This book, which accompanies an exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, provides an intimate look at the life and work of a man who believes passionately that architecture should make a positive contribution to people and place. An exclusive interview with Piano himself introduces this exceptional publication, before a series of texts by major figures from the worlds of culture, engineering and building, including the Oscar-winning actor and director Roberto Benigni, the artist Susumu Shingu and the architect Richard Rogers, Piano's co-designer of the Centre Georges Pompidou.