Fifty-five percent of Canadians aged 16 to 64 years lack the skills necessary to read and appropriately interpret health information in textual format. This critical review of research explores issues related to adults' health and health literacy learning in an effort to illuminate why this unacceptable condition persists. The authors also explore avenues that show promise in leading to more success-producing strategies for health promotion among adults. Given the cyclical relationship of health with other social conditions, the problem has proved stubbornly resistant to educational intervention. A community of practice model is proposed as a means of addressing some of the weaknesses in previous adult education programs.