Last night I finished a fascinating book called
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by
Eric Weiner. Each year Dutch professor Ruut Veenhoven, aka, the godfather of happiness research, releases data showing the happiest countries on the planet according to the
World Database of Happiness in The Netherlands. You may have seen a news report a couple of months ago that revealed that Denmark is the happiest country. Most of the Scandinavian countries rank high on the list.
Weiner (pronounced Whiner) elected to travel the world to visit some of the happy countries as well as some of the most unhappy countries to try to determine what makes people happy. It is a fun read and very interesting. It's part travelogue, part inspirational, and part self-help (but in a weird way). If you love to travel, love to hear about other cultures, and love to know what makes people tick, you'll love this book. It kind of reminded me of Anthony Bourdain's show
No Reservations on the Travel Channel.
The following is a series of quotes and thoughts from
The Geography of Bliss:
All cultures value happiness, but not to the same degree. In Japan, for example, harmony and fulfilling societal obligations is valued more than personal happiness. Japanese women tend to cover their mouths when they laugh as if to be ashamed of their glee.
The happiest places in our world don't necessarily fit our preconceived notions. Some of the happiest countries in the world are actually the coldest, e.g. Denmark (#1), Switzerland (#2 or #3 - depending on which survey you read), and Iceland (#5). The USA is ranked 17th.
A great enemy to happiness is envy.
One of the most important factors that breeds happiness is trust. Trust is a prerequisite for happiness.
The small nation of Bhutan measures it's Gross National Happiness and the king claims that it is more important than it's Gross National Product.
"The richer the society, the more difficult it becomes to do worthwhile things without immediate payoff. That is a radical and profound statement. In a wealthy, industrialized society, one where we are supposedly enjoying a bountiful harvest of leisure time, we are discouraged from doing anything that isn't productive - either monetarily or in terms of immediate pleasure. The Bhutanese, on the other hand, will gladly spend a day playing darts or just doing nothing."
70% of our happiness stems from our relationships. During life's difficult patches, camaraderie blunts our misery. During the good times, it boosts our happiness.
People who say, "God is important in my life" are significantly happier than people who disagree with that statement. People who regularly attend religious services are happier than those who do not.
No fear of failure breeds happiness - and creativity - which breeds even more happiness.
Neuroscientists believe that they have located the part of the brain linked with altruism. (Altruism = unselfish concern for the welfare of others). It is the same part associated with our cravings for food and sex which suggests that we are hardwired for altruism. Therefore, being useful and helpful to people contributes to our happiness.
Thinking about happiness makes us less happy. When someone tells you to try to be happy, they make it worse.
We are happiest in youth and old age.
Money matters, but less than we think and not in the way that we think.
