In The Geography of Bliss, go on a worldwide search for happy people with former NPR foreign correspondent Eric Weiner. This self-professed “mope” embarks on a journey to ten countries to learn if happiness is cultural, political, relative to wealth and comfort, psychological, philosophical, affected by climate or locale–all of the above, or none of the above.
Written with laugh-out-loud lines ala Bill Bryson, Weiner entertains the reader on every page with witty, self- deprecating, and astute observations in the course of his global trek to study an elusive concept: Is there a happiness factor that differs from one country to the next? He begins in the Netherlands, perusing the collection of established knowledge known as the World Database of Happiness. Armed with the existing scientific data from this vast source of studies and journals, Weiner travels to meet the people of Switzerland, Bhutan, Qatar, Iceland, Moldova, Thailand, Great Britain, India, and the USA. Surprises abound!
Where do they feed marijuana to pigs to make them hungry and fat? Where do the people express a willingness to accept government intervention into their lives for the common good? Where is there a lack of envy among folks and no stigma to failure? Where are there as many words for “smile” as there are Inuit words for “snow,” but where thinking is not highly valued and “never mind” is the mantra for ignoring instead of solving problems? Where is the desire for happiness self-defeating and life is considered “illusion,” of no more consequence than a game of chess? Where are the people three times richer than they were in 1950, but no happier, and have the means to pursue happiness at their disposal? Where is there neither taxation nor representation? Where is the goal of “Gross National Happiness” a government policy?
Weiner’s relaxed, engrossing, anecdotal writing style makes this a fun book as well as a virtual trip around the world. The Reading Group Guide at the end suggests the potential for a lively interactive discussion on the somewhat subjective attempt at defining happiness. Bon Voyage!
Stevie Michaelson, October 2012