or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
29 used & new from £0.01
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Paradise: A History of the Idea That Rules the World
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

Paradise: A History of the Idea That Rules the World (Hardcover)

by Kevin Rushby (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
RRP: £18.99
Price: £18.04 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £0.95 (5%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock but may require up to 2 additional days to deliver.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Only 1 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

10 new from £0.01 18 used from £0.01 1 collectible from £21.00
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Paperback (New edition) 10 used & new from £2.11

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with Hunting Pirate Heaven by Kevin Rushby

Paradise: A History of the Idea That Rules the World + Hunting Pirate Heaven
Price For Both: £24.02

One of these items ships sooner than the other. Show details

  • This item: Paradise: A History of the Idea That Rules the World by Kevin Rushby

    In stock but may require up to 2 additional days to deliver.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • Hunting Pirate Heaven by Kevin Rushby

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Hunting Pirate Heaven

Hunting Pirate Heaven

by Kevin Rushby
4.5 out of 5 stars (4)  £5.98
Children of Kali

Children of Kali

by Kevin Rushby
4.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £7.99
Chasing the Mountain of Light: Across India on the Trail of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond

Chasing the Mountain of Light: Across India on the Trail of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond

by Kevin Rushby
4.5 out of 5 stars (11)  £7.19
Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia

Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia

by John Gray
3.6 out of 5 stars (25)  £6.48
Mapping Paradise: A History of Heaven on Earth

Mapping Paradise: A History of Heaven on Earth

by Alessandro Scafi
£29.75
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Constable (25 May 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1845290011
  • ISBN-13: 978-1845290016
  • Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.4 x 3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 544,759 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

The Guardian, April 16, 2005

'This is a wonderful book ... it manages to be balanced, humane and life-affirming'


Product Description

This title offers the story of the human quest for perfection. The paradise myth has been one of the most powerful motivators in human history, influencing and energizing all kinds of individuals and groups. From the Assassins of twelfth-century Persia to the Pilgrim Fathers of America; from Pythagoras to modern-day downsizers, there have always been those who would seek perfection on earth. This hope for an earthly paradise drives humanity onwards, pressing for change and offering salvation. Yet, it also comes attached to religious beliefs such as Armageddon, original sin and martyrdom - all notions that influence modern life even when hidden beneath a veneer of secularism. Kevin Rushby traces the belief in paradise from its earliest origins down to the present day, taking in a vast array of characters, particularly from within Christian and Islamic cultures. The story carries us not only through the delights of the botanic gardens and utopian dreams of seventeenth-century Europe but also to terrible events such as the Holocaust and the atrocities of modern-day religious extremism. "Paradise" uncovers the history of an idea and in doing so reveals some of the key events and characters that have shaped our view of perfect happiness.
See all Product Description

Tag this product

 (What's this?)
Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.
Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Paradise: A History of the Idea That Rules the World
75% buy the item featured on this page:
Paradise: A History of the Idea That Rules the World 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
£18.04
Children of Kali
15% buy
Children of Kali 4.0 out of 5 stars (2)
£7.99
Hunting Pirate Heaven
10% buy
Hunting Pirate Heaven 4.5 out of 5 stars (4)
£5.98
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A really fascinating read, 27 Jun 2006
This is the sort of book to dip into, mull it over and dip into again and again. Rushby writes great grabbers - little cameos to launch serious historical perspectives. And the links with our lives today lift this book from dry ancient history to the omnipresent question: which paradise am I seeking? Which God does my life honour? Rushby's book defies category. Its a little bit of paradise itself.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Masterpiece, 5 Sep 2006
By J Jacoby (Leeds, UK) - See all my reviews
I'm a huge fan of Rushby's travel writing - a fascinating mix of history, philosophy, theology and cultural analysis, which gallops along with the author's always intense and often dangerous experiences. He is a true adventurer.

So I eagerly awaited Paradise and was delighted. Kevin must have stayed in one place for a usually long length time to bring his vast knowledge and experience to bear on this universal concept.

He crams a lot of facts but his style of writing is fun to read.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An accessible magnum opus, 11 Jun 2007
By Andrew F. Field (York, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Paradise: A History of the Idea That Rules the World: A History of the Idea That Rules the World (Paperback)
In this highly entertaining work Kevin Rushby treads the fine line between academia and journalistic expression with masterly aplomb. The result is a major work reflecting mastery of a huge body of work yet accessible and presented with wit and a wry humour targeting the most human of our collective frailties: the longing for perfection.
With tasty morsels of personal history and travel from this well journeyed author we are taken on a global and historical jaunt through "civilized" man's longing for paradise - and the outright mess created at each fascinating twist and turn. What is clear is that Rushby has gripped a massive amount of research in putting this thesis together but the presentation never falters in its breathless and sometimes hilarious charge down the ages.
Ultimately, I felt that Rushby has produced a deeply spiritual book. At the least this is a deeply humanistic work describing the manifestations of perhaps our most important driving impulses. Hopefully, in presenting this thesis, which he ties up most skilfully in bringing attention to the modern world's variation on paradise seeking, Rushby contributes significantly to helping us to avoid pursuing our current trajectory of hurtling towards oblivion.
Highly recommended
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject












i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Ad

Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.