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Book Review: "The Geography of Bliss" by Eric Weiner
Add another page to the "Why Didn't I Think of That?" file.
The concept is so elegantly simple: take what is arguably the top two human aspirations - happiness and travel - combine them, then flesh out a book proposal. I bet that book deal was inked on the strength of the overview alone.
Thusly inspired, I'm already 2,000 words into my latest book proposal about Lamborghinis and orgasms, but I digress...
"The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World" (Twelve), a memoir/travelogue by Eric Weiner, beautifully blends the timeless search for happiness with an amusing on-the-ground examination of the dispositions of people in 10 of the most (and least) contented countries on Earth.
A confessed "mope", Weiner (coincidentally pronounced 'whiner' - ki ki ki!) admits straight off that he's a hard sell on happiness. You'd be too after two decades working as a foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, reporting on wars, disasters and the ancillary misery. Untold years of introspection, therapy and a metric ton of self-help books have yielded little progress and having recently entered the Heart Attack Years, he confesses that his happiness attainment optimism is flagging.
Stick around after the review to see how you can get your hands on a copy of the book for free, just in time for Christmas!His epic quest for bliss starts in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where Weiner plunders an encyclopedic database of worldwide happiness levels, maintained by noted happiness researcher Professor Ruut Veenhoven. Conveniently, the Dutch make a good showing on the happiness index, what with their cycling, prostituting, soft drugging ways, so Weiner starts his research immediately by making a beeline for the nearest hash bar.
Though it was good hash (the Moroccan), it fell short of being the key to his happiness. So Weiner dons his journalist tights and cape and sets out on months of travel to happy places (Iceland, Switzerland, Bhutan, Thailand) and a few unhappy places (Moldova, Slough [U.K.]), where he conducts interviews to uncover what makes these people so happy/unhappy.
Weiner does an enviable job of balancing his travelogue with what must have been painstaking research, while maintaining a light and humorous tone. Two decades of jet setting journalism has put a finish on his writing style that is at once worldly and polished without becoming tedious or snobbish. His insight, careful consideration and occasional epiphanies show that while he may not have achieved everlasting happiness (yet), his exhaustive pursuit of it has made him extremely well-versed in the theory.
Does he find the key to bliss? Well, you're gonna have to buy the book. But I will offer that while reading this book, not only did I get a good read on my own happiness (which was unexpectedly high), but I also gleaned a rather surprising number of tips to making myself even more happy. Though I can tell you from personal experience that gleaning tips and utilizing tips are two very different things.
"The Geography of Bliss" is due out in hardcover in January of '08, exquisitely timed for when everyone's post-holiday letdown starts taking hold. Pre-order it for your favorite grumpy travel enthusiast now.
Want to win a copy? It's easy. Here's how:
- To enter, simply leave a comment below. Make sure to use a valid e-mail address, or else we'll have no way to contact you if you win!
- The comment must be left before Friday, December 7, 2007 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
- You may enter once.
- 5 winners will be selected in a random drawing.
- 5 winners will receive The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner (valued at $29.95).
- Click Here for complete Official Rules.
Filed under: Books
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Aldrin Oct 16th 2008 1:03AM
Cool book! I am a Geography Undergraduate, (and even if I'm not) I'll surely enjoy this one.
Thanks for the review and the chance to win a book! :)
*btw, the official rules page doesn't work.
Turkey Tours Apr 7th 2010 11:18AM
it sounds interested.
cappadocia and turkey tours
labimmerinsider.com Nov 23rd 2010 3:53AM
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Fifi Tumewu Feb 16th 2012 11:24PM
I think Eric is the most honest person in the whole world!!! I have lived in Switzerland for 5 years during my early twenties, the Swiss is always complaining about the weather and for them Brazil is prettier, Australia is more human and versatile and so on....sooooo Congratz Eric for this book. I have started reading in my own language which is Indonesian but the translation is terrible, will buy one in English.
Mark Dec 3rd 2007 9:24AM
What a great idea for a book! Looks like a great read...
justtob Dec 3rd 2007 9:47AM
It will be interesting to see how Weiner defines happiness. Icelanders might be happy, but if I moved to Iceland, would I become happy just because I lived there? There are many routes this book could take, I look forward to reading it.
John Dec 8th 2007 7:37AM
I have become a believer that the bliss is in the journey, not the place ... no matter how great it may be. And, though I have found several of these great "places," the bliss is in the person(s) I have travelled with, the many "events" along the way, and my own inner "peace." I am not a practicing Zen Buddhist or an escapee from some "cult" in California or 60's utopia "Hog Farm" (though I find Joseph Campbell's books and videos closest to many of my "beliefs") ... just a 60-year-old who has come to peace with life ... and all the good and horrible "stuff" in it. I would like to read Eric's book, but wonder if he is not looking for his "bliss" in "all the wrong places."
Chris Dec 3rd 2007 10:01AM
Interesting idea. Would definately be a good read. :)
Cindy Dec 3rd 2007 10:36AM
Sounds like a very useful book; there must be some reasons why people in some countries are happier than those in others (and not all the happy countries seem to fall into the wealthy group). I'm sure environment, income, access to healthcare, etc. all have an impact, but maybe there's something else, something that each individual can control?
Jeff Dec 3rd 2007 10:50AM
Is it really possible to get an objective measurement of happiness? Maybe people in Switzerland aren't really happier than other places, they just think about it differently.
hya Dec 3rd 2007 11:22AM
Sounds like a cool read :)
Moody75 Dec 3rd 2007 11:56AM
NPR
David Dec 3rd 2007 12:59PM
Sounds like an interesting read.
Anastasia Dec 3rd 2007 1:11PM
I'd love to check it out! :)
Mark Dec 3rd 2007 1:13PM
Sounds like a pretty cool book. Darn, more on my amazon wish list. :-)
Lesha Dec 3rd 2007 1:19PM
Sounds interesting
sam Dec 3rd 2007 1:45PM
Interestingly enough, I read a study that stated that having children do not make you substantially happier, but being married does. I don't buy it. Study also said that traveling itself adds a lot to happiness.
Jen W Dec 3rd 2007 2:40PM
This book sounds great. I'm happy (at least I think I am) and traveling at the moment, but would love more insight and tips.
Tony Sago Dec 3rd 2007 2:46PM
Great site! I'm new to it...and this book sounds like a great read!
Jeff Dec 3rd 2007 4:01PM
Excellent concept and no doubt well written. It will be interesting to see what creates or destroys happiness