Slipping into Paradise: Why I Live in New Zealand

by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson

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.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography Memoir, History, Nature, Biography

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

He has written several books books critical of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and psychiatry as well as books on animals, their emotions and their rights.

He currently lives in New Zealand with his wife, two sons, three cats and three rats.

Reviews

[Kris Kennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting insights into Kiwi psyche. But the author is a pompous Yank.

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can a book be too informative? Yes, considering that this author just liked hearing himself speak. He spent at least 30-40 pages on birds and trees of New Zealand, which I had to skip over parts or I would have had to stop reading the book. The author is highly political and way too left for me, throwing in his views that children should not be spanked and he would only move back to America if the Dems were in power again (he wrote this in 2003). I don't mind his love for New Zealand because I'm happy that he is no longer in the States. Apparently Americans are all gun-toting morons.

The best part of the entire book was his last chapter on traveling throughout New Zealand and immigration information. I thought that is what the book was going to be about. I could have dealt without his talk of himself (he owns 13,000 books and has a wife 35 yrs younger than him). He should have stuck to the subject, "Paradise Found," and cut out all the other junk.

[Ming Wei · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book amazed me with the details that it included within its pages, highlighing many different aspects of life in New Zealand, which is a very place to visit. The book structure was easy to follow, and the information was supplied to the reader at a nice pace without over saturating the reader. Nice book cover. A good travel book, but also useful to people planning on going to New Zealand to live, one of the better New Zealand travel books I have read, no editorial errors within its pages.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to this book for two good reasons--I have long wanted to visit N.Z. ( I have been to Australia) and I have read other things by Masson and like his writing. Regarding this book, above all , it was fascinating to read about a man who found his idea of Paradise-and was able to take his family to live there. It's a very personalized book, but I think it needs to be to help understand his feeling that N.Z. is "paradise" and why he wanted to move there.
It struck me reading the book, that, first of all, New Zealand is an extraordinarily beautiful country, with its lush green forests, pristine beaches, and spectacular mountains.And amazingly uncrowded. As a person who enjoys feeding and watching the birds, I especially enjoyed reading his description of the bird life and other wildlife in the country. I'm sure I would greatly enjoy seeing some of those birds on a visit there. But, sadly, I already knew that it's almost impossible to see the kiwi there ( they're very hard to find!).
Of course, people are important and Masson finds the "Kiwis"( the N.Z. people) to be very friendly and that a real sense of community exists there. It goes without saying that this is a country where the populace is not armed to the teeth. Probably whole weeks go by without mass shootings! Paradise indeed!
I think it was interesting to learn something about the native people, the Maori. I would like to know more about them. Masson comments on the poverty of so many Maori. As he would admit, there are problems in Paradise...but compared to other countries, N.Z.seems to come off very well I think.
Would I want to live there?? It would be interesting and I'm sure I would like it.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was moderately informative, but not particularly exciting. The author focuses too much on his own charmed life and not enough on the truth of NZ.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I totally forgot to write about this book. I finished it like two weeks ago and never took note. The only reason I picked it up is because it's about New Zealand and books about the country are few and far between.

A simi-biography, it is mostly about the adventures some midlifer who randomly moves to NZ. He never explains why and just talks about how much he loves it and why. There is some long interview with Edmund Hillary and an overview of a good route to take if you go on vacation there, but otherwise, I can't really remember what else. I found it when I was at Cody's in SF over my bday weekend last month and I was almost going to buy it until I read the reviews on Amazon and everyone said it sucked, but I was still thrilled when they had it at the library and immediately checked it out. Books about NZ are so few and far between, I at least wanted to try it out and give it the benefit of the doubt.

It wasn't horrible, but I didn't really have what I was looking for. I am glad I have it a shot tho. I'll take what I can get.

Grade: D+

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting personalized look at a adopted home. I wanted to learn more about New Zealand, but not from a "I love everything about NZ and it's awesome and it's better than everywhere else" sort of book. I find little value in books like that. This definitely taught me more about NZ and makes me determined to visit one day. Overall a good read. Not gripping or particularly moving, but informative and thoughtful.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to get an outsiders take on your country, especially as a current expat. Pity this guys seems like a privileged rich jewish american douche. His science is lacking with a few contradictory points his editors didn't catch. Basic flora and fauna is ok but feels pulled verbatim from other books, I'm glad he found his own paradise in nz even though he leaves it to travel for 3 months of every year! If only we could all live that life....

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned that I am still bent on traveling to NZ--the author made me desire it all the more. p.s. the author can be quite annoying with his excessive preoccupation with self and his hypocrisy which are liberally dispersed thruout the read.

