Slipping Into Paradise: Why I Live in New Zealand

By Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345466349
• ISBN13: 9780345466341
• Release Date: July 2005
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful book!!

I bought this book a couple of weeks ago. I love it. Jeffrey describes it sooo beautiful and give you soo many information. About the people, language, history.... It is beautifully written.

.....have you ever been to paradise?......

Hey,people, watcha doin'tonight?..tired of TV?..Like to take a virtual journe to paradise?...here's how..see that book on your nightstand? It says SLIPPING INTO PARADISE on the cover...go ahead,pick it up.Now,turn the pages...fall into a journey,one man, and his family ,have taken..you'll see two islands called New Zealand, through the eyes of this man,as he weaves a tale of never-ending wonder...two islands ,he now calls home..As you settle back into the backseat of his virtual tourbus,listen to him glide you through paradise...empty,golden beaches,to snowy capped mountaintops...fern-laden forests,cascading to tourquise seas... hope you don't mind Jeffrey's exuberance regarding floral and fauna..his knowledge and wonder bursts upon your senses,where it becomes familiar knowhow,you,being one with the natural world,totally digging the unknown wonders of New Zealand,and him guiding you through his new found treasures...Take note,people; though,his views may not resemble yours,disregard your feelings when he speaks his mind...your virtual tourbus driver has taken it upon himself to invite you upon a journey to these islands, his new home;where regardless of where he's been,regardless of his views.Free your mind,relax,slip between the pages..Jeffrey Masson's virtual tour to New Zealand is a delightful and informative read... yea, it's right there by your bedside... pick it up ,open up the pages..pleasant dreams......

A good introduction

Slipping into Paradise is an enthusiastic account of life in New Zealand by a newcomer who has fallen in love with the country. I grew up in New Zealand and spend a lot of time there, and Jeffrey Masson's account rings true and reads well even for people who already know these fortunate islands. I like the book's engagingly frank autobiographical element and its entertainingly idiosyncratic comparisons with the cultures of other countries Mr. Masson knows. He seems genuinely determined to understand what makes New Zealand tick and most of his answers, even if you don't agree with them, are both reasonable and thought-provoking. I'd recommend this book to anyone thinking of visiting New Zealand, long term or short term.

Antipodean delight.

Moving abroad is a tremendous, life-changing decision, especially when one is leaving the United States, the country were much of the world wants to live. In this day and age, it's heretical for an American to go on record as saying the Imperium is wearing no clothes, and life might be better elsewhere. Masson and his family settled in New Zealand and have been building a peaceful, safe, and rewarding life for themselves in a beautiful country unspoilt by excessive development, rampant commercialism, and regressive politics. Masson tells his own story with the exuberance of a new immigrant. He is enraptured by the landscape, the people, and the opportunities he finds in New Zealand. He also offers a certain amount of criticism, but the point of this book (which I think other reviewers missed, because they disagree with his politics) is really to say that he has started anew in a country with much more to offer than the one he left behind. This is a well-written and interesting book, and I'm glad I took a chance on it.

A Personal Account of a Peaceful Arrival

Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson's new book SLIPPING INTO PARADISE: WHY I LIVE IN NEW ZEALAND is a vivid personal account of a man who has searched for peace and found it. Mr. Masson's portrayal of New Zealand, its history, and its people provides valuable insight into an exotic land. Masson describes the country in beautiful detail, and he provides a unique guide to New Zealand terms and idioms. I felt happy for Mr. Masson and his family as he wrote about a land where children are safe, the environment is pristine, and people are thoughtful. Masson's narrative is filled with detail, analysis, and useful tips for those who want to take their own spritual and physical journeys to new lives and new homes. The author's own humanity shines through as he highlights his own quest for contentment. I found hope in Masson's words and in his life, and I will now read more books by this kind, thoughtful, talented author. This book is much more than a travel/relocation guide. It gives one hope.