Michael Fitzsimons and Nigel Beckford: The Extraordinary Passions of Ordinary New Zealanders

By GILBERT WONG

Passion is no ordinary word, as the song once said. Of late it has become very ordinary and the poor noun has even been forced to become a verb, as in the horrendous "We were outpassioned".

As the honourable Murray Mexted might say, it's overuse has become egregious. Repetition and overuse have long taken any novelty the word might once have had. This collection of self-published pieces looks at New Zealanders chosen as passionate examples of their kind.

It's an odd mixture that puts those who express passion for their work, such as Unlimited editor Vincent Heeringa, alongside magazine-cover-girl collector Daniel Salisbury, and one wonders how they chose their league and rugby fans.

A response to Gordon McLauchlan's 1976 book, The Passionless People, this book is about 25 years too late.

Fitzsimons Beckford Communications

$34.95