Ludwig Tuman expresses many profound and thought-provoking ideas in this inspiring, well-researched book, which explores at length the relationship between the artist and the society in which she lives. I read it before attending art school 20 years ago, and I am so glad I did, because it profoundly influenced my approach to the classes I took. Rather than getting sucked into the still prevalent notion that painting and sculpture are somehow intrinsically more worthy of being "high art" than textiles, for example, I was given a framework for judging a work of art by the creativity, spirit and skill of its maker, rather than by the material from which it was made. In rereading the book recently, I was particularly struck by the Tuman's assertions that “…a work of art tends to reveal its maker’s character, and would tend to do so even if he were to mask his character in his work," (p. 106), and that "The golden mean...is to combine freedom of expression with an attitude of service to humanity." (p. 115) From a sociological perspective, this book offers a fascinating take on the artist's role in a newly global community, one in which "cultures everywhere appear to be undergoing a crisis of identity as they seek to reconcile their relatively insular past with their new position in a neighborhood of nations" (p. 178). These few quotes are only the tiniest taste of what this wonderful book has to offer--if you are interested in exploring the role of the artist in our challenging modern social environment, this book is for you!