The Geography of Bliss

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner is a delightful and thought-provoking exploration of what makes people truly happy across different cultures.Narrative and Writing Style: Weiner’s writing is engaging, witty, and often humorous, making the book an enjoyable read from start to finish. His storytelling is rich with personal anecdotes, cultural observations, and sharp insights that keep you hooked throughout the journey.Content and Themes: The book takes readers on a global tour, examining the factors contributing to happiness in various countries. Weiner visits places known for their high levels of reported happiness, such as Bhutan, Iceland, and Switzerland, and contrasts these with locations where happiness seems more elusive. The blend of travelogue and psychology offers a comprehensive look at the concept of happiness from multiple perspectives.Personal Insights: Weiner’s exploration is both entertaining and enlightening. His candid reflections on his own quest for happiness, combined with his observations of different cultures, provide a nuanced understanding of what contributes to a joyful life. The book encourages readers to consider their own definitions of happiness and how cultural contexts influence our pursuit of it.Overall Experience: The Geography of Bliss is an insightful and enjoyable read that combines travel adventure with deep philosophical questions about happiness. It offers a refreshing perspective on how different cultures approach the concept of joy and satisfaction.In summary, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the science of happiness, cultural studies, or simply seeking an entertaining and reflective journey. Eric Weiner’s blend of humor, insight, and personal experience makes The Geography of Bliss a memorable and impactful read.

Our book club reviewed this book and we were uniformly positive about it, despite several of us feeling at the beginning that we would not care for it. The light touch belies the thoughtful observations and comments. I cannot wait to share certain chapters with folks who have or will soon travel to one or more of the countries the coverage of which constitute chapters.I did wonder how many of the author's views and perspectives on happiness and bliss were already well formed and if the chapters then were a way of contextually making those points. Maybe not. Fun, interesting and provocative anyway.

If you're interested in the study of happiness, this book is for you. If you're interested in cultural geography, this book is also for you. And if you're interested in both of these subjects (like me), this book may very well be a dream come true for you, the kind of book you always wished someone would write, but doubted that it would happen.This is actually one of the very best books I've ever come across on ANY subject. Eric Weiner is a spellbinding storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat as I listened to his tales of world travels in a quest to understand happiness. Along the way, he effortlessly draws on an impressive erudition as he seamlessly weaves in insights not only from the "science" of happiness, but also a diverse range of relevant philosophy (both Western and Eastern) and other disciplines. And last but not least, though he claims that he's unhappy and calls himself a grump, he's very likable, very witty, and VERY funny!While it would be great if Weiner could end the book by presenting a simple magic key to happiness, those of us who have already traveled similar roads ourselves know that such an expectation/hope is probably unrealistic. Instead, we learn (or are reminded) that the truth appears to be more subtle and complex. For example: (a) happiness isn't a "thing" we can capture (like money), and it's remarkably hard to pin down just what happiness actually is, (b) there appear to be many roads to happiness (whatever it is), both personally and culturally, and finding a road that suits you seems to be important, (c) happiness may be something that just happens to us, based on how we live our multifaceted lives, rather than something we can deliberately pursue (again, like money), and (d) our proper highest aims may be different from happiness or may transcend it, and seem to involve relationships and love.But don't let the above conclusions underwhelm you or steer you away from this book. Weiner unfolds a richly enlightening and entertaining tapestry which is not to be missed and goes beyond anything which can be adequately compressed into a summary, as is the case with all great literature. No, this book isn't an exhaustive or systematic study of either happiness or cultural geography, nor does it pretend to be, but it does offer a uniquely valuable contribution positioned at the intersection of these subjects.Finally, please note that I joined Weiner on this journey via the 12-hour unabridged audiobook, and I found it to be a perfect format for this book, narrated flawlessly and sincerely by Weiner himself. So I especially recommend the audiobook, though I plan to read the print version also (yes, this book is that good).

Loved the writing style and the content of the book. Eric manages to communicate serious conversations in a humorous way and I feel instantly feel clicked with the ironies but end up smiling about it. I find the content of the book extremely relatable, to my own life as a researcher, traveler and as a yoga instructor. The book is written with a practical yet explorative mind-set and delusional advices are not thrown at the readers.I received a copy this morning and have already read a good portion of it. Definitely recommend for others to read this book.

I read his book 'The Geography of Genius' and now this precious book about a topic as complex as simple. At the end you will know that bliss is not in or out there, is everywhere and nowhere, and your community valueshelp a lot to make it sustainable.

Weiner describes with humour, in a critical, funny way, where he found happiness and where he found none. He does it with a clear, easy-to-read style, inviting the reader to go to all the different places he discovered and concluding that happiness is finally.... No, read better by yourself in the book! ;-)

Found this so interesting and funny at times

This is a delightful book, in turns, witty, very entertaining, and yet thoughtful. I have bought several copies over the last few years, to give it to friends. Weiner explores ideas like the country happiness index, and through a series of observations about different places -- including Bhutan, Iceland, India, and Slough, England, and interviews with locals, and with experts, comes to a series of conclusions about what makes the people in a place happy. His answers are surprising, for it's not only the obvious things such as prosperity, but a sense of connectedness. He rates people in Iceland as very happy, for example, because despite its often inhospitable climate, and long dark winter nights, everyone in the country feels related, a relative of someone in the government, or of someone famous. Also, many Icelanders have hobbies, such as playing music, and they don't feel that they must be the best, but only that they should enjoy these past-times. Everyone who has received a copy from me loved it. A friend two weeks ago, thanked me for it and said it gave him the travel bug!