in social science research to overcome the dichotomy between individual and society or between agency and structure. Life history also reflects the postmodern or late-modern conditions of social life. In this book, the author uses a collection of published oral history narratives of famous Korean artists and craftsmen. The author maps out life and learning of five such artists and craftsmen with figurations of escaping, creating, controlling and formalizing. These figurations are images of ‘Rhizoactivity’ that the author proposes as a new conceptual tool to navigate lifelong learning from a postmodern perspective. This book signalises a new way of theory building in the field of adult and lifelong education. The Life and Learning of Korean Artists and Craftsmen: Rhizoactivity conceptualises: Adult learning in terms of postmodern and lifelong learning conditions Life histories as a method of researching lifelong learning The four facets of artistic journeys – escaping, creating, controlling and formalizing This book will interest researchers focusing on lifelong and adult education. Its use of social theories in its study of lifelong learning amongst Korean artists will also interest sociologists and educators concerned with the sociology of education.