Eric Weiner wrote this book to make us happier, and he succeeded. A self-described “mope”, he embarks on a journey to find some of the world’s happiest places, and perhaps more importantly, to find out why they are so happy. A longtime foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, he has seen and reported his share of adversities and misfortunes. But now he wants to explore the flip side of all this misery.

His quest begins in The Netherlands, at a place called, the World Database of Happiness located in Rotterdam. Here, he learns many trivial facts about happiness, but he doesn’t get any closer to the answer to his burning question, who are the happiest people and why? From here, he heads out to nine different countries in search of the answer. Along the way, he meets a variety of interesting, unforgettable, and yes, happy people. From each of them he takes away what happiness (and unhappiness) means to them despite their global positioning. Upon returning to America, he recalls the many anecdotes told to him about what makes a person or a place happy, and he comes to a certain conclusion, and possibly, the answer to his burning question.

Eric Weiner has revealed to us that happiness can be measured in many different ways in several different countries by religion, culture, and even politics. And we’re all in search of happiness, yet we tend to forget that it sometimes comes with a price, perhaps not always monetarily, yet an expense nonetheless. So was it worth the search? Find out by reading The Geography of Bliss and you decide wherein happiness lies. J

Also, if you read this witty, insightful book, you must visit the author’s website at www.ericweinerbooks.com. Here you will be able to enjoy a slideshow of the photos of Eric’s incredible journey in the search for happiness.

Reviewed by Bridget Colontonio