Preview
  • Welcome to Paradise, Now Go to Hell

  • A True Story of Violence, Corruption, and the Soul of Surfing
  • By: Chas Smith, Joan Jett - foreword
  • Narrated by: Chas Smith
  • Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (116 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Welcome to Paradise, Now Go to Hell

By: Chas Smith, Joan Jett - foreword
Narrated by: Chas Smith
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.19

Buy for $17.19

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Welcome to Paradise, Now Go to Hell is surfer and former war reporter Chas Smith's wild and unflinching look at the high-stakes world of surfing on Oahu's North Shore - a riveting, often humorous, account of beauty, greed, danger, and crime.

For two months every winter, when Pacific storms make landfall, swarms of mainlanders, Brazilians, Australians, and Europeans flock to Oahu's paradisiacal North Shore in pursuit of some of the greatest waves on earth for surfing's Triple Crown competition. Chas Smith reveals how this influx transforms a sleepy, laid-back strip of coast into a lawless, violent, drug-addled, and adrenaline-soaked mecca.

Smith captures this exciting and dangerous place where locals, outsiders, the surf industry, and criminal elements clash in a fascinating look at class, race, power, money, and crime, set within one of the most beautiful places on earth. The result is a breathtaking blend of crime and adventure that captures the allure and wickedness of this idyllic golden world.

©2013 Chas Smith (P)2020 Tantor
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Featured Article: The Best Audiobooks About Surfing

Massive waves, breathtaking beauty, precious wildlife, extreme athleticism, spiritual allure— these are just a few of the things that draw people from all over the world to the ocean. For some, surfing is about adrenaline and adventure; for others, it can be a way to heal and connect with nature. Surfing audiobooks, both fiction and nonfiction, reflect this variety of perspectives, experiences, and philosophies. Find a list of the best surfing audiobooks, perfect for surfers, diehard surfing fans, ocean lovers, and even avid audiobook listeners looking for an exciting beach listen or an engaging nonfiction title.

What listeners say about Welcome to Paradise, Now Go to Hell

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    73
  • 4 Stars
    21
  • 3 Stars
    16
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    68
  • 4 Stars
    20
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    69
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Real

Good listen
I lived Chaz's North Shore experience in the 80's for about 17 years.
It was the Balls I have so many crazy intense soul filling memories !
Thanks Chaz but beat u to it I just wasn't keen enough to write a book.
I actually took on Heavier than you.
Hawaiian Mana is Real !!!
Thank you Hawaii Nea!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Another view of the the surf industry and the north shore

Chaz is a good writer with a sense of social intelligence of a complex local North Shote hierarchy. Worth a read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If you are a true Surfer you must surf on the North Shore, Once

This is an excellent book, which documents the intricacies of the violent realities that exist for any surfer who feel they have the mettle, thevbravery and enough mental screws loose in their mindset to endure the alpha male dominated, day to night 24 hour chose and drama. I liken this book to Jon Krakauer’s, “In to Thin Air,” an adventure nonfiction book about similar in chaos and drama that unfolds while climbing mount Everest. That's a tall order to claim, I know! However, being a surfer and mountainer myself, I can relate to the this amazing piece of journalism. Plus the narration is done by author, Chas Smith. He is remarkable in telling his story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a truly entrancing novel.

having no background to surfing, and never even seeing the Pacific, this book kept me.
as much as it follows one man, this book truly is the voice of hundreds. engaging from the point of several cultures and where they meet. time to visit Hawaii with a new found respect, and hesitancy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

Won’t lie, at first I didn’t like it because the author I felt was trying to sound smart and better than the reader. As the book went along I found it enjoyable and understood his writing style better. I think he hits the nail on the head. The islands are Hawaiians and need to be respected when visited. Hopefully people will understand that and treat the islands and people who live there with respect when visiting.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing

Loved everything about this book. I’m a lover of Oahu! I’ll forever look at the North Shore from a new perspective. I felt like I was night next to the author!
Amazing writer!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Him learning about north shore

I am learning how to surf on Oahu. And books like this totally help with why I want to learn.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pink Button Down

Finished it in 2 or 3 days. I found it really interesting. . . .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Huh, we’ll damn

I get Chaz now. He writes very well, but not sure if he’s brave or stupid

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If you surf this is the book for you

The most fun book of you have ever followed the WSL or how it used to be known as the ASP. North shore folk lore is our Greek mythology.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!