Gerald Friesen offers an insightful and thorough account of how life is in the mysterious and often misunderstood area of Canada known as the "West". An westerner himself, Friesen can attest to the fact that this region of Canada has undergone many changes since the first settlers landed here, and that it constitutes today a dynamic and excitng place to live, with specific regional (provincial)caracteristics. In fact, Friesen clearly states the evolution of the conception of the West, usually by the East, from a whole region, to four distinct societies and economies, who nonetheless share with each other the "western" label.

For those who wish to learn more about the intricacies and specific attributes of Western Canada, Gerald Friesen's book offers a great introduction, in a langauge that is clear and easily readable.