Book Review: The Geography of Bliss

By Sandy Amazeen Jan 21, 2008, 3:45 GMT

Weiner, an NPR correspondent and self-confessed grump set off on a yearlong jaunt to find the worlds happiest places, along with a couple of the least happy for contrast, and ended up writing one of the most delightful travelogues ever. Whether contemplating trying either the legal hash or hookers in downtown Rotterdam or discovering some unexpected uses for ping-pong balls in Bangkok, Weiner’s cheeky humor belies his grumpy label. Looking at what makes for a happy population in places like Bhutan where happiness is a national priority and Iceland, populated by “atheists with good intentions”, Weiner discovered wealth and democracy were no guarantee of happiness. He found Great Britain’s population doesn’t entirely trust happy people. For the most part, they don’t want to bother anyone because they do not wish to be viewed as being too loud or too American, a distinction synonymous with being tactless, pushy or loud, a lesson we might want to take to heart. The Moldova tourist board may want to think twice before allowing Weiner back within their borders has he cheerfully uses Moldova as the poster child of a depressing destination.

Although the author went in pursuit of the happiest places in the world, he inadvertently learned even more about himself and happily, chose to share his adventures and observations with the rest of us. Packed with fun phrase twists and assorted unusual travel nuggets, this is a lighthearted globetrotting romp is worth exploring.