Throughout Maoist China's turbulent history, the artist Mu Xin sacrificed everything to create his art. While illegally imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution, he risked his life writing and painting while in solitary confinement. It was through his artistic faith that he survived this period, while so many others did not. He has avoided speaking of the horrors he has seen - until now. A documentary portrait by OSCAR® Nominated filmmakers Tim Sternberg and Francisco Bello, "DREAMING AGAINST THE WORLD" will expose audiences to one of the most original, yet largely unknown artists of the past century.

这本书是陈丹青纽约生涯的结账，初事写作的开端……他的生活因这本书从此转向，出现新地带。和其它几本书相比，陈丹青说“这本书不越界、没脾气，聊聊纽约、谈谈艺术，自然显得雅，而久在域外，所谓生活积累比较厚，要论写作的闲静与专注，也确是这本书”。初版分为两册，下册多是访谈、杂稿，修订版全部删除。