"In 2023, Birkbeck, University of London celebrates 200 years of educating working people in central London. It was founded in 1923 as the London Mechanics' Institution and, from its inception, was a pioneering and radical institution. This history is animated by the conviction that Birkbeck is its people. Their thoughts and ambitions, hopes and dreams, labour and laughter are what this book describes, celebrates, and occasionally laments. It explores the history of education as well as the history of place, politics, radicalism, class, race, gender, disciplinarity, theatre, food, leisure, war, and everyday encounters. Most of all, this book is about ideas. What does it mean to be educated? How have these meanings changed over time? What makes Birkbeck students unique? What does it mean to be fully human, exploiting our faculties in order to become better people?"