Review first, giveaway details at the bottom!
Title: The Geography of Bliss
Author: Eric Weiner
Published: 2008
My edition: Twelve Books Paperback 2009
Purchased From: The Book Nook in Cadillac, Michigan
Pages: 335
Synopsis (from StrandBooks.com): Through over a decade spent traveling the globe and reporting on the world’s formost catastophes and triumphs, author and NPR foreign correspondent Eric Weiner is certainly no stranger to the planet and all of its highs and lows. Weiner, a self proclaimed ‘mope’ of the higest order, was growing sick of the widespread sorrows he’s come across in his travels and decided to set out on a journey to find the happiest place on earth. In “The Geography of Bliss” he takes readers on a journey unlike any other where they will see where people are happiest, and why. From Iceland to India and everywhere on the way back home this book is a joyously unpredictable adventure.
I read this because:
It caught my eye while used book shopping at The Book Nook. I’ve seen this book a lot since it came out, but for some reason was never inclined to actually pick it up and look at it. When I did, I had to buy it. I guess I hadn’t realized the format of the book was so cool – 10 different chapters that explore what makes people happy in 10 different countries. This seemed a lot more appealing than an unstructured book about what makes different people all over the world happy.
My thoughts: I’m partial to travel writing in general, and I loved the concept of exploring the happiness of different cultures: how happy they are and what type of lifestyle makes them happy. This book gives you a lot to think about on both subjects. However – this is not a self help book by any means; its goal is not to make you happier. But within its pages you end up thinking a lot about what makes you happy, and – even more interestingly – where you might be happy. I also loved that I learned more about these 10 countries in general, since many of them (like Moldova) are places I’m not very familiar with. Armchair traveling at its best.
Book club worthy? Absolutely, in fact – I’m hoping to talk my book club into reading it. There’s a lot that would make for good conversation on cultural differences and philosophies of happiness.
Follow up required: This book made me want to visit the Netherlands, Switzerland, Bhutan, and Thailand, and made me want to move to Iceland. In the immediate future I’d like to read more about Heathenism, along with more about Norse mythology. It also gave me a hankering for more travel writing, so I’ll probably pick up Bill Bryson’s The Lost Continent that I’ve been meaning to read.
You might like this book if you liked: Anything by Bill Bryson and/or travel writing.
Links to purchase: IndieBound, Strand, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, BookDepository.com
The Geography of Bliss GIVEAWAY:
I enjoyed this book a lot and thought an end of 2009 Book Giveaway would be the perfect opportunity to give someone else the chance to read it too.
Enter to win a new paperback copy of this book:
1. Leave a comment saying you want to enter the giveaway and share one thing that makes you happy. It could be as simple as “coffee” or as meaningful as you’d like.
2. Tweet or blog about the giveaway for an extra chance to win. Leave another comment here with the link to the tweet or blog post.
This giveaway is open to anyone in the 90+ countries that Book Depository ships to, since that’s how I’ll be sending it out. You can enter through 11:59pm EST on Friday, January 8, 2010. I’ll draw a winner on Saturday 1/9/10.
Loved your review! ‘The Geography of Bliss’ is one of my favourite books! I liked very much your thoughts in the section ‘Follow up required’ – I felt the same way after reading the book – especially about moving to Iceland and reading about Norse mythology :) I also thought of learning a little bit of Icelandic :) I also liked very much the description in the book about the secret to happiness of the Thais and the comparison between Swiss and German trains :)
One thing that makes me happy: I haven’t read this book so I can finally enter a giveaway of yours!
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/michelleerin/statuses/7204385047
Very good review by the way. I definitely like the new format (I know I said that yesterday, but…).
i would love to win, the one thing that makes me happy are kind people thanks
I’ve been wanting to read this book! I’d love to win it. Books make me happy. There is nothing like cuddling up with a good book.
Something that makes me happy: office supplies. Pens, pencils, notebooks, paperclips, etc. Love it all.
Look for my tweet in the nearish future…
I’d love to winter the giveaway. Reading an engrossing book while curled up under a blanket on a cold day is one thing that makes me happy!
I would like to enter and the color purple makes me happy!
madamerkf at aol dot com
The thing that makes me happy is my relationship with my family, friends, and pets.
This book sounds so interesting. I would love to read it. The thing that makes me happy is spending time with my family, just talking and laughing with them is the best.
I would say my family and books make me happy. Thanks for the giveaway, this looks like a great book!
The smell of fresh baked ginger cookies makes me happy–I’m even happier when I eat them.
kakihararocks@gmail.com
A book about happiness around the world instead of all of the problems would be a nice change. My kids make me happy. They are both great students and enjoy doing lots of activities. They keep me active.
I am happy snuggling with my DH. I also enjoy travel writings and would enjoy reading this book.
Lazy, blustery winter days where I have nothing to do but stay home cozy by the fire make me VERY happy.
Please enter me – thanks for the chance.
I would love to enter. My children make me happy!
I want to enter this giveaway! I also want to share this with a few of my friends. What makes me happy most this very moment are my cats, one sleeping happily in his bed right next to me while the other is curled up around my foot taking advantage of the warm spot between me and a blanket.
I’d like to enter this giveaway, and one thing that makes me happy is receiving spontaneous hugs and kisses from my two sons. That makes everything worthwhile!