I'm overwhelmed by the problems of the world, of our country, of our children. Tend to read non-fiction and books about finance, politics, or self-improvment. I need to smile. I want an escape from my 

mental demons. Please recommend some books (not religious, please), which made you warm and happy inside, made you happy and just felt good to be a human. 

Wow, I'm looking for that kind of novel myself!  But, for now, you may want to read (if you haven't read it yet) THE OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon.  It is a great escape novel with rich historical details, full of adventure and passion.  It will  get your mind off the problems of this world!

"The Little Prince" by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.

Dandelion Wine

'Author: Ray Bradbury

An endearing classic of childhood fancies and memories of an idyllic Midwestern summer from America's most beloved storyteller. — Ray Bradbury's moving recollection of a vanished golden era remains one of his most enchanting novels. DANDELION WINE stands out in the Bradbury literary canon as the author's most deeply personal work, a semi-autobiographical recollection of a magical small town summer in 1928.

I copied the above from PBS, but here are my own thoughts.

This book is so much unlike any of Bradbury's other novels that you wonder if he really wrote it. Initially, I kept waiting for the Evil Entity to emerge and destroy the boy who is the main character. Eventually I realized that this wasn't going to happen, that the book was about when things in America were right and good, and that you could depend upon others, trusting in them and your neighbors, friends and family. 

Not a novel, but one of the best books I've ever read: "A Man on the Moon" by Andrew Chaikin. It's the true story of the space race from Mercury to Apollo as it actually was. No white-knighting fly boys. It's just the story of men who had, what they felt, was a real, very important, duty. Fascinating.

WARNING: The part about that explains how the early astronauts took a dump in space will make you cringe, if not make you sick.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE THUNDERBOLT KID by Bill Bryson would be perfect for what you're looking for! It's a memoir about Bryson's childhood and growing up in America in the 50s.  It will have you laughing out loud and longing for that decade.  From the back of the book:  "Warm and laugh-out-loud funny, and full of his inimitable, pitch-perfect observations, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid is as wondrous a book as Bill Bryson has ever written.  It will enchant anyone who has ever been young."  I highly recommended this one!

Dewey the Library Cat.  (The ending is inevitable, but the book is warm and fuzzy.)

http://www.paperbackswap.com/Dewey-Small-Town-Vicki-Myron/book/0446407410/

Dewey is a great suggestion!!  And, it reminded me of another good one for you:  The Good Good Pig:  The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood by Sy Montgomery.  In fact, I might read that one again soon.  Loved it, definitely will give you that warm feeling.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/Good-Pig-Extraordinary-Sy-Montgomery/book/0345496094/

Anything by P.G. Wodehouse.

Any thing written by Katrina Kittle is always great.

Wow, I looked back at what I have read this past year and I haven't had much that is uplifting either.   Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, was good for giggles and good memories for me.  Austenland by Shannon Hale was fun and upbeat.  And on the animal side, A Dog’s Purpose was very good.

Good thread, keep the ideas coming please.

And Tasha – I ordered The Good Pig, I had never heard of that one.