Bookmarks Subscribers discussion

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

Has anyone read this yet?

I'm about to start reading this for my March book club selection. I can't help but think of Jimmy Buffett's "changes in latitudes, changes in attitude."

I'm curious to see where the happiest places on earth are, if not Disneyland. For me, I can be happy anywhere as long as I have a good book. [A margarita or a glass of wine helps also.:]

I enjoyed this book very much. It is written in a conversational, somewhat cynical tone that makes it a fast and funny read. It contains some very unexpected destinations. After reading the book, I was determined to go to Iceland. Of course, now that its government is bankrupt, it might not be such a "blissful" place anymore. ;)

Here, here on simple happiness with a book and wine (a fireplace doesn't hurt either)!

I'm about a 100 pages into the book, so I haven't reached Iceland yet. I did however help my son with research on Iceland for a Model United Nations position paper he did last month. [He was a delegate for Iceland.:] I read about an Iceland tradition called the "pub crawl", where you went from bar to bar to bar to bar....so that after drinking in each place you were literally crawling to your next destination. This could be the source of their happiness, but I think it would be short-lived!

So far, I haven't gained in great wisdom on why some countries are happier than others, but I'm definitely enjoying the trip so far. I can't seem to get the images out of my mind of giant phalli painted on the sides of houses and buildings in Bhutan. I need to read on before I go to bed tonight, so I don't dream about them.

I've been entertained by the three countries I have visited so far. I find Weiner's wit and sarcastic observations fun to read.

Glad to hear you are enjoying the book. It has been awhile since I read the book so I don't remember all of the countries he visited. I do remember thinking that some of the countries definitely were "un"happy - but the stories entertaining nonetheless. What a terrific project for your son. As a "delegate", he definitely needs to travel there!

Okay, I've finally finished this book. It's taken me a few weeks to read it, not because it wasn't good, but because I found it a book to best be enjoyed in small sittings, otherwise it becomes encyclopedic. I liked discovering the small details and nuances of life in other cities around the world. Weiner provided an off-beat glimpse at the possible sources of happiness and in some instances unhappiness across the globe. He did this in a tongue-in-cheek, droll sort of manner.

I don't know that I necessarily found the secret to happiness or the happiest place in the world to reside; rather everything is relative. There is no perfect place to live. Our environment may influence our attitude, yet it is our relationships within this environment that have the greatest influence on our happiness.

The book was an amusing journey in the search for happiness. I found myself laughing at some parts and thanking God for where I'm at in others. Weiner took me on a memorable ride to places I'd like to visit and some I'm not likely to venture to.

My book club discussed the book last night and found it led to our most lively meeting yet.