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

by: Eric Weiner

Published by: Twelve/Hatchette Book Group

Reviewed by Barbara L. Fielder

You won’t need to pack your bags in search of bliss. Eric Weiner, your able globe trotter, author and noted National Public Radio (NPR) foreign correspondent, will take you along in his epic search for the Geography of Bliss.

Eric claims unhappily in his first chapter, “I am not a happy person, never have been.” In his quest to find happiness, the author has indulged in self-help books, the numbers of which will rival what you’ll find in your local bookstore, and you’ll discover even this is not enough to satisfy his appetite in search for happiness.

You’ll journey around the world to the most suspect of happy places like The Netherlands and Switzerland, and then reach into a remote location such as Bhutan. Does money buy happiness? Visit Qatar where men can sit for hours sipping their latte and receive compensation for doing absolutely nothing. What about Iceland with its months of darkness? Are people really happy there? What about America? Is it the happiest nation on earth?

I read and enjoyed Eric’s sometimes wordy quest for happiness, coupled with a colorful and prolific travel log. His rich description and insight into each culture gave me the sense that I was standing next to him exploring the traditions, way of life and local customs of the populace. His discovery can also be yours as he shares his hilarious and sometimes introspective experiences with the people who, perhaps, are the happiest on earth.

Armchair Interview says: Travel the yellow and not-so-yellow brick road with this introspective author.

Author’s Web site: http://www.EricWeinerBooks.com