The Geography of Bliss Book Summary - The Geography of Bliss Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

The Geography of Bliss summary

Eric Weiner

One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World

4.4 (35 ratings)
23 mins

Brief summary

The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner is a humorous and insightful exploration of what makes people happy around the world. Through personal anecdotes and research, the author uncovers cultural differences and similarities in the search for happiness.

Topics
Table of Contents

    The Geography of Bliss
    Summary of 10 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 10

    The Netherlands is the headquarters of happiness research and one of the world’s happiest nations.

    The idea of happiness research may strike you as strange. Is it even possible to scientifically measure happiness? Or is it a subjective and elusive quality?

    Well, if you’re looking for the latest research on happiness, the best place to start is the Netherlands, where annual happiness conferences are held for researchers to compare their notes and methodologies.

    Recently, the Netherlands has become something of a Mecca for happiness, and the Dutch professor Ruut Veenhoven has become its prophet. Veenhoven’s Journal of Happiness Studies is a highly influential publication and his World Database of Happiness is a vital resource for many of his peers, including the author himself.

    The Database is a collection of statistics and results from research conducted around the world, and by bringing this information together, a great deal of insight can be obtained.

    For example, the database makes it quite clear that married people are happier than singles, Democrats are less happy than Republicans, the rich are happier than the poor and women are just as happy as men.

    But not all of the data is quite so clear-cut. In fact, some of it is contradictory: in many of the world’s happiest countries, for instance, suicide rates are higher than average. And while religious people are generally happier than the nonreligious, it’s the secular countries that are ranked the happiest.

    It’s no surprise that the database is kept in the Netherlands, since many studies and articles in it show the Dutch to be among the happiest people in the world.

    The question then becomes, why? Which conditions contribute the most to happiness? For the Netherlands, relevant factors could include being a democratic and wealthy European nation with a functioning welfare system. Tolerance is another potential reason for their happiness; the Dutch are famed for their tolerant attitude toward prostitution, drugs and immigration.

    But how does one measure happiness anyway?

    Well, there are many methods, some of which are highly dubious – to put it nicely. While counting smiles might get you mixed results, asking people to rank their own happiness is a surprisingly accurate way to go.

    Want to see all full key ideas from The Geography of Bliss?

    Key ideas in The Geography of Bliss

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is The Geography of Bliss about?

    The Geography of Bliss (2008) asks which nations are the happiest on Earth, and what it is about these countries that makes their citizens so joyful. The answers to these questions reveal some fundamental truths about our many cultural differences, as well as the many similarities and contradictions we share.

    The Geography of Bliss Review

    The Geography of Bliss (2008) takes readers on a journey around the world to explore what makes people happy and why some societies are happier than others. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • It offers a fascinating exploration of happiness, revealing surprising cultural insights and challenging conventional wisdom.
    • Author Eric Weiner combines humor and wit with thoughtful observations, making the book an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
    • The book's global perspective allows readers to gain a deeper understanding of happiness and provides valuable lessons for living a more fulfilling life.

    Best quote from The Geography of Bliss

    Americans buy self-help books as if their lives depend on them.

    —Eric Weiner
    example alt text

    Who should read The Geography of Bliss?

    • Everyone in search of bliss
    • Those with either a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty philosophy
    • Happiness researchers and people interested in the world’s different cultures of happiness

    About the Author

    Eric Weiner was a long-time foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, having been stationed in New Delhi, Jerusalem and Tokyo. His work covering Islamic news in Asia won him the Angel Award for outstanding journalism. His writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post, and his other best-selling books include The Geography of Genius.

    Categories with The Geography of Bliss

    Book summaries like The Geography of Bliss

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    30 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    The Geography of Bliss FAQs 

    What is the main message of The Geography of Bliss?

    The main message of The Geography of Bliss is that happiness can be found in unexpected places.

    How long does it take to read The Geography of Bliss?

    The reading time for The Geography of Bliss varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is The Geography of Bliss a good book? Is it worth reading?

    The Geography of Bliss is worth reading for its unique exploration of happiness worldwide. It offers intriguing insights and witty anecdotes.

    Who is the author of The Geography of Bliss?

    The author of The Geography of Bliss is Eric Weiner.

    What to read after The Geography of Bliss?

    If you're wondering what to read next after The Geography of Bliss, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • The 6 Phase Meditation Method by Vishen Lakhiani
    • The Little Book of Lykke by Meik Wiking
    • The Art of Clear Thinking by Hasard Lee
    • Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
    • A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
    • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
    • In the Name of Identity by Amin Maalouf
    • The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
    • How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen
    • The Art of Travel by Alain De Botton