A Beginner’s Guide to Paradise – A Review
I may have used affiliate links for some of the items in this post. Using an affiliate link to purchase an item won't cost you any more money, but I may receive payment if you click on a link and make a purchase. For more information, visit the disclosures page.
I recently got a chance to read an advance copy of A Beginner’s Guide to Paradise by Alex Sheshunoff. This memoir about Sheshunoff’s time in the south pacific was a wonderfully entertaining read. A big thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for my Advanced Reader Copy (ARC).
So what’s this book about anyway? A Synopsis –
A Beginner’s Guide to Paradise is set up a lot like a how to book, with different lessons to help you learn to do things like:
- Move to a South Pacific Island
- Wear a Loincloth
- Read a Hundred Books
- Diaper a Baby Monkey
- Build a Bungalow
- And Maybe, Just Maybe, Fall in Love! *
* Individual results may vary.
The book is the true story of how a quarter-life crisis led to adventure, freedom, and love on a tiny island in the Pacific.
From Robinson Crusoe to Survivor, Gilligan’s Island to The Beach, people have fantasized about living on a remote tropical island. But when facing a quarter-life crisis, plucky desk slave Alex Sheshunoff actually did it.
While out in Paradise, he learned a lot. About how to make big choices and big changes. About the less-than-idyllic parts of paradise. About tying a loincloth without exposing the tender bits. Now, Alex shares his incredible story and pretty-hard-won wisdom in a book that will surprise you, make you laugh, take you to such unforgettable islands as Yap and Pig, and perhaps inspire your own move to an island with only two letters in its name.
But I’ve never heard of this author….
Sheshunoff describes himself as the author of a lot of emails and several Facebook posts. A Beginner’s Guide to Paradise is his first published book, but having read it I think you should too. Sheshunoff’s book has a truthfulness that most people can’t seem to find in their lives, and it’s funny. If you enjoy a good laugh, or just want to know more about Alex, visit his website.
So how was it?
I’m probably a little biased, because I do love a well-written memoir, but I found A Beginner’s Guide to Paradise to be a fantastic read. Following Alex’s journey is a lot of fun, especially after he meets Sarah, a lawyer working in Palau. I don’t want to give away any of the exciting things that happened in the book, just know that you will learn some interesting things, like what country has 2,000 pound money made from stones, and what gifts are appropriate for village ceremonies. And who wouldn’t want to know about that? Definitely read this book.
Where can I get my copy?
A Beginner’s Guide to Paradise is out now. Order your copy online, or visit your favorite local bookstore.