Inside-Out examines life in Israel and kibbutz in relation to questions of identity and belonging. Based on the personal experiences of Dr. Julia Chaitin, the book weaves together explorations of education, social relationships, economics, work, gender, ideology, and social structures in the kibbutz. These explorations are intertwined with discussions of the themes of violence, the military, the Holocaust, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and diverse ethnic groups in Israel.

Recounting events from over thirty years of living on a kibbutz in Israel, the American born author reflects upon the development of her identity and also draws on psychosocial and cultural understandings of everyday events in a kibbutz and in Israel, which presents an intricate look at life in these unique societies.