This book compiles the works of American photographer Joan Liftin (born 1935)—from boys posing with a bust of Reagan in the Soviet Union in 1988 and images of brutality in the American South during the civil rights movement to more personal moments of her life with photographer Charles Harbutt.

Liftin began her photography career while working as a photo editor at the United Nations from 1971 to 1975. She photographed assignments for UNICEF in Haiti, Peru, Chile, Algeria and Iran while at the UN. In 1975 Liftin joined the staff of Magnum, and served as Director of the Magnum Photo Library until 1980.