Happiness is "home" and a book that is illuminating and funny

books:


	• 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 81 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Author's search for happy places finds surprises.

Eric Weiner, after a decade of writing about ugly places, cheerless people, and dreadful events decided he wanted to find happiness in the world. He researched the meaning of happiness and the locations most recognized for blissful people and, after ranking them, set out to visit and write about them. The Geography of Bliss is an accounting of his findings after traveling to locations in ten countries where, according to researchers, happiness abounds.

But, according to Weiner, in this amusing and insightful book, life is never full of joy even in locales famous for happiness. His first stop was in the Netherlands to interview researchers at the World Database of Happiness in Rotterdam. He was given figures to rate locations on a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the happiest). Meticulous scientific studies provided him with information about the sociology of happiness. He found that most people of the world consider themselves happy, but the ratings don't necessarily back them up.

The author outlines contradictions and misconceptions about happiness and rates different lifestyles, occupations, political leanings, economic structures, and even climatic conditions against one another. He finds anomalies; happy countries tend to have high suicide rates, people with children are no happier than child-less couples, wealthy people are only slightly happier than poor ones. Weiner is able to convey this fascinating background information in clear and intuitive writing.

Weiner then physically travels to the locations rated highest on the happiness meter where, along with his personal observations, he interviews residents and governmental figures and creates essays that are startling, amusing, and entertaining.

The author has an amazing ability to blend his thought processes with his actual findings, thus creating a more insightful and personal chronicle. That, combined with his ability to recreate the dialogue and depict the personal face of those he interviews, makes this a book to savor for those who appreciate good writing.

Schuyler T. Wallace

for more information click here

A fun ride

I enjoyed this book a lot. Weiner, like all good travel writers, has a great openness: he takes things as they come, is willing to immerse himself in an experience, and makes the effort to see the locals' point of view. While these qualities are valuable anywhere, I think they serve him best when he's visiting the "unhappier" countries -- for example, he's able to draw out his bitter landlady in Moldova and learns the history behind her attitude. In spite of his self-proclaimed status as a "grump," he's empathic and understanding, so I wasn't surprised when he concluded that relationships are the greatest contributor to happiness. The book is very funny, too (not a continual guffaw, but I found myself chuckling again and again), and I look forward to further acquaintance with the author.

for more information click here

Happiness is "home" and a book that is illuminating and funny

Eric Weiner does an year long journey into places that are contradictory and different, in search of what makes people happy. He sometimes get into science of happiness studies and weaves his tongue in cheek observations and conclusions into actual travails that he had endured. He participates with the societies he finds himself into and focuses on "normal" people in those societies. If happiness is all about places, author does not give any definitive reasons to it, but the journey itself and the way it is narrated is so beautiful that you will enjoy reading this book until the end and will hope for more. If you are from some of the societies which he describes, like India where I am from, you will feel that some of his observations are perfunctory. But considering the complexities of any society and the time he had to spend with each of them being very little, it is something you can pass over without being offended.

for more information click here

A must read for avid world travelers

This book presents a very nice mix of philosophy, sociology and travel. Well written, interesting observations about many cultures around the world. Having been to many of the countries discussed and wanting to go to some others, I found it quite enjoyable to read about his experiences and observations. Yes, he does have a lot of one liners, but very few elicit an eye roll and many are humorous. I also found myself contemplating my own situation in a different light. A nice catalyst for introspection in addition to an excellent read.

Humorous musings

I enjoyed reading this - Weiner's humor is similar to Dave Barry and Bill Bryson. Although it is not particularly conclusive, it still provides some food for thought to those wondering if they are in the right place.

for more information click here

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, page 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

hot

not?

What's your opinion?

Write a review and share your thoughts!

recommendations

25 books to appease your travel lust
Personal Spiritual Journeys
Books Read in 2008 Part I
The How of Happiness
Offbeat Travel

search for books
geography of bliss, bliss, geography, grump, happiest, places, search, world

Impressum / about us