The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living
Written by Meik Wiking
Narrated by Meik Wiking
4/5
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About this audiobook
Embrace Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) and become happier with this definitive guide to the Danish philosophy of comfort, togetherness, and well-being.
Why are Danes the happiest people in the world? The answer, says Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, is Hygge. Loosely translated, Hygge—pronounced Hoo-ga—is a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. ""Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience,"" Wiking explains. ""It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe.""
Hygge is the sensation you get when you’re cuddled up on a sofa, in cozy socks under a soft throw, during a storm. It’s that feeling when you’re sharing comfort food and easy conversation with loved ones at a candlelit table. It is the warmth of morning light shining just right on a crisp blue-sky day.
The Little Book of Hygge introduces you to this cornerstone of Danish life, and offers advice and ideas on incorporating it into your own life, such as:
- Get comfy. Take a break.
- Be here now. Turn off the phones.
- Turn down the lights. Bring out the candles.
- Build relationships. Spend time with your tribe.
- Give yourself a break from the demands of healthy living. Cake is most definitely Hygge.
- Live life today, like there is no coffee tomorrow.
From picking the right lighting to organizing a Hygge get-together to dressing hygge, Wiking shows you how to experience more joy and contentment the Danish way.
Editor's Note
A way of life…
Hygge (pronounced Hoo-ga) is a way of life in Denmark, comprised of intimate friendships, mindfulness, and lots of candles. Is it any surprise that a country that focuses so much on engineering lovely moments tends to be happier than others? Remember: When life gives you lemons, make a hyggelig glass of lemonade.
Meik Wiking
Meik Wiking is CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, research associate for Denmark at the World Database of Happiness, and founding member of the Latin American Network for Wellbeing and Quality of Life Policies. He and his research have been featured in more than five hundred media outlets, including The Washington Post, BBC, Huffington Post, the Times (London), The Guardian, CBS, Monocle, the Atlantic, and PBS News Hour. He has spoken at TEDx, and his books have been translated into more than fifteen languages. He lives in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Reviews for The Little Book of Hygge
1,064 ratings69 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The simplicity yet depth if the narrative and the examples.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The book was politically biased but had good insight. The author wrote many helpful tips for creating a happy, healthy lifestyle in the every day and had a very encouraging perspective. It is a great read for anyone seeking consistent enjoyment in the simple pleasures that we are given.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hygge loosely translates as a sense of comfort, togetherness and well-being. The book is written by the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen which is fitting since the Danes seem to be the happiest people in the world. The author has identified 10 must haves that give you hygge. Basically, coziness, cuddling, candles, comfort, peace and harmony, a sense of home, being grateful and showing up in the present. It seems simple but not something easily achieved by most people. This is a tiny book that can be read in a couple of hours and immediately put this practice into your daily life.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Can we have this in book version, please? Would be great, thanks.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A good book for a rainy day. It gave me some good ideas about how to enjoy life more.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5You will make many assumptions while reading this book, most of which you'll find to be wrong ?.
It starts off a bit slow and then picks up momentum. There are sections that I think could have been written shorter to get to the point quicker, but that's just me.
One thing for sure is that it's a suspense thriller as it says it is and the twists and turns will keep you wondering.
It's somewhat anticlimactic though. I have very mixed views on this book. On one hand, I am happy I got to learn about how the Danish people live, and I'm in support of any habits that ignite happiness. However, the way in which the box was written left me not wanting to finish it...I pretty much got bored. But I usually finish any book I start so I finished it.
To anyone wanting to read/listen to this book...go ahead. I've never let a book review stop me from reading what I want because maybe it's the book I need to read at that point in my life. It may interest me, while it bores someone else to death. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An overall introduction to what we will know as hygge. Inspiring and encompassing. Made me miss the simple, luxurious life I had in Germany.
List and ideas are provided throughout the book to inspire adding a bit more hygge into your life. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A great taste in the Hygge mindset! I have been looking for a feel-good lifestyle book and this book filled my needs. The author has a great voice!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved this book! I learnt so much about Danish culture. I also now have a label for the decor that I naturally gravitate towards, and the feel good feeling that I try in one in my life and home. Definitely recommend. A sweet, quick and interesting read
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Good overview of the concept. Funny in some parts. A bit too generalizing for comfort.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Niet erg nuttig en heel langdradig, inhoudsloos boek. Ik heb het een half uur volgehouden
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I am already feeling huggy by listening to this audio book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is a pleasure. If you haven't gotten around to reading it yet, just do it! It expands on the Danish concept of hygge ( sounds like "hoogh"). Anecdotes from the life of the author, his work as a happiness researcher, his childhood, and friends feature throughout the book. It is not overly scientific and it is definitely cozy. To curl up and read this book under a blanket by the fire while sipping tea would be considered hygge.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5This book is over hyped. The author doesn't even mention the role of the Danish welfare state on reducing stress for people until the last chapter. Fortunately, the book isn't very long and could have been a listicle on Buzzfeed.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5My grandfather was Danish and although I've heard the word hygge, I didn't grasp the full meaning until listening to this book. Wonderfully explained and made better by the Danish accent of the reader.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5There were a number of great concepts here with practical applications you can use right away. Enjoy!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Definitely you wouldn't guess how Danish people perceive happiness, but is Definitely useful to