 The Geography of Bliss
A very interesting look at the culture, economy, and attitudes of various countries. this is a new slant.
 Weiner's ignorance is bliss
This materialist/atheist goes a long way to (re)discover what Jesus taught in Mark 12:31, "'Love your neighbor as yourself,'" which is the second of the two great commandments he gives to us humans. Of course, Weiner completely disrespects and disregards Christianity and so ignores the greatest commandment, to "'Love the Lord your God...'." He does just what you expect from a former NPR liberal drone: He feigns humility and populism while telling you how much smarter he is than you. In reality, he writes this from the spiritual level of a 13-year-old boy who thinks he knows more than his parents. Sad little book, that I only give three stars to because it gave me perspective on other countries and how condescending and pathetic and racist modern "liberals" can be. The image that will most stick with me is the two-year-old daughter of the author who he describes as clinging to his leg trying to get his attention while he wrote this book.
Bliss Review
Great book - very interesting travel commentary. Great service. Whatever did we do before Amazon?
 The Geography of Bliss
July 30, 2010
This book is too limited in its perspective.
We are to trust the judgment of the author, Eric Weiner,-- as if we have met him through some news interview or the like. [I am an avid listener to NPR, the radio network for which he is a correspondent. However, I can not recall hearing any contribution to a discussion or to a daily program.
He seems to be content to build on a reputation: As a trusted author of travel books. But I have not read many such books and I am meeting him for the first time. The topic of happiness in different parts of the world should be given more clarity through a structure as for instance bold-faced names of the people being interviewed followed by a colon and some indenting ...
We need more people to respond to the question as to how happy are they ... etc.
We need more emotional responses from the people he centers his evaluation of places he has visited from his own perspective.
great entertainment
This is one of the most entertaining books I've ever read. I was intrigued by the premise of a grumpy guy trying to find the place in the world where people were happiest, but the real pleasure of the book (as it is of life) is not the goal but the journey. Weiner's writing is infused with an observant wit that kept me constantly entertained. I found the book so enjoyable that I tried to read it as slowly as possible because I didn't want it to end. Now that I've finished it, I think I'll read it again.
|
