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

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World | Eric Weiner | Excellent read

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The Geography of B...

	The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World Eric Weiner Twelve, 2008 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 82 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Bliss is not nailed down but the effort is entertaining

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.

Excellent read

I really enjoyed this book. As some have commented, it is both very funny and very thought-provoking at the same time. In fact there are so many theories on what does and does not create happiness throughout the book that my head began to spin after awhile. While many people have naturally compared him to Bill Bryson (usually favorably, sometimes not), I was reminded more of (1) Elizabeth Gilbert's great book "Eat, Love, Pray" (since Bryson's writing tends to be heavier on the descriptive and lighter on the contemplative), as well as (2) A.J. Jacobs, who--though not a travel writer--still has a similar humorous writing style as Weiner.

Three things surprised me about his choice of countries. First they are all north of the equator. No South America, no countries in Africa, etc. Second, I'm surprised he didn't pick one or two sunny vacation-type spots, like in the Caribbean or something similar. This is not so much because people there necessarily WOULD be happier in those places, but perhaps we imagine that they would be and he could have told us what the reality is, or seems to be. Finally, I've always heard that Australians are quite happy and I would have been interested in read his take on that. Maybe Australia is just too big for him to take on.

Anyway, I really recommend the book.

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A blissful book

"The Geography of Bliss" was a pleasure to read. Weiner combines armchair travel with wry humor that often had me laughing out loud. It was a fun and painless way to "visit" some exotic places on earth that I would never dream of visiting. Evidently, we humans can adjust and be happy in a variety of climates and cultures. In the words of my favorite character, Luba from Moldova, I rate this book much higher than her typical "feevty-feevty."

Open minded, informative, refreshing and humorous.

As I write this I have not finished the book (I am savoring it a few pages a day with all the other books I am reading at once) but it is such a pleasing experience I want to recommend the book and its author. I have the Kindle edition and technically it is well done; no text problems etc.

I love my Kindle ; it is not a swindle.

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