Surviving Paradise: One Year on a Disappearing Island

by Peter Rudiak-Gould

Book Overview

Just one month after his 21st birthday, Peter Rudiak-Gould moved to Ujae, a remote atoll in the Marshall Islands located 70 miles from the nearest telephone, car, store, or tourist, and 2,000 miles... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1402766645
• ISBN13: 9781402766640
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Union Square Press
• Length: 244 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Engaging and well balanced

One of the finest travel-oriented books I've read. It's an engaging look at a country and culture that most of us have probably never thought or heard much about. Perhaps most surprising, when compared to similar books I've read, is the degree to which the author manages to present such a balanced narrative. He compassionate and sensitive when appropriate, but also uncompromising in his criticism and introspective analysis. One note: while the subtitle calls to mind the environmental issues that may be facing these islands, they are NOT the focus of the book. Only a small section at the end is dedicated to the potential role global warming could play in the future of the Marshall Islands. I point this out lest someone might pass this book by, thinking it were a treatise on global warming and the environment, when instead the focus is squarely on the experience of living in one of the most remote and isolated corners of the planet.

Surviving Paradise, One Year on a Disappearing Island

Surviving Paradise, One Year on a Disappearing Island, is a timely book. Peter Rudiak-Gould has captured a way of life that is far removed from his California roots. As a young man, he volunteered to teach on Ujae, one of the Marshall Islands. He ventured into a very foreign way of life and studied it with a fine tooth comb. This author is obviously extremely observant of small, interesting details; the ones most of us might never know about except by reading this fascinating tale. Peter's own values were challenged to his bones as he tried to teach the young Marshallese children. But he didn't leave; he got in there and worked his tail off. He learned their language and he learned their values. The writing is superb; intellectual, but easy to read. Not only is it a story of his teaching, but of love, sickness, boredom and adventure. It would be an ideal introduction to an anthropology course because is covers so much in a friendly and easy-to-read way. It would be an adventure for those who might want to try something like this, but who might need a sober introduction! A fun read for any age. Well done!

Surviving Paradise -- Amazing New Writer

I read a lot of travel literature. I was amazed at the writing of this book. He is better than Paul Theroux. He is as good as Jan Morris. I can't believe that this is a first book by a guy who is 23 years old.

Read this book

I bought Peter Rudiak-Gould's book Surviving Paradise and haven't been able to put it down since it arrived. Peter's a great storyteller and his year in the Marshall Islands provides an interesting, funny, engaging story to tell. I highly recommend this book.

I was there

I was part of the WorldTeach group from 2003-04 and was Peter's "island buddy" for his year in paradise. I am the 'Jeff Wooddell' mentioned in the acknowledgements section. Having spent only one week on Ujae, I certainly never reached the understanding of these people and their culture that Peter did but I can truly say that, if you want to disappear from the rest of the world, Ujae would be the idyllic place to do it. It's tropical, warm, friendly, miles from anywhere, and the snorkeling is excellent. ========== Just finished the book. I became more engrossed in the cultural story of the people on Ujae as I read through the book. Even though I spent a year in the Marshall Islands as part of the same group as Peter, and a week on Ujae itself, nothing "educated" me as much as his book did. If there was only one book you could read to learn about all things Marshallese, this would be the book.