No comments about Luca Antara.

No comments about Going as Far as I Can: The Ultimate Travel Book.

5 comments about Slipping into Paradise: Why I Live in New Zealand.

1. 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.



2. 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!



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. 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.

2 comments about Insight Pocket Guide New Zealand (Insight Pocket Guides).

1. This is a colorful book with lots of pictures about New Zealand. Its first couple of chapters include the history and culture of New Zealand are especially interesting. They were very useful for visitors to the Kiwi country. However, its lack of large street maps, area maps and detail route maps are disappointing as well as annoying. Although the front cover has an overview map of both the north & south island, I think it will improve the ease of reading and research if various level of district maps and street maps are provided, especially when a traveller was deciding which hotel/motel to book reservations and how far he/she needs to drive from one scenic spot to the next. Without this, it is disasterous for travel planning. Other things to include will be web sites for driving directions such as www.wises.co.nz etc. For a backpack traveller like me, I will even be willing to pay more if road maps/ street map of Auckland are included with the book (which some of the publishers are already doing).



2. great information on new zealand cities and points of interest,historical & commercial. excellent itineraries with photography to give you a true sense of the trip, including physical requirements. recommend it highly for a first-time visitor!

1 comments about Waitomo Caves Wonderland or WeirdoLand?.

1. I loved this story! What makes it so funny is the author's wry sense of humor and her ability to laugh at herself. The description put the reader right there through the whole experience (one I wouldn't want to have!), and I'm sure I sighed with relief when she finally emerged unscathed from the cave. I look forward to more stories from this author.

4 comments about Living and Working in New Zealand, Third Edition: A Survival Handbook (Living & Working in New Zealand).

1. I thought this was a good, thorough book that contained all the info you might need to know if you're considering moving to New Zealand.



2. I bought this book about a year ago, just as I was beginning to think of a move to New Zealand. Well, here we are, one year later... and I'll be there in four weeks time!

   This book helped me so much that I simply had to write a review of it before leaving. There are only about twenty books on my list to take with me to NZ, and this is one of them. I can't recomend it highly enough.

   I've been to NZ a handfull of time now. I find this book to be right on the mark. It captures just about everything you need to know about living and working in NZ, and many thing you don't need to know... but are entertaining in their own right.

   Mr. Hempshell touches on everything that a prospective migrant would want to know, with a great deal of humor as well (I love the little cartoons). I also bought books which were supposed to be about immigrating to NZ. Steer clear of these books. They tell you nothing that you can't find out for yourself on the NZ immigration web site.

   If you are thinking of moving to NZ this is the book for you. Of all the books about NZ I've bought this year, this is the only one I still refer to. You'll not go wrong, trust me.




3. I read this book before i went on a vacation to New Zealand last year. It was fairly informative. If you have absolutely no knowledge of the country, this book will be very helpful. However books such as this one are not extremely useful, even if they were updated each year. (which this book isn't) The section about Television in New Zealand was outdated. This book makes it seem that even the best satellite service will not compare to even cable in the US. In other words, their television offerings are scarce. However, I found that to be untrue. Sky TV offers many channels and has good variety. This is just an example of how this book cannot possibly keep you informed about a rapidly changing country like New Zealand. The point is, if you really want the scoop on living in New Zealand, ask your friends who've visited for information. An even better way is to search on the internet. Go to a chatroom that has New Zealand inhabitants and ask them. They are very friendly.



4. I found thins book to be not at all helpfull to me in moving to New Zealand. In fact I found it to be very out of date and the back section that talks about the Kiwi people and their way of life seemed depressing to me. I found the book to be constantly stereo typeing Kiwis. Sheep, beer, rugby etc. I think that the information in this book was true 10 years ago but a lot has changed in New Zealand in that time, especially in the cities. The information in this book is all available on the internet and it is constantly updated there.

3 comments about Fodor's New Zealand 2007 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. If you're looking for something that you can take along with you for reference, then this book is not it -- it's way too clunky. If you're COMPLETELY unfamiliar with the country, then this book is for you. If you're going to visit EVERY part of the country, then this book is for you. But if you're only going to do a city stay, or see one or part of one of the islands, then this book is NOT for you. If you already have your itenarary planned out, then this book is NOT for you. About the only thing that I liked about this book is that it gave me some ideas for side trips, and a map. Both of which I could have gotten when I arrived in New Zealand.



2. I have just got back from New Zealand, and got the 2006 guide with me...
   
   And I must say that the good thing about these books are the tips they give on each city, and yes, it also gives an idea of the itinerary you can chose by the ammount of days you will be going to...
   
   Even though NZ is a place fully prepared to be receiving tourists and Visitors Information centers just about everywhere in the country (for Real !!) and with plenty of information (that sometimes can cause confusion), the book was something that me and my wife always liked to read and get some of the tips.
   
   The only drawback is that it does not point out at a Budget or even shoestring travel.. It is more on the medium to high profile by some of the guidance the book gives to you (about 80% of the time), but is a real good thing to take along.
   
   We definitely liked it, and I could say that a lot of the tips we actually (restaurants, places to go..) followed and we satisfied with it.
   
   You will like and for the price, it's worth to take at the trip.
   
   And you will just love New Zealand... I bet you will !
   :-)



3. This has been an excellent source of information for my friends and me. We are going to New Zealand next year and know nothing of the country. Since we are planning on visiting wineries, we were happy to find enough on the subject to start planning which ones are "musts" to see.

No comments about Let's Go New Zealand 7th Edition (Let's Go New Zealand).

No comments about Fodor's See It New Zealand, 2nd Edition (Fodor's See It).

No comments about Drive Around New Zealand, 2nd: Your guide to great drives. Top 15 Tours. (Drive Around - Thomas Cook).