Starting in 1963, one year and one surfer at a time, in each chapter renowned surfing journalist Sean Doherty tells the story of that surfer's year, what they did, where they surfed and their life events - in fascinating depth and detail. Illustrated with unpublished images from the surfers' private collections, these stories also give a vivid sense of the shifting world around them, particularly in the ever-changing realm of surfing. Opening in 1963 with Peter Troy jumping ship in Melbourne with a surfboard under his arm, embarking on his fabled surfing odyssey that saw him introducing surfing to Brazil, being crowned European champion, hitching alone across the Kalahari Desert and watching an unknown band from Liverpool called the Beatles, then 1964 is Midget Farrelly's story, of winning the first world title on home sand at Manly Beach. In 1969, Wayne Lynch goes down the coast as he avoids the Vietnam draft. And in 1971, Alby Falzon stumbles upon the island of Bali while filming for his humble surf movie Morning of the Earth. The book then brings to life the 70s, 80s and 90s and noughties through the eyes of the Australian surfers who defined them best, ending today with stories of contemporary stars like Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and Tyler Wright. Part journal, part biography, part surf culture memoir, A Year in the Life gives a fascinating insight into Australian surfing and what makes it so unique.