This suite of brief and lively essays, based largely on interviews and studio visits, explores what Charles A. Riley II calls "one of the most vital (and misunderstood) creative forces in modern art, architecture, music, dance, literature, and philosophy: the pursuit of perfection.".

Riley examines many contemporary figures who exemplify the ascetic impulse in their work and life. These artists examined through the lens of asceticism, serve as focal points in Riley's consideration of cultural issues such as the role of spirituality in contemporary art, the interaction of Western and Asian traditions, and the relationship between the artists' lives and work.