[JulieK · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came away from this book thinking that I'd probably like New Zealand but would find the author insufferable.

[Laine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretentious.

[Nancy Lewis · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book probably has lots of interesting information, but I just couldn't get past the unorganized writing. It screams for an editor.

[Ann Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

good tips for someone traveling here, but expect an easy-read

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew very little about New Zealand before this book, and having read it I don’t feel like I want or need to learn anymore. Masson has me convinced it really is paradise. The author is so in love with the place that as a reader, I couldn’t help falling too. Not that he tells us only the good stuff; he’s honest about the social and other problems, but the good seems to far outweigh the bad.

The book starts with a map - always a great first impression for me - and there’s an interesting chapter on flora and fauna, both native and those introduced later. Another intriguing chapter is about the native Maori people, how they live now and all that they lost when New Zealand was colonized by people who thought they had the right to move in and take over.

The last chapter is Masson’s personal itinerary of a road trip around both the North and South Islands showing us all the country has to offer and taking us to a few special places off the beaten track.

All in all a good book, and if travel is in your future, I don’t see how you could read this and not want to go. It truly does sound like Paradise.

[Valerie Quinto · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this really interesting and it whetted my appetite to visit NZ someday. Many reviewers noted that the author is pretentious, and while I can’t disagree, I also didn’t really mind. I just took it with a grain of salt and allowed myself to be amused by his quirks.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. Learned a lot about New Zealand, good and bad. Twenty year old book so kept in mind there more than likely have been changes but I enjoyed it. Interesting perspective. I recommend if you want to know more about this fascinating country.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is more about the author than it is about New Zealand. He is not that interesting.

[Rosemary Rigsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful insights that are not in tourist brochures.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fairly superficial and somewhat dated but still of interest since it brought back memories of our visit to New Zealand.

[Ginette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little out of date while still an enjoyable read on what New Zealand is like to live.

[Karen Holt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dated. White perspective on living in New Zealand. Some good social commentary and Māori info. Rambling travelogue

[Kathy England · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read, which I read because we were headed for a trip to New Zealand.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average book, which I loved because of my interest and being in NEW Zealand several times. So I related to his story telling of his journey to live in New Zealand.

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love New Zealand for many of the reasons the author does, but found this book totally pretentious.

[Bridgid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I should move there too!

From chapter 6 (part of a discussion on the horrible history of child abuse that sadly continues in New Zealand):

"New Zealand needs to rescind the law that allows parents to hit their children. Spanking children is banned by statute in eleven countries, including Israel, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Germany, and by high court ruling, Italy and Switzerland...people often say that banning something does nothing to remove it from society. This is simply untrue. If it were not, why would we ban smoking, or have laws that compel us to wear seat belts, or make drunk driving punishable by law? Why have sexual harassment laws? Obviously once something is the law of the land, people think about it in a different way. It does not entirely disappear, but attitudes change, and consequently behavior begins to change as well...In Italy, the (judge noted)...that just as Italy itself had moved away from fascism, so it must also move away from the concept of the authoritarian father who can physically punish his children at will."

Chapter 9 - Itinerary

North Island, fly into Auckland, rent a car
Ponsonby, the "in" place
Mount Eden
Drive by the Viaduct
Follow the coast east, Tamaki Drive
Mission Bay
St Heliers (where the author lives)
Karaka Bay
The island of Tiritiri Matangi, or Rangitoto, or Waiheke
The Waitakere Ranges, the main forest area in Auckland (RAIN! forest)
The West Coast beaches with golden/black sand, Piha or Te Henga or Bethells Beach (but be careful - critters, tide)
Huia, the Whatipu Peninsula

Coromandel
Thames
Tapu-Coroglen Road
Rapaura Water Gardens
Whangapoua
Hot Water Springs
Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve in Hahei

Warkworth
Tawharanui Regional Park
Hokianga, Maori country
Muriwai
Rotorua, aka Sulphur City - HOT SPRINGS!!

