MADreads

Finding your Bliss

February 29th, 2008 Lisa - Central

Who knew happiness was a topic of study?  Apparently there’s an entire science dedicated to it - positive psychology.  And, believe it or not, a World Database of Happiness in Rotterdam, Netherlands.  This database not only keeps track of the happiness quotient of people, but also ranks countries on a happiness scale.

So, smart Eric Weiner, a foreign correspondent for NPR, decides to spend a year traveling to the happiest countries in the world to write a book about it: The Geography of Bliss.  An admitted grump, he’s in search of the whys and the whats of human happiness.  He visits Switzerland, Bhutan, India, Moldova, Qatar, and Thailand among others.  What he finds is that it’s not money, climate, type of government, cultural diversity or social equality that contributes to happiness.  But things like trust (in people and government), and family, friends and relationships. 

Iceland, of all places, was one of the happiest chapters.  How can a sun-worshiper like me believe such hogwash?  Weiner actually went there in the middle of winter, in the depths of darkness and cold, so as to experience the worst of Iceland; he finds a communal, creative, almost magical, if overly lubricated, society.  Willing to fail, everyone there tries their hand at poetry or music.  They love their language which gives them much joy, and I suppose, helps with the creativity.  I found myself envious of them.

Qatarians have tons of money, heat and sun, but no culture to speak of.  They import people from other countries to do all their work (including being judges!), and so have no meaningful preoccupations to fill their days.  They don’t seem happy at all.  Thai’s smile all the time - they even have many words for smile, like the Inuits have many words for snow.  One of their tricks for happiness is not thinking too much; the way of mai pen lai which means “never mind.”  Bhutan has a policy of Gross National Happiness

Bliss is an entertaining book to read.  Weiner is funny and self-deprecating, and he meets some interesting people along the way.  And for fun, he throws in a couple of very unhappy countries for contrast.   Check out the chapter on Moldova.  I would have gotten depressed reading about them if I wasn’t so happy that I didn’t live there.

Entry Filed under: Nonfiction, Travel