No other artist captures the drama and fragility of the AIDS era as Karen Finley does in her classic 1990 book Shock Treatment. In her new introduction to this 25th anniversary edition, Finley traces her journey from art school to San Francisco's North Beach literary scene to her campaign against censorship. She also reflects on publishing her first book as she became internationally known for being denied an NEA grant because of perceived obscenity in her work.

Karen Finley's performances have been presented at Lincoln Center, the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, the Steppenwolf in Chicago and others. Her artworks are in numerous collections and museums including the Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. She has received numerous awards and fellowships including a Guggenheim Fellowship, two Obies, two Bessies, Ms. Magazine Woman of the Year Award, NARAL Person of the Year Award, and NYSCA and NEA fellowships. She has appeared in many independent films and has written and/or edited eight books. Finley is a professor at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.