Paradise Island : An Armchair Philosopher's Guide to Human Nature (or "Life Lessons You Learn While Surviving Paradise")

Are we masters of or servants to our own human nature? This illustrated, short novel presents a satire on human nature. "Human nature" are two words that are used often, but what exactly do they mean? This work explores, in narrative form, that mysterious collage of traits, emotions, and idiosyncrasies that describes the way we are and the way we behave – our envy, vanity, greed, and white lies as well as our loyalty, generosity, love, and honor. Paradise Island is a fable about a young adventurer who travels to the sunny, fun-filled island of his dreams, but struggles to keep paradise found from becoming paradise lost. A product of inspirational and literary fiction, this work will appeal to readers interested in fantasy, satire, and philosophy in fiction. "A delectable dish of human foible, served with parsnips baked in irony oil, all topped with a sprinkling of satire-roasted fennel seeds." –Justin Hurwitz, Editor, The Harvard Lampoon Paradise Island is a fable about a young adventurer who travels to the sunny, fun-filled island of his dreams, but struggles to keep paradise found from becoming paradise lost. This illustrated short story presents a satire on human nature. "Human nature" are two words that are used often, but what exactly do they mean? This work explores, in narrative form, that mysterious collage of traits, emotions, and idiosyncrasies that describes the way we are and the way we behave -- our envy, vanity, greed, and white lies as well as our loyalty, generosity, love, and honor.This illustrated novel is ideally suited to high school or college students studying English literature or philosophy and lends itself to classroom or group discussion. Weaving together fantasy, satire, and philosophy, and using the bar world as a backdrop, Paradise Island explores the topic of human nature and shows the folly in believing that we can control our own human nature. First published 2007 under title: Pleasure Island : land of the dancing mermaids.