Join us in the Large Programming Room for Hoboken Library's Passport Book Club. In this book discussion Reader's will travel vicariously through various books to new countries and cultures.
The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner is a thoughtful, funny, and surprisingly grounded exploration of what happiness looks like around the world. Rather than chasing some abstract idea of joy, Weiner travels to different countries to see how culture, history, and daily life shape the way people experience contentment. On the surface, the book reads like a travel memoir - light, witty, and full of sharp observations. But underneath that humor is a deeper inquiry into big questions: Is happiness something you pursue individually, or is it built into the society you live in? Do wealth and freedom matter more than community and stability? Weiner doesn’t pretend to find a single answer, and that’s part of the book’s strength. What makes the book especially engaging is Weiner himself. He’s self-aware, skeptical, and honest about his own restlessness, which makes the journey feel personal rather than preachy. By the end, The Geography of Bliss leaves you less focused on ranking the “happiest” places on Earth and more curious about how your own environment, and mindset shape your happiness.
If you have any questions, please contact Kerri at reference@hobokenlibrary.org
