Founded in 1847, the City College of New York had a unique mission statement: to admit students who would not have been accepted at that time by standard universities. At first, these students were only males, but women were allowed to attend in 1930. All were welcome. CCNY wanted students of "industry, good conduct, and intellect." Goldsmith's book includes biographies of many of those people who were and are artists, photographers, entrepreneurs, politicians, entertainers, and human rights advocates.

For example, Ralph Lifshitz, who was born in the late 1920s, later changed his name to Ralph Lauren and founded a New York fashion empire. Former students also include Ed Koch and two other mayors of New York City, along with Benjamin Ferencz, who prosecuted twenty-two defendants successfully at the Nuremberg Trials and remained a human rights activist. There are many other graduates who were not famous but achieved credentials that permitted them to work and have choices that are easier to obtain with a background that includes a formal education.

Goldsmith's theme is City College's focus on ability and integrity. It is the story of immigrants and people of different strata succeeding professionally in the US. It proves, as so many biographies do, that ability, talent, perseverance, and intelligence are not limited to those whose ancestors came to the US in earlier years from Western and Northern Europe, but are qualities that, regardless of ancestry or income level, people possess and exercise. Goldsmith's engaging work inspires readers to remember that City College gave and continues to give people chances, and that many of the college's alumni "ran with it." Her book shows that the college nurtures seeds, and the crop has yielded rewarding results.

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