Eugene Richards‘ book War Is Personal delves into the lives of 15 people forever changed by the war in Iraq. As a photojournalist, Richards is known for unflinching explorations of his subjects’ lives, no matter how uncomfortable. In each chapter, the impact of the war is shown in photographs and interviews with soldiers, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers, revealing their emotional battles more vividly than you might imagine.

When the book was released, in September 2010, Richards visited TIME to discuss his project. “People have done a lot of great work on the war,” Richards said. “But I think the more intimate you get, the closer it comes to you.” Watch the rest of the interview here.

For more information on the book, visit www.warispersonal.com.