The Geography of Bliss

In his 2008 nonfiction book The Geography of Bliss, Eric Weiner travels the world in search of happiness. Weiner, a former foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, sets out in this travelogue to investigate where in the world people are the most happy—and why. Casting himself as an inveterately cranky person, Weiner mixes humor, scientific inquiry, and psychological research to explain geographic concentrations of elevated mood. Since its publication, the book has been on the New York Times best-seller list and has been translated into almost 20 languages. Another work by this author is The Geography of Genius.

Summary

In the Netherlands, Weiner smokes hashish and visits Ruut Veenhofen, who researches what makes people happy. Weiner then produces an atlas of happy places to visit.

In Switzerland, Weiner travels the country by train and spends some time eating chocolate. The clean country has happy residents; however, they have a limited range of emotions, Weiner finds.

Weiner next flies to Bhutan. The isolated Buddhist country has quite different customs than elsewhere. Weiner visits healers, temples, and residents; and finds peace.

Weiner then visits the recently wealthy Muslim country Qatar, a country that consists of a tribe ruled by an emir. Members of the tribe receive large amounts of money, don’t pay taxes, and rely on foreigners to do most work. Despite the money, Qataris do not seem very happy, although some Qataris say that Muslim faith produces happiness.

After Qatar, Weiner flies to Iceland. Despite the dark and cold climate, the country has a high happiness score. Weiner says that the people trust each other, and have a common culture. This, rather than money, produces happiness.

Moldova, a former Soviet republic, scores low in the rankings of happy places. The impoverished Moldovans conflict over their national culture, distrust each other, and also often complain of lack of money. However, Weiner argues that their unhappiness isn’t caused by poverty.

Weiner then visits Thailand, where people are happier than in the United States and take themselves less seriously. Still, a coup takes place as Weiner leaves.

Weiner goes to the English town of Slough, notorious for its bleakness, as happiness experts attempt to increase the happiness of some residents through a television program. Weiner interviews residents, including some who went on the show.

In India, Weiner visits an ashram. He interviews many Indians, including a happiness researcher. Weiner perceives India as a country of contradictions, finding happiness and sadness thriving alongside each other.

In the US, Weiner settles in Miami. However, he and many of the people he meets there dislike the city; ultimately, he decides to leave.