The Geography of Bliss,
.....One Grump's search for the Happiest places in the World...
.....One Grump's search for the Happiest places in the World...
a book by Eric Weiner,
NPR correspondent... who usually reports from the gloomiest places on Earth, took a year to travel & research, journeying to 10 countries to examine definitions of what happiness is, and concludes that
'where we are is vital to who we are. '
I won't say which countries he found the happiest, but having lowered expectations...creativity...culture...relationships, connections...helped in the ratings. By the way, beaches were optional! ha,ha
I just finished reading this book, and myself having traveled a lot already this year (Spain, Morocco, Mexico), have been thinking a lot about this subject and was delighted to read this travel memoir (part foreign affairs discourse, part humor, part self-help in a way).
It just hit me at the right time, in my own search...
And, it just also happens that my older son, his wife & kids, just left for Shanghai last Friday. He's lived in China twice before, once as a kid years ago, with us. And now, with his own family as his wife takes a medical position there, and he does his writing from there (and luckily, for a journalist, that should be doable).
So, naturally, I'm thinking a lot about geography, happiness, culture, etc...a lot lately.
Here is a photo my son just put on facebook, with his kids opening their minds to a new culture.
Although it was 29 hours, door to door, as he said... it is seeming a world apart already.
Like our recent visit to Morocco, years removed from our first time there...this visit to China for them will have some culture shock components as they navigate the territory with children in tow.
I am eager to see how it goes, and can't help but think it's a great opportunity for all of them.
SO...I continue to think about culture, travel, ideas and happiness and how that all correlates.
Just heard on NPR that we (in the US) are the most mobile people on Earth.
Does that mean we're still seeking...or just adventurous, or have more connections...or just can afford it?
Whatever, in the end, Weiner comes full circle to the famous words of Henry Miller, with which the book, The Geography of Bliss, opens: 'One's destiny is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.' (from, 'Brain Pickings' online review)
NPR correspondent... who usually reports from the gloomiest places on Earth, took a year to travel & research, journeying to 10 countries to examine definitions of what happiness is, and concludes that
'where we are is vital to who we are. '
I won't say which countries he found the happiest, but having lowered expectations...creativity...culture...relationships, connections...helped in the ratings. By the way, beaches were optional! ha,ha
I just finished reading this book, and myself having traveled a lot already this year (Spain, Morocco, Mexico), have been thinking a lot about this subject and was delighted to read this travel memoir (part foreign affairs discourse, part humor, part self-help in a way).
It just hit me at the right time, in my own search...
And, it just also happens that my older son, his wife & kids, just left for Shanghai last Friday. He's lived in China twice before, once as a kid years ago, with us. And now, with his own family as his wife takes a medical position there, and he does his writing from there (and luckily, for a journalist, that should be doable).
So, naturally, I'm thinking a lot about geography, happiness, culture, etc...a lot lately. Here is a photo my son just put on facebook, with his kids opening their minds to a new culture.
Although it was 29 hours, door to door, as he said... it is seeming a world apart already.
Like our recent visit to Morocco, years removed from our first time there...this visit to China for them will have some culture shock components as they navigate the territory with children in tow.
I am eager to see how it goes, and can't help but think it's a great opportunity for all of them.
SO...I continue to think about culture, travel, ideas and happiness and how that all correlates.
Just heard on NPR that we (in the US) are the most mobile people on Earth.
Does that mean we're still seeking...or just adventurous, or have more connections...or just can afford it?
Whatever, in the end, Weiner comes full circle to the famous words of Henry Miller, with which the book, The Geography of Bliss, opens: 'One's destiny is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.' (from, 'Brain Pickings' online review)
5 comments:
Love the quote! I'm a little shocked that Americans are ranked the most mobile. I guess I know a lot of unadventurous people who've never left the country. Love the photo of your grandchildren in China! What an experience for them!
Hi Beck,
Yes, guess I know a lot of those people too--it's a big country!
That Americans are the most mobile people came from an NPR story.
Not sure where Mexico rated since it wasn't a country focused on, but people do seem happy in Mexico & I think it ranks probably higher than US. Makes me want to learn more though.
Kris, I saw a piece on 60 Minutes a few years ago and the happiest country was supposedly Denmark. People were described as content. The wages aren't particularly high, but necessities of life such as college tuition and medical are paid for by the government, so life is less stressful. I bet the U.S. doesn't rank in the top 10. As mama always said -- money can't buy you happiness.
Yes, Beck. The criteria hardly included money--really just enough to meet needs & be somewhat comfortable.
Actually, the big winners were Iceland, Bhutan and the Scandinavian countries did fairly well...& Thailand to some extent. Losers: Moldova, Qatar (where there was too much money)...and some in betweens. A homogenous culture seemed to help, maybe because one encounters less friction among factions. Interesting...
oh, and yes, less stress = good!
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