This book is a global epic that transcends mere image-making to become an affirmation of the enduring spirit of working women and men. Sebastião Salgado unearths layers of visual information to reveal the ceaseless human activity at the core of modern civilization.

With extended captions by the photographer providing a historical and factual framework for the images, the book is divided into six essential chapters: Agriculture, Food, Mining, Industry, Oil and Construction.