So I just finished the Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. The book is sort of an introductory course in positive psychology surveying the research in the form of a travelogue.
I’m not sure which is more important in this case, the journey or the destination, but I’m leaning toward it being the journey. Because of this, I don’t feel that the quote below from near then end of the book is too much of a spoiler, but if you lean the other way, then consider self warned – SPOILER BELOW.
Not the most profound advice, admittedly. But Happy is wise, for only a fool or a philosopher would make sweeping generalizations about the nature of happiness. I am no philosopher, so here goes: Money matters, but less than we think and not in the way that we think. Family is important. So are friends. Envy is toxic. So is excessive thinking. Beaches are optional. Trust is not. Neither is gratitude.
The book was a delight, one of the best that I’ve read in a long time. I would happily recommend it. Besides making me literally laugh out loud at least once each chapter, because of it, I’ve suggested to Kim that we just need to visit Bhutan.
Update 3/3 – Because adding a link to a video from The Colbert Report to a blog post is like adding bacon to any food…Eric Weiner appeared on The Colbert Report on January 21, 2008 to talk about the Geography of Bliss. The description of the segment reads “Eric Weiner found out that the happiest places in the world are cold, dark and drunk.” Here’s a link to the video.