Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor at St Paul's Cathedral and a writer and lecturer in Biblical Studies. Her research areas focus on the writings of the apostle Paul, with a particular focus on 2 Corinthians and on Paul's understanding of the body. Her publications include Heaven, Body: Biblical spirituality for the whole person and Searching for Meaning: An introduction to interpreting the New Testament.

'As Paula Gooder puts it, this book tackles all the "weird stuff" the Church tends to shy away from. We are in the realm here not of fluffy clouds and harps but of God's presence, angelic beings and mystical visions. Heaven, we discover, is not just about the afterlife but the here and now - about how we live with each other, the planet and God. This is indeed the essential 'rough guide' to heaven, and much more.'