This monumental history of West Auckland is both a beautiful coffee table book, and a comprehensive and authoritative study. At a little under 500 pages, densely illustrated with contemporary and historical photographs, and contributions from experts on every imaginable subject and theme, it's hard to imagine there being any stone unturned. From geology, through chapters on Maori mythology and history, early European settlement, industrial development, wine making, coastal and maritime history, politics, the arts, architecture, surf lifesaving, even crime; every aspect of life in the West is covered. There are contributions from Bob Harvey, Bruce Hayward, Douglas Lloyd Jenkins, Paul Moon, Keith Stewart, Dick Scott and many others, as well as many photographs from the JT Diamond collections and Marti Friedlander and others. A brilliant book, well referenced. I have already sought out quite a lot of out of print titles referred to in the text for further reading.