Essay The Simplicity of Bliss - 1407 Words

French author, journalist and philosopher, Albert Camus writes, â€Å"but what is happiness except the simple harmony between man and the life he leads.† In his book, The Geography of Bliss, Eric Weiner sets out on a journey around the globe to â€Å"places that possess, in spades, one or more of the ingredients that we consider essential to the stew of happiness: money, pleasure, spirituality, family, and chocolate, among others†. (2) According to the World Happiness database, these are the keys to the happiness of several countries he visits. However, when he explores the nation of Bhutan, he encounters an entirely contradictive idea of happiness. The Bhutanese believe that less is more. From the beginning of his visit in Bhutan he finds that from†¦show more content†¦To navigate these roads requires the cooperation of everyone involved, from drivers, to school children crossing the road, to the Languar monkeys. There are no neon signs or billboards along his route. Weiner eventually arrives in the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu, which is the only capital in the world without a traffic light. During his visit there, Weiner meets with Karma Ura who is public intellectual in Bhutan. Ura’s office is in an old building but is described by Weiner as a smartly designed space. Later, when visiting Ura’s unassuming familial home, Weiner sits with Ura’s mother, on a cushion, on the floor as the home is lacking furniture save for a low table. She shares with him what life was like when she was younger. She witnessed the addition of such advances as cars, paved roads, electricity and television. For the Bhutanese this advancement is seen as both good and bad. Some additions promote the happiness of their community while others, like television, allow the promotion of violence in this otherwise peaceful society. While their current infrastructure lacks complexity, it is proven effective for their needs. Weiner continues describing Bhutan as â€Å"a country determined to diminish the importance of money in [their] lives† (Weiner, 57). Whether demonstrated by the age of the well-used, dependable Corolla, or the unpretentiousness tiny airport, the Bhutanese believe that â€Å"what’s on the insideShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of David Henry Thoreau s Poem, Where I Lived And What You Lived For955 Words   |  4 Pagessense that one should try to do the unconventional and live simply. By living simply, one will be able to find happiness from within. Although a simple life is ideal, there are others who feel simplicity is, and can be equated to ignorance. As the historian Thomas Gray once noted, â€Å"Where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise† (Ode on a Distant Prospect, 1783). In simpler terms, the less one knows about the world around them, the better off they are. Speicher-Cook 2 Those that believeRead MoreHow Does One Find the Miraculous in the Common? 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