"Originally published in hardcover by Little, Brown and Company, October 2011"--Title page verso
"A Back Bay Book"--Page 4 of cover

Includes index.

Prologue
Climbing up from the abyss
Venturing forth
Willie, Ann, and the clamor for "heroes"
Drawing the curtain
What a time it was
Kobe, Shaquille, and the summer of 1996
Wilt and my urge to disappear
The dark spot in the wood
Rebirth and the difficulty of becoming Elvis
The ride to Rancho Santa Fe, 11/17/08
Self-recrimination
Dream game
Seeking David
Epilogue
Afterword
Miscellany. What by body says ; My playing career in numbers

"He is one of basketball's towering figures: "Mr. Clutch," who mesmerized his opponents and fans. The coach who began the Lakers' resurgence in the 1970s. The general manager who helped bring "Showtime" to Los Angeles, creating a championship-winning force that continues to this day. Now, for the first time, the legendary Jerry West tells his story-from his tough childhood in West Virginia, to his unbelievable college success at West Virginia University, his 40-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and his relationships with NBA legends like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant. Unsparing in its self-assessment and honesty, WEST BY WEST is far more than a sports memoir: it is a profound confession and a magnificent inspiration"-- Provided by publisher.