Slipping into Paradise: Why I Live in New Zealand | 
|  | | | Title: | Slipping into Paradise: Why I Live in New Zealand | | Author: | Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson | | Publisher: | Ballantine Books | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | 26 July, 2005 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0345466349 / 9780345466341 | | List Price: | $14.95 | | You Save: | $2.99 | | Amazon Price: | $11.96 | |
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Product Description
In the tradition of Under the Tuscan Sun and A Year in Provence, here is Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson’s ode to his personal paradise–his adopted home, New Zealand. After living in California, why did Masson settle– out of all the places on earth–in such a faraway land? It turns out that while visiting a beautiful sandy beach just fifteen minutes from bustling Auckland, Masson and his family were utterly seduced by the exotic locale. There was little deliberation. This place, surrounded by lush forest on a bay dotted with volcanic islands, would be their new home.
Masson takes readers on a remarkable journey to another world, as he and his family “slip into” the paradise that is New Zealand. For anyone who has ever dreamed of finding utopia, Masson reveals a country where neighbors talk to one another and provide a sense of real community–rarely, outside of the big cities, locking their doors–and where politics are as mellow as the weather. New Zealand is also a land of spectacular scenery, made even more famous for being the shooting location for the Lord of the Rings films. The flora is plentiful. Mangroves, banana plants, papaya trees, and more than ten thousand species of ferns grow wild and freely. The fauna is benign. There are no snakes, tarantulas, or scorpions. Children can walk to school barefoot without a care– there is nothing to sting them, bite them, or give them a rash. In the blue waters near the lush coastline, dolphins and orcas abound.
While describing his love affair with the country and his affinity for its citizens, Masson reflects on the meaning of home, the importance of acting on intuition, and what happens when we lose our connection to the place we live in. Responding to an impulse, Masson reveals, he realized a dream.
Featuring a its glossary of phrases used by New Zealanders and important Maori words, as well as the author’s recommended travel itinerary, Slipping into Paradise is ideal for anyone planning a visit to this exquisite land. Full of photographs, delightful anecdotes, and little-known facts (jogging, for example, was invented in New Zealand), Slipping into Paradise is also a book for those who fantasize about dramatically changing their lives–and who imagine something better for themselves. Jeffrey Masson’s message: New Zealand awaits.
From the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews:
• Why Did I Find This Book So Annoying? 08 February, 2006
Speaking as an American living in New Zealand (indeed, a Berkeleyite, just like Masson), this book really got under my skin, and not in a good way. Masson arrives in New Zealand with all his Berkeleyan world-explaining ideas (The Despoiling White Man, The Noble Savage, The Oppressed Native Peoples ) intact, needing only a smattering of experience to trot them out and apply them to his adopted country. There is next to no learning in this book, remarkably little writing of charm, insight or wit--just an endless litany of "I did...", "I felt...", "I was affected by..." paragraphs, interspersed with the kind of factual material that a high-school student might include. As journalism it is far too slapdash. As memoir, its self-regard and -indulgence far outweighs its meager helping of resonance. In short, I can't believe that this book had an editor.
This is clearly a book that was written on his veranda, for people who already take him for an intellectual/empathetic figure of note. Not having ever read anything else of his, I found nothing here to justify that standing, which makes it only the more irritating that he is so "up himself", as the Kiwis would say.
New Zealand is indeed a wonderful, wonderful places, for some of the reasons Masson describes, and for many others as well that he never notices. Even when he says something I sort of agree with, I start mentally arguing with him. GAHH!
- Reviewed by customer ID: AUE051SI0H176
• Not Really About Nz 04 August, 2006
But about the author himself. Obviously an intelligent and well-traveled man. You can't miss that point , as he reminds you of such every other paragrah. I do , though , actually enjoy his writing style and enjoyed the book despite him. More on the actual state of living in NZ would be called for. After reading the book , I know little of how the common Kiwi spends his day , week or year. How the children grow through school and society. The state of business and commerce. I know much much more of the author's political beliefs (Michael Moore is courageous, American Blacks are entitled to reparations etc etc) that have no connection with , or bearing on , New Zealand. I know that he and his wife are well read , well traveled , well met(oh the name dropping!) and certainly , well off. I know that, with broad brush strokes , and 'not quite right' fellings in his gut, he paints entire countries and cultures - not as inferior to new Zealand's - but as unworthy of his residence. And thus Mr. Masson's book , in it's essence, is not really more than so much of the same pseudo-intellectual fluff that he so casually , yet specifically, dismisses.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A9F9C990LANU6
• A Great Disapointment 11 August, 2008
The opening passage peaked my interest yet it was not far into the 2nd chapter before I realized this book is a dud. If it was assigned in a University to a class of psychology majors I could see it being useful, but not if you really want to learn about life in NZ. My family and I are hoping to move there and I approached this book wanting to see how another transplant viewed NZ. The author has psychology training and it seems he slips into psychoanalysis mode way too easy. He tells you many things about all the other countries he has lived in and not enough about NZ. I found his conversation with Sir Edmund to be just plain bizarre. Fortunately I did not buy this book but borrowed it. So if you are thinking of reading it check out your local library or you might feel like you wasted money.
- Reviewed by customer ID: ANXQEL57J7492
• This Book Is Not Paradise 31 December, 2005
It's not that it's a terribly _bad_ book, just hopelessly mislabeled. A better title would be "A Dull Exposition of the Flora, Fauna, and Native Peoples of New Zealand". It's not a total loss, the author gives some insight on the pros and cons of other places (e.g.: Hawaii - too confining, London - too expensive and dirty). He also gives a nice itinerary at the end of the book, even giving directions to his beach-side house.
Several times he points out the tendency of Kiwi's to cut pretentious people down to size, which is especially ironic since the author appears to be pretentious in the extreme.
If you're looking for a book to give solid information about emigrating to New Zealand, this isn't it. If you're looking for practical day-to-day advice from someone who has done it, this isn't it. If you want a heavy dose of whining and pontification - this is the book for you.
My recommendation: "Browse" the book at a local bookstore (you can read the 1-2 worthwhile chapters very quickly) then save your money and put it back on the shelf.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2GZ6DMYRXFADP
• Great Read--full Of Depth 28 December, 2007
I picked up Slip into Paradise in advance of my first trip to New Zealand, later this year (2008), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was looking for something that was more than the run-of-the-mill guide book or history book (both of which I also acquired and are helpful). I was not disappointed at all with Jeffrey Masson's account of his experiences in New Zealand.
This book added a third dimension to my travel preparation. I feel like I got a great flavor for what inspired his love for his adopted country, and confirmation of why I have been so interested in traveling to that country. I am not one to travel and sit in a tour bus or hang out where all of the other tourists go, and I greatly appreciate Jeff's personal itinerary that identified specific places that he found to be fun, interesting and not the local tourist sites.
I experienced the book as having been written by someone who is not afraid to get out there, enjoys meeting with people in many venues, learning a lot about himself and a new place, and sharing these experiences in an engaging way. I totally recommend it and look forward to my trip to New Zealand and hope that I can experience the richness of getting to know New Zealand to the extent that Jeff has experienced. If I come away with this kind of adventure I will not be disappointed and will have stories to share with friends and family.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2PA90AGJWUNSY
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