Journalist spent a year searching for the world 's happiest country . Steven Weiner : Bhutan is probably the closest thing on Earth to Shangri - La . `` I went there specifically to examine what happens when the entire country wins the lottery , '' Weiner said . He looks at the creativity and ` ` coziness '' of Iceland . Self - described ` ` grump : '' Buddhism contributes to happiness in Bhutan .
Journalist spent a year searching for the world 's happiest country . Steven Weiner : Bhutan is probably the closest thing on Earth to Shangri - La . He looks at the creativity and ` ` coziness '' of Iceland . Self - described ` ` grump : '' Buddhism contributes to happiness in Bhutan .