The Spirit of Family

An inspiring array of world-class photographs revealing the changing face of the American family

The American family has undergone dramatic changes in the last two generations, as interfaith and interracial marriage, new gender and age configurations, and different roles have created increasingly complex emotional and spiritual bonds. In The Spirit of Family, Al and Tipper Gore chart this evolution in an entirely fresh way, with 260 black-and-white and color images from many of the country's most acclaimed photographers-including Tina Barney, Mitch Epstein, Lee Friedlander, Sally Mann, Mary Ellen Mark, Nicholas Nixon-and from rising stars such as Gerald Cyrus, Arlene Gottfried, and Jennette Williams. The result is a visual narrative that brilliantly illustrates the traditional stages of life and the unique challenges and opportunities facing today's families. The perfect complement to the Gores' equally eye-opening book about family, Joined at the Heart, this astonishing collection of photographs offers a powerful vision of our most essential relationships.

Al Gore is the former Vice President of the United States and author of the New York Times bestseller Earth in the Balance. During twenty-five years of public service, he has made the family a priority by fighting for programs and policies that are responsive to the needs of families and communities.

Tipper Gore has served as adviser to the President on Mental Health Policy and was special adviser to the Interagency Council on the Homeless during her husband's years in the White House. She worked as a photojournalist for the Tennessean; Picture This, a collection of her photographs, was published in1996. Her first book, Raising PG Kids in an X-Rated Society, was published in 1987.

Together, the Gores have organized an annual two-day forum called "Family
Re-Union," now in its eleventh year. They have four children and two grandchildren, and live in Nashville, Tennessee.