The book documents the Guggenheim Public project, a complex process that lasted five years: from September 1996 to December 2001. The inspiration for the project is easily recognisable and leads back to the legacy of Josef Beuys. The intention of Anita Sieff, creator and curator of the entire programme, was to create a series of appointments and to make each encounter a “social sculpture”, as Beuys understood the intangible work of communication. The book takes into account the editing of the various contributions of the many participants by a flexible editorial team.