透过一位外籍记者的採访，四十位风云一时的台湾名人吐露他们的心路历程与理想抱负；他们是台湾菁英层的缩影，我们由此可以见証台湾社会发展的过去、现在与未来。

　　柏杨毕生致力于批判中国儒家反人权的传统，即使牺牲人身自由也无怨无悔；魏海敏以童稚之龄投身梨园，开创传统戏剧的新格局；王建瑄本着传道人的精神，致力于社会净化与政治改革；马英九虽然被迫离开法务部长一职，却仍坚守着为民服务的传统家风，以深厚的法学背景和从政经验，为台湾贡献所长；陈水扁在德州之行中，为了体验民主社会的真实面貌，领带被牛排馆的侍者剪掉……；此外，还有张博雅、程建人、陈文茜、许信良、胡志强、黄义交、罗文嘉……等。不论是活跃于政治界，还是艺文界，这些名人纷纷现身说法，吐露他们鲜为人知的辛酸过去、奋斗历程，或畅谈他们在工作岗位上的坚持和理念。要更进一步了解这些人物，请看China News记者如何画龙点睛，描绘出台湾菁英群的多种风貌。

Taiwan Personalities introduces forty of the most influential and compelling people in Taiwan today by explaining their background, their rise to power, and their place in the island’s political and social transformation. The book is more than a valuable reference aid to understanding the leaders of Taiwan, it provides a cross-section of the forces at work within the ruling and opposition parties and captures the drama of an evolving political system. It includes such details as a river trip taken by an adolescent Lien Chan through war-wasted China, the immolation of a leading opposition figure’s husband, and the journey of a grease-stained mechanic into the legislature. Don Shapiro, Time Magazine correspondent, writes in the Preface. ”Bringing these excellent sketches together in one collection will provide readers with valuable insights into the past development and future directions of Taiwan.”