When on sets out to write a history, they are in a sense, reworking events that have happened previously. In its worst form, this is called revisionism, a good example of this would be to read a United States-published history book five years from now and see how it handles the current events in Yugoslavia. What is wonderful about Michael Brooke's book, is that the purity and fun of the sport seems to come out, while the pointless skate politics that have plagued the sport since its beginnings take a backseat.

Brooke concedes that the book isn't complete, no history book is, but by the time I turned the last page to see Muska on the back cover, I got the feeling that I did understand the extent of the incredible evolution of these 2 x 4s and rollerskate wheels.

Textually this book sometimes feels dry and unexcited, and some of the layout is a little uninspiring. The pictures throughout cover the entire range in terms of quality, though even the grainy early shots seem vital in understanding skateboarding's roots. There is even a small section of skate zines, though I can say with some arrogant bitterness that skatedork was not mentioned.

In all, we have the best attempt yet made to record the makings of this sport, great job Michael.