This book is a combination of biographical information (Elizabeth R. Austin, Susan Botti, Gabriela Lena Frank, Jennifer Higdon, Libby Larsen, Tania León, Cnidy McTee, Marga Richter and Judith Shatin), interviews, discussions of compositional style and analysis of specific works. The content reflects the shifting societal landscapes in the United States over the last seven decades, as well as different stylistic approaches to writing music.