This work investigates the social and cultural identity of Plains, Georgia, during the era of Jimmy Carter's presidency. Steven Borns, a photojournalist, utilizes a combination of visual documentation and oral history to capture the collective consciousness of the town's residents. The book argues that the character of a small American town is defined by the intersection of personal memory, religious conviction, and the shifting landscape of racial integration.

Critics and readers often note that the book serves as a valuable primary source for understanding the cultural climate of the late 1970s in the rural South. Experts highlight the work as a successful synthesis of visual storytelling and sociological observation.