South Island - more remote
North of Takaka, Pupu Springs
Wanaka
Queenstown - resort-y, some adventure activities like bungee jumping

Milford Sound

[Sally906 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had very high hopes for this book, I thought to myself who could be more convincing of how wonderful New Zealand is than someone who has chosen to live there after being in so many other countries in the world. Sadly, I did not see Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson’s paradise all I saw was a person pontificate about anything and everything to with New Zealand. In fact he often mentioned the fact that he has written other scholarly books to prove what an intellectual person he was. There is an expression in Australia ‘You’ve got tickets on yourself’ and this author certainly did on many occasions throughout the book. Mind you, to be fair, I did find out some interesting facts, and some of Masson’s descriptions were amazing, but I was taken aback by the frequent negativity of his opinions about a country that the he was supposed to be touting as paradise. I certainly understood very quickly that politically he is very left of left and this coloured his views on a range of subjects over and above why you should visit New Zealand. The best chapter in the book was actually the very last one where he actually wrote about travelling through New Zealand and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would have been happier if the rest of the book had been about this rather than what turned out to be little more than lectures on fauna, flora and history of New Zealand, some of which was interesting but most had my eyes glazing over. And, strangely, in the first half of the book, Masson went into the psychological differences between various nationalities around the world to prove why New Zealand was a great country; I can’t help but think it was a bit rude to stereotype a whole nation. Overall I think the blurb was a bit misleading when it likened it to Under the Tuscan Sun and A Year in Provence

Rating: D – Average - it was OK, a bit of a struggle to finish whatever redeemable aspects there were to this book, they were not fleshed out enough for me to truly enjoy it.

[Sandra Noel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book. New Zealand is a place I've always wanted to go. The descriptions of New Zealand scenes, flora, fauna, etc were really good. However, the rest of the book was a different story. The man is supposed to be talking about Paradise, but there was an overall negativity to the book that really bothered me. On top of that, not only is the author obviously a serious liberal with resulting views thereof (pro Socialist healthcare, anti parents rights, etc.), but there was a very egocentric feel to the book. At one point I felt that if he wrote the word "intellectual" one more time I was ready to scream! Though he may not have come out and called himself a great intellecual, there was the feeling throughout the book that he really feels himself so much better/smarter than most people. I mean, seriously, you go to visit Sir Edmund Hillary taking as a gift books that you wrote?!? In fact, he mentions multiple times that he has written many books. Many times I wanted to shout out "Shut up about yourself--tell me about New Zealand!!!!" Even when talking about how wonderful NZ is, he still is very strong on what he considers it's negative points. I guess there was just an overall feeling of him talking down to/about everyone and everything. I enjoyed the descriptions, but they didn't make up for the sheer irritating arrogance of the writer.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite parts of this book were (1) those parts where the author contrasted life in New Zealand with life elsewhere (except after a while the harping on "where else could this ever happen?" started to grate on me) and (2) the listing of where things could be improved in New Zealand. Oh, and his visit with Edmund Hillary.

I was looking for a "what is life like in New Zealand" book, for various reasons (planning a visit, knowing people who live there, and planning to represent New Zealand in a "meet the other countries" Girl Scout event), and it seemed like someone who has lived there a while, after living and visiting many other places, would be an expert. It's hard to know about a place until you've lived there, but it's also hard to get perspective if you haven't lived elsewhere. This author does know a lot about the country, and has thought a lot about it, too.

My complaint with the book is that the details are almost too much. Having not been to New Zealand (yet?), I cannot follow him as deeply into the details as he goes. Maybe it's me -- maybe I just need to get my imagination in better shape with some workouts at the imagination gym -- but my mind was wandering, especially when he was speaking about the varieties of birds and trees.

Overall, it's an informative book, but it wasn't as entertaining as I would have liked.

[Maryanne Houghton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hesitant to read this book because of all the other reviewers saying that the author was full of himself. I'm glad I gave it a shot. For the most part, I really liked the book. There are a few chapters where it got a little boring (50 important dates in NZ history, and the one about trees and birds - neither interest me, so I skimmed through those), but overall, I liked it. My husband and I are taking a trip to NZ in 6 weeks, so I've been working my way through books to create an itinerary. (Being Americans, we don't have 2 weeks of vacation to tour the country, so we're going to try to hit the highlights on both islands.) For this reason, the last chapter (personal itinerary) was really interesting to me. Overall, this book definitely makes me want to go to NZ. It definitely sounds like a paradise.

[LibraryCin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

Masson is an American who has chosen to live in New Zealand, after living in many other countries around the world. He loves his adopted country and is writing about it in this book. He has chapters on the history, the flora and fauna, some travels throughout the country, etc.

I've been wanting to see NZ since I was in high school. There were parts of the book I enjoyed (flora, fauna descriptions, in particular), but the travel section was very specific to places he has travelled to. That makes sense, I guess, but the chapter just didn't flow well, for me. Other than that, I do like his easy-to-read writing style. Some people seem to have taken offense to his political viewpoints, but I suppose I barely noticed, because I mostly agree.