This book, "Understanding by Design" by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, outlines a powerful educational framework known as Backward Design, a three-stage process for curriculum planning that prioritizes student understanding over content coverage. The core idea is to begin with the desired results (Stage 1), which include "big ideas" and "essential questions," before determining the acceptable evidence of learning through authentic performance tasks (Stage 2), and finally crafting the learning plan and activities (Stage 3). The authors emphasize that true understanding is demonstrated through the ability to transfer knowledge and skill to new situations, contrasting this with the "twin sins" of traditional education: aimless coverage and engaging but intellectually empty activities. The text also delves into the six facets of understanding—explanation, interpretation, application, perspective, empathy, and self-knowledge—which serve as a blueprint for designing robust assessments and instruction.