A Field Guide to Happiness: What I Learned in Bhutan about Living, Loving, and Waking Up

I LOVE her writing! I laugh out loud at so many of her stories, most of which are self-effacing. She is both an American born and bred, and a newly adopted Bhutanese. I have come to have great affection for the people and land of Bhutan through her writings. But it's also given me the chance to reconsider some of my self-criticisms and to think how I might react if I were in Bhutan and not subjecting myself to our arbitrary American standards. Pretty thought-provoking stuff.But that's not why you should read it. You should read it because every page is a joy and every story worthwhile.

This is not exactly a sequel to Leaming's earlier memoir, Married to Bhutan, but it does cover the period following that book. And I wouldn't even go so far as to say it's not a memoir, but it's kind of 50:50, memoir:self-help. She uses anecdotes from her life In Bhutan and the USA to illustrate her 22 best pieces of advice for living a happier life. These are not earth-shattering ideas - in fact most if not all will have the reader nodding their head in agreement or recognition - but having them collected together in this highly readable package certainly makes them very accessible. Some of the tips are things like being kind, getting out into nature, eating well, compromise, and so on.I love Leaming's style; she's a very self-aware and self-deprecating, humorous writer, but she also knows when to dial it back. The chapter where she writes about the last days and death of her mother brought a lump to my throat, which had already had a workout from all the chuckling through the earlier chapters.

I want to read more, but it's hard. I guess my attention span is lazy. But, this book made me WANT to read and I was sad to finish it. I hope she writes more! You kind of want to take your time with this book and let the words sink in. Well written and meaningful book.

Not a self-help book but a wonderful funny life story about the authors' experience transitioning to a completely different culture in Bhutan. I just wanted to keep reading this book. The author is full of wisdom, marvelously wry and a great storyteller. She's the girlfriend you want to go on vacation with because you know she will be great company and full of observations! This is the perfect beach book, or the one you want to read on your travels.

Linda Leaming begins her book with one of her first big culture shocks after arriving in Bhutan and that was adjusting to the glacial pace of getting anything done at the bank which, for an American, was an excruciatingly frustrating experience until she learned to adapt the "go with the flow" attitude of the Bhutanese and simply "calm down." I mention this because this sets the flow of the book: sometimes slow-going, but there is a point. Each chapter is like a parable, a nugget of wisdom for a happier life wrapped in the experiences she writes about. There were times where I caught myself wanting her to pick up the pace and had to remind myself that this is the kind of Western impatience she had to break free from herself and the kind of attitude this book aims to do away with.I haven't yet finished the book, but it is a pleasant read, something probably best enjoyed a chapter at a time with some time to reflect on the point she's trying to make. At the very least, it's fascinating to read about Bhutan and this almost alien culture compared to what we are used to on a day-to-day basis. It's a nice reminder that our lives are often much more chaotic than they should be, and that we'd be much happier stepping back a bit and focusing on the things that are truly important.

What a delightful descriptive narrative Linda Leaming provides on the predicament of being a Westerner who moves to the ancient remote Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan. Having been there myself to investigate the Gross National Happiness program being instituted by the King, it was a true treat to read her perspective on their culture. She writes with honesty and humor and I found every single page to be enjoyable!

I have been to Bhutan over 28 times since 1982 and both Linda Leaming's books give the reader a view inside the culture that would not be possible during a normal tourist visit. I recommend both of her books for anyone interested in this fascinating and complex country.

Charming book - more of a journal than a 'self-help' book. This is the first book I've read from this author, and I am impressed by her fun and often humorous take on Zen. This book could easily be read in a day, but I wanted to pace myself (and highlight many passages) because I enjoy reading her witty reflections on everyday life in Bhutan.