The Idealist showcases the fine art photography of Glen E. Friedman, who many including the Washington Post call "One of the greats of his generation." The Idealist is the work of a true visionary, effortlessly mixing landscapes, still life, and documentary photography, and calling parallel to his own innate idealism through the images, and by including original comments from some of the most progressive, and politically controversial thinkers of our time - Ralph Nader, Reverend Al Sharpton, Ian MacKaye, Cornel West, and Ian Svenonius.

This collection of photographs from 25 years (1976 - 2001) of Friedman's work concentrates on his visual aesthetic and is the public introduction to his striking fine-art photography. Though he continues a heavy focus on both imagery and message, only a few of his traditional photographs of legendary people in the hip-hop, punk and skate communities will be recognized. The Idealist traces Friedman's development as a fine-artist as his subject matter includes a breathtaking international scope of landscapes, still life, and documentary. New and old fans of his work will be delighted to see his capacity to capture essential moments of most anything he sets his eyes on, to help us open ours.

The book size and cover have been changed slightly, over a dozen images have been removed and over two dozen new ones have been added. The book will now encompass 25 years. Adding 5 years and over a dozen pages to the original edition, as well as additional new words on Idealism contributed by Rev. Al Sharpton, Ralph Nader and Cornel West.