2018年是中国实行改革开放40周年，值此改革开放40周年之际，本书稿的编者放眼中国社会，在不同的领域选取了40位有鲜明特点和代表性的中国人，在他们当中，有锐意革新的政治家，有政绩突出、和蔼可亲、风趣幽默的官员，有家庭、事业稳定有成的中产，有IT行业的精英，有新兴行业的先行者，比如电商，比如淘宝店主，有抢占商机的成功人士，也有闯天下、谋发展、追逐梦想的打工者。可以说人物的选取囊括了现今社会的多样化阶层。这其中有精英、有草根、有工人、有农民、有学生、有教授……有形形色色的中国人。这些人的共同点是他们都在改革开放的浪潮中凭借着自身的努力不懈奋斗，在奋斗的过程中，他们得到了奋斗感、获得感。将这40人的故事组合在一起，恰好是用每个人的故事全方位、多角度全面地向国内和国际社会真实又生动地讲述了中国改革开放政策是如何践行的、中国的老百姓是怎么样在改革开放的政策指引下过上美好生活、真切享受到了改革红利的故事。

严冰，人民日报海外版记者部主任、高级记者。作品曾获“关注森林奖”等新闻奖项，率领的团队曾获“全国青年文明号”等命名。
出版的主要著作：《我当上了列车员》（作者、中国铁道出版社）、《你好，一带一路》（主编、人民出版社）、《学习关键词》（策划、人民出版社）、《犀利的中国》（策划、人民日报出版社）。主要新闻报道：《人民日报》头版头条《大西北再架钢铁道》《大漠风尘别有情》；《人民日报·海外版》头版头条《关山万里走京九》《千秋功业千秋事》《硝烟渐尽思悠远》；《人民日报·海外版》12个整版“微观中国”长篇系列报道。

Tu Youyou: A Lifelong Pursuit and Passion for Artemisinin
Liu Xianlin: Bringing Earth Home
Zhao Qizheng: A Performer of Pudong Symphony
Feng Jicai: A Staunch Guardian of Culture
Yan Jinchang: A Pioneer of Xiaogang Village
Long Yongtu: A Pioneer for Chinas Accesion into the WTO
Zhao Derun: A Journalist Who Never Gets Old
Wen Yuankai: Tailblazing Through Reform and Opening Up for Four Decades
Roger T.Ames: A Foreign Professor Teaching Chinese Philosophy for 40 Years
Xu Yifa: The Man Behind the Wheel of Four Different Locomotives
Ye Xiaowen: One Who Keeps Pace with the Time
Du Shaozhong: A Weibo Oficial Who Takes the Path Less Traveled
Shan Jixiang: Palace Guardian Reopens the Palace
Mo Yan: Coming from a Sorghum Field
Fan Xi'an's 24-hour Bookstore
Meng Xianming's Ballad
Du Yue: Connecting to the World Along with China
Wllam Brown's Afection for China as "The First Foreign Residentin Xiamen
Kong Xiaoning: Undying Love for the Polar Regions
Zhang Yongping: The One Who Created 〝The No.1 Foreigner-oriented Market in China〞
Wu Weishan: Tiding Over to the New Era on a Sculpting Journey in Pace with the Times
The Flower Growers of the Meng Family: Dedicated to Only One Type of Flower for a Lifetime
Ma Yun: A Chinese Entrepreneur and Businessman Who Mastered the 〝Open Sesame〞to the World
Zhu Zhengfu: The Mision and Duty of a Lawyer
Lei Zairong: Legend of a 〝Garbage King〞
Han Yuhai: A 〝Big Issue" Researcher in an Era of Reform
Luo Hong: A Chinese Entrepreneur's Life of Three Styles
Li Wanjun: Facilitating the Chinese Dream with a Welding Torch
Li Ya: The Path of Entrepreneurship for New Media Practitioners
Pan Jianwei: A Father's Passion and Love for the Country-〝A Father of Quantum〞
Li Jianhua: A Builder and Witness of Three Air Gateways
Wang Xin: Producing Safe and Healthy Food
Dong Qing: A Chinese Story of the 〝Face of China〞
Zhang Juncheng: The 〝Picture of a Tower, a Lake,and a Library〞 That Altered His Prospects in Life
Cheng Wei's 〝Oars〞
Hai Qing: An Actress' Road to Charity
Zhang Daming: 〝It's the Right Choice to Go with the Pace of the Times〞
Liu Wei: The First Cyberspace Writer to Earn One Million Yuan a Year
Yao Ming: Three-time Transformation for This Chinese Basketball Player
Qin Yuefei: A Village Official from Yale University