In the first book to identify demographically proven "happiness hotspots" worldwide, researcher and explorer Dan Buettner documents the happiest people on earth and reveals how we can create our own happy zones. Detailing extraordinary new discoveries and meticulous research on four continents, Buettner observes happiness in unlikely places and gleans surprising insight into what generates contentment and what it means to "thrive." Intriguing studies debunk commonly believed myths. Think life was happier in the good old days? To the contrary —data show that people flourish more in modern societies than in traditional, agrarian ones. Marriage, parenthood, gender equality, sociability —you'll be astonished at how (or whether) these factors figure in the happiness equation.
Dan Buettner is an internationally recognized researcher, explorer, and author. He founded Blue Zones™, a project of Quest Network, Inc., to research and publicize the world's best practices in health, longevity, and happiness. As a pioneer in exploration and education, he has traveled the world to answer some of science's biggest questions. Buettner's National Geographic cover story on Blue Zones was one of the top-selling covers in the magazine's history and his 2008 book, The Blue Zones, hit The New York Times bestseller list.
