The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner
|
List Price: Our Price: $13.03 You Save: $12.96 (50%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $11.00 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World
Book Review: Searching for happiness? Look elsewhere.
Summary: 2 Stars
The cranky, occasionally obnoxious Weiner relates some mildly interesting travel experiences. This is a fluffy book from a rather pathetic journalist (when a coup brings the attention of the world to Thailand, he flees as fast as his wobbly legs can take him). Weiner is supposedly searching for the secrets of the planet's happiest societies, but doesn't get far. Unable to surrender his snarkiness and preconceptions, he is a tedious traveling companion.Book Review: Open minded, informative, refreshing and humorous.
Summary: 5 Stars
As I write this I have not finished the book (I am savoring it a few pages a day with all the other books I am reading at once) but it is such a pleasing experience I want to recommend the book and its author. I have the Kindle edition and technically it is well done; no text problems etc.
I love my Kindle ; it is not a swindle.
Book Review: OK
Summary: 2 Stars
For me the book was good enough.Moldova was unfortunately what it sais it is...and yes Omar is 100% correct.I have not visited England but looking at their Queen I would say those people have big reasons to be unhappy..I would! Unfortunately I think the book was superficial, many times the autor could not connect with the roots of countries he was in...it is like eating a burger, fast food, fast info...
... use this book justfor snaks.The real food is in fact "beying there"
Book Review: A blissful book
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Geography of Bliss" was a pleasure to read. Weiner combines armchair travel with wry humor that often had me laughing out loud. It was a fun and painless way to "visit" some exotic places on earth that I would never dream of visiting. Evidently, we humans can adjust and be happy in a variety of climates and cultures. In the words of my favorite character, Luba from Moldova, I rate this book much higher than her typical "feevty-feevty."Book Review: Excellent read
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. As some have commented, it is both very funny and very thought-provoking at the same time. In fact there are so many theories on what does and does not create happiness throughout the book that my head began to spin after awhile. While many people have naturally compared him to Bill Bryson (usually favorably, sometimes not), I was reminded more of (1) Elizabeth Gilbert's great book "Eat, Love, Pray" (since Bryson's writing tends to be heavier on the descriptive and lighter on the contemplative), as well as (2) A.J. Jacobs, who--though not a travel writer--still has a similar humorous writing style as Weiner.
Three things surprised me about his choice of countries. First they are all north of the equator. No South America, no countries in Africa, etc. Second, I'm surprised he didn't pick one or two sunny vacation-type spots, like in the Caribbean or something similar. This is not so much because people there necessarily WOULD be happier in those places, but perhaps we imagine that they would be and he could have told us what the reality is, or seems to be. Finally, I've always heard that Australians are quite happy and I would have been interested in read his take on that. Maybe Australia is just too big for him to take on.
Anyway, I really recommend the book.