The Geography of Bliss

One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World

By: Eric Weiner

Narrated by: Eric Weiner

Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Part travel memoir, part humor, and part twisted self-help guide, The Geography of Bliss takes the listener across the globe to investigate not what happiness is, but WHERE it is. Are people in Switzerland happier because it is the most democratic country in the world? Do citizens of Qatar, awash in petrodollars, find joy in all that cash? Is the King of Bhutan a visionary for his initiative to calculate Gross National Happiness? Why is Asheville, North Carolina so damn happy?

In a unique mix of travel, psychology, science and humor, Eric Weiner answers those questions and many others, offering travelers of all moods some interesting new ideas for sunnier destinations and dispositions.

©2008 Eric Weiner (P)2008 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"In the end, Weiner's travel tales - eating rotten shark meat in Iceland, smoking hashish in Rotterdam, trying to meditate at an Indian ashram - provide great happiness for his readers." (Publishers Weekly)

fun listen

I loved the dry saarcam of the writer. it was entertaining and well researched, full of wanterlust, and realism. sad it didn't go forever and into every country known :)

Enjoyed listening about places visited

A fun listen about what makes people happy, their perception of happiness and what do we really need to be happy. We don't need a lot.

Author has good voice for reading audio.

Happy travels

This book is a skillful blend of travelogue (short vivid impressions of the physical place, lots of recounted conversations with the people who live there) and research into the science of happiness. The research is presented clearly and simply and is integrated smoothly, always tied directly to the author's experience in whatever country he is in. The author calls himself a grump, but in truth, I didn't find him all that grumpy: he was self-deprecating and usually quite funny and open to the people he meets along the way.

Nicely-paced, expressive narration by the author. A small point: I loved the music at the start of every chapter!

Entertaining & insightful - a true wanderlust gem

Narrated with charm in the inimitable style of a true radio personality, this journey around the globe with multiple stops in fascinating places makes for an adventure of both mind and spirit. Some wonderful, some sweet, some soulful, some ugly - each destination is detailed in Eric Weiner's astute and unsentimental journalistic style. You'll learn a ton about places you've never heard of and feel more connected to a world you might never have imagined... and possibly gain insight into your own happiness.

Wonderful Read/Listen

The writer travels from country to country in search of happiness. There is no easy answer to this difficult question. But the author did a great job in presenting the relatively obscure topic in an entertaining way. It is more like a travelogue , albeit with a quest of happiness, covering countries Bhutan,Switzerland,Qatar,Moldova,UK,India and US. I liked the way he presented the observations of the countries traditions and their quotidian tasks very much. He didn't used a dense prose , it was an easy read like a casual observer and something we can relate to. If you happen to visit some of the countries, then it would be much better, as it helps you to correlate. If you didn't visit any , no problem, experience it vicariously.

Even though, I liked all the chapters, by the end of the book I think the narrator, author himself, seem to go much faster and I was unable to catch up with the speed. So, I ended up reading the book instead of listening to it. It was minor quibble though, as in the whole book he did a great job in narration except the last chapter. On the whole, I enjoyed a lot and I might also read/listen his other books.

Wonderful

I am a travel enthusiast and professional, as well as a moderately happy person. This book spoke to me in many ways and was a thoroughly enjoyable listen. I highly recommend it for travelers and expats, as well as thoughtful people in general. This is my new favorite book, and the only Audible book I've felt compelled to recommend over and over again.

Thoroughly enjoyed

Aim to check out his other book geography of genius. What a thought-provoking ride thank you Mr. Weiner

Interesting adventures

Love the adventures in each place and looking at the different cultures to decide what may it may not bring happiness. Ultimately , wherever you go there you are but with the new place you may allow the true you to shine through

The Geography of Bliss

This is a highly entertaining book - the author presents humorous snapshots of a variety of people in locations all over the world and does this in a witty and clever way. It's David Sedaris without the crude edge - and very much along the lines of Bill Bryson - the author has a good eye and a gift for sharing his observations in a way that is never dull. I loved it!

Cleverly written, fun read.

I enjoyed reading Eric's insightful perspective on several countries I have visited, including Bhutan. I just wish I had read his book before traveling for a different perspective.

In a time where there is so much talk about diversity, understanding how people perceive and pursue happiness is invaluable.