The Geography of Bliss Review

So last night I finished The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World, by Eric Weiner. Let me start off by saying that I am a HUGE fan of travel books. I love to travel and I love to read about new places and things (as do most people…I guess that doesn’t really make me different..oh well) But I thought the places Weiner chose to visit on his ‘happiness search’ were very interesting. One might think that some island in the sun (ie, Hawaii) or some snowy winter cuddly and cozy winter resort would be in his travel plans. But Weiner travels about to places including Bhutan, Iceland, Qatar Thailand, the Netherlands and India. Happiness? There?! Who would have thunk it. But i must say he did an excellent job ‘doing as the locals do’ in the areas he chose to visit. Even if that did mean drinking endlessly at a pool swim up bar in the hot afternoon sun in Qatar (i believe?). I mean sign me up for that job. I want to sit in the sun, as unbearably hot and tragically tough as it must have been. I’ll sit there all damn day if you want me too, drink in hand. Thats devotion. And if thats what you want from, thats what would will get. I am willing to make the sacrifice. The only thing I would argue with is that sometimes Weiner didn’t spend as much time in each place. I think the times varied throughout each place. Not sure if that should have been more consistent, or if that would have made a difference. Who knows! But what it comes down to is that I liked the book, some parts were better than others, and like many books, some parts kept me more interested than others, but it was a good read. Made me want to travel! I definitely have the travel bug, not sure when my next trip will be, but I am hoping it will be soon, and I am hoping it will be to Europe.

All in all I give this book:
3.5 stars