The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World

On page 322 the author gets as close to defining happiness as is possible for him: "Money matters, but less than we think. Family is important. So are friends. Envy is toxic. So is excessive thinking. Beaches are optional. Trust is not. Neither is gratitude." This result of Eric Weiner's research is supported by many amusing and instructive international happiness stories (with statistics woven in). This "supporting data" is what makes the book go.

"The Geography of Bliss" is a very enjoyable read. The author travels to several different countries to try to determine how high (or low) the overall level of happiness of a particular country is and how a country's culture defines happiness. I'm a little wary of someone drawing conclusions that may seem to stereotype entire nations, so I took this book with the proverbial grain of salt. That being said, "The Geography of Bliss" is both very interesting and quite funny; I laughed out loud several times. Weiner is a self-admitted grump who isn't a particularly happy person himself, which made Weiner's journey not just academic, but personal as well.
Each chapter of the book covers a particular country visited by Weiner. I especially enjoyed the chapter on Moldova, which may be a bit ironic as Weiner found it to be an extremely depressing place. Weiner also interweaves his experiences with theories on happiness from philosophers through the ages, and with current scientific research on "selective well being." It is also interesting to learn how governments have gotten involved in the happiness "business." Many of Weiner's conclusions as to what makes people happy may be common sense, but others may surprise you. If you like travel, learning, and laughing, give "The Geography of Bliss" a try.

Sharp. Witty. Provactive. Weiner travels the globe, ostensibly to discover the "happiest" country in the world. But like the Pied Piper he mesmerizes us with his lyrical insight, until the question in our hearts becomes at last, not what makes the REST of the world happy, but what in fact makes US happy. (Here's a clue fellow Americans: It's not more money!) I was happy reading this book. I'll be equally happy, I'm sure, reading it again.

Do not be deceived by the subtitle "One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World". Mr. Weiner begins his one year quest to find the happiest places in the world in The Netherlands, where he analyzes professor Ruut Veenhoven's "World Database of Happiness". This database comprises numerous countries ranked based on responses to happiness surveys. Listed in the top five are Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Iceland and Finland, only two of which the author travels to; Switzerland and Iceland. Clearly, this is hardly a search for the happiest places on earth, especially given the fact that Mr. Weiner includes countries such as India (ranked 45-46) and Moldova (ranked 93) in his itenirary. Moldova leaves him depressed for weeks following the conclusion of his trip there.

Mr. Weiner's true objective is to define happiness and how to achieve it by visiting a mix of uber happy countries (e.g. Switzerland, Iceland, The Netherlands), middle range happy countries (India, Thailand), and the bottom (Moldova....Molwhat?), and to that end, he offers excellent advice on universal rules of happiness.

Thanks to his credentials as an NPR journalist who has traveled to more than 30 countries to report on human misery and suffering (Iraq and Afghanistan included), Mr. Weiner arranges meetings with key individuals in each country to solicit their opinion on happiness.

Weiner's witty and informative book will appeal to a wide range of audiences including travel enthusiasts, self-help junkies, the philosophical minds, and basically everyone else excluding the Boston Celtics who will face the L.A. Lakers for the 2008 NBA championships following their game 6 win against Detroit last Friday.

For pictures that serve as an excellent supplement to the chapter on Bhutan, visit Eric Weiner's web site.

Excellent reading!!! Bypasses all the acedemics, the statistics, the historians, the perceptions - goes straight to the people who experience their bliss or lack of it.