The Geography of Bliss

“Happiness researchers are quick to defend their work.”

Happiness science is a recent field. It remains controversial. Conventional social scientists have criticized it, but Weiner bases much of his argument on this research, and uses data from different happiness researchers throughout the book.

“So assuming that these happiness studies are reasonably accurate, what have they found? Who is happy? And how do I join them?” 

Weiner visits a Dutch scientist who researches happiness. In recent decades, researchers have shifted from studying negative to positive emotions. Weiner looks at the data and draws a bliss atlas for himself based partially on the findings of the Dutch researcher.

“The happiest places, he explains, don’t necessarily fit our preconceived notions. Some of the happiest countries in the world—Iceland and Denmark, for instance—are homogenous, shattering the American belief that there is strength, and happiness, in diversity.”

Weiner describes some results of happiness research. The science of happiness does not agree with certain notions of democracy and multiculturalism, it would seem. Weiner visits different countries to compare the people against the science.

“In Switzerland it is, Where are you from? That is all you need to know about someone.” 

Each country has a question that describes a person. Weiner says that in Switzerland, people care about their roots. Tight-knit communities trust each other, producing happiness.

“One study found that, of all the factors that affect crime rate for a given area, the one that made the biggest difference was not the number of police patrols or anything like that but, rather, how many people you know within a fifteen-minute walk of your house.”

In Switzerland, several residents offer reasons for the Swiss having high levels of happiness in studies. One of these reasons is that the Swiss trust each other and know each other. Countries with higher levels of anonymity, and thereby weaker communities, are less happy.

“In America, few people are happy, but everyone talks about happiness constantly. In Bhutan, most people are happy, but no one talks about it.” 

In Bhutan, a remote Buddhist country, people have a quiet happiness. The country measures happiness instead of money. This small, happy country contrasts with the large, unhappy United States, which has a culture that is much more focused on capitalism and economic enterprise.

“Maybe the secret to happiness is money. Lots of money. And if money can buy happiness, or at least rent it for a while […] Qatar, by some measures the wealthiest country in the world, must also be the happiest.” 

Weiner visits Qatar to test whether money leads to happiness. In Qatar, he finds that money does not necessarily produce happiness; instead, more people seem to find happiness in religion. Further, while the country itself is quite rich, the largest demographic is poor, foreign workers, thereby showing how GDP is a poor metric on which to base a country’s happiness.

“Yet here in this oh-so-nice hotel, where my every need is attended to instantly, sometimes before I even know I have such a need, I am not happy. What’s wrong with me?” 

In Qatar, Weiner stays at an expensive hotel. The staff attend to his needs, however he feels unhappy. Weiner checks out of the hotel early, to stay at a less expensive hotel. Money, at the expensive hotel or in the rich country of Qatar, is not buying happiness. It’s worth noting that Weiner assumes something is wrong with him, as opposed to there being something wrong with the notion of wealth bringing joy.

“Qatar has a past, of course, but not much of one.”

Qatar lacks culture. Having recent oil wealth, the country buys culture from other countries. However, it still cannot conceal its lack of history. Weiner argues that culture produces happiness in that it connects people to a larger past, and, therefore, a broader community.

“In other words, those with a good cultural fit were happier than those without.” 

Social science says that people have a culture, whether individualistic or collectivist, and societies have a culture. People are happier when they reside in a society that matches their own worldview.

“And here in Iceland, it seems, it is even possible to be happy and sad at the same time.” 

In Iceland, a dark and cold country, people have a somewhat sad outlook. However, people seem happy because of the culture. In the small country, failure is admired, and there is little envy. Weiner would seem to be saying that while an individual can be sad, they believe in their community, and this counterbalances individual sadness.

“A blind man with sunglasses and cane, like some caricature of a blind man, hobbling down the street. An old woman hunched over so far that her torso is nearly parallel to the ground. I hear someone sobbing behind me, and turn to see a middle-aged woman with dark hair, her eyes red from crying.” 

In Moldova, which scores lowest on the happiness database, Weiner sees misery in many forms. The former Soviet republic suffered after the collapse of the Union, and is comprised of multiple cultures that do not necessarily like one another. Further, the country is quite poor and has high rates of alcoholism.

“Have they been beaten down—shocked—so many times that they’ve simply stopped trying? Is this a nation of the learned helpless?” 

In Moldova, a bus on which Weiner rides breaks down. The Moldovans leave the bus without complaining. Weiner compares them to dogs that stopped trying to avoid electric shocks in a psychology experiment: they are simply used to the pain.

“Per capita income is only $880 per year. They need to travel abroad to make money. Some Moldovan women are tricked into working as prostitutes. A few Moldovans even sell one of their kidneys for cash.”

In Moldova, the saddest country in a happiness database, people say that they are unhappy because of lack of money. The desperately poor country struggles for subsistence and people resort to desperate measures to make ends meet. Selling one’s body, or parts thereof, to be able to afford to subsist is not something the Swiss or Icelandic are having to deal with.

“We need a solid identity—ethnic, national, linguistic, culinary, whatever—in order to feel good about ourselves.” 

In Moldova, a former Soviet republic, Weiner interviews Luba, a sad old woman. In addition to her personal problems, she resides in a country that lacks a unified culture, and this paucity of cohesion inhibits happiness.

“When you get down to it, there are basically three, and only three, ways to make yourself happier. You can increase the amount of positive affect (good feelings). You can decrease the amount of negative affect (bad feelings). Or you can change the subject.” 

In Thailand, Weiner mentions that thinking is discouraged. A study of people listening to music shows that thinking reduces their pleasure. Weiner argues that thinking, or overthinking, can erode happiness.

“Coups don’t really fit into my search for the world’s happiest places, and this is just the sort of unhappiness I’ve been trying hard to avoid.” 

In Thailand, the people seem happier in general. However, a coup takes place while Weiner is there. As a new correspondent, he has routinely traveled to nation-states going through miserable times due to war or natural disasters. Weiner knows it’s time to move on.

“It is largely a public-relations ploy, but, still, a military government with a happiness policy!”

Despite the coup unfolding in Thailand, the airport remains in operation. Weiner returns to Miami, where he reads that the military government focuses on increasing national happiness before it focuses on building its wealth.

“In Britain, the happy are few and suspect.” 

Weiner visits England. The country is notorious for not being happy, so much so that if one is happy, others are likely to think something is awry. This is interesting in that it would seem to work against the notion of community affording happiness: there is no joy in a society where the status quo is being miserable.

“In the effort to boost happiness levels, no exercise is considered too far-fetched or embarrassing. Or American.” 

A television show attempts to make some Brits happier. As part of the show, people participated in exercises like tai chi and hugging. The social experiment aims to push the typically reserved Brits beyond their comfort levels to increase their sense of happiness.

“In Slough, I can’t avoid the facts. The viral theory of happiness never took hold.” 

In the town of Slough, in England, a television show had happiness experts attempt to increase the happiness of residents. Weiner visits Slough and interviews people who went on the show. Some are happier, but the town overall remains unhappy.

“I’m eager to talk about ambition, the one noun that, more than anything else, has sabotaged my search for happiness.”

In India, Weiner meets a happiness researcher. Ambition, the relentless pursuit of professional success and fulfillment, has driven Weiner to unhappiness. Ironically, it has also driven his search for happiness.

“Commuting, in particular, has been found to be detrimental to our happiness, as well as our physical health.” 

The US is a large, wealthy country, but it’s also an unhappy one. Americans often blame lack of money for their unhappiness. Weiner argues for other causes, especially commuting. As people commute longer hours in order to get a better job and make more money, they, at the same time, become less happy and less healthy.