The Geography of Bliss
Ratings13
Average rating3.9
Part foreign affairs discourse, part humor, and part twisted self-help guide, The Geography of Bliss takes the reader from America to Iceland to India in search of happiness, or, in the crabby author's case, moments of "un-unhappiness." The book uses a beguiling mixture of travel, psychology, science and humor to investigate not what happiness is, but where it is. Are people in Switzerland happier because it is the most democratic country in the world? Do citizens of Qatar, awash in petrodollars, find joy in all that cash? Is the King of Bhutan a visionary for his initiative to calculate Gross National Happiness? Why is Asheville, North Carolina so damn happy? With engaging wit and surprising insights, Eric Weiner answers those questions and many others, offering travelers of all moods some interesting new ideas for sunnier destinations and dispositions.
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This book had a strong start but by the end it felt a bit tired. However, I would recommend it to anyone who likes travel memoirs, a subtle humor, and pop psychology.
I absolutely loved this book. It made me want to hop on a plane and just go. Fascinating. I recommend it for every travel or positive psychology lover.
I can relate to Eric. Overthinking, finding happiness, where is it, what is it, questioning everything. Ofcourse its subjective - Happiness. What it means for me is different for you. But by surveying multiple countries (here 10) he and I found what gives us happiness vs what doesn't.
I now know countries and people of Switzerland, Iceland and maybe Netherlands will make me happier since I align with the lifestyle and values of the region. Have always felt through my time in France and UK that Europe suits me (my sample set only includes US and India).
Fun fact - 1/10 people in Iceland have published a book, 5/10 read at least 8 books a year. Their education system is absolutely brilliant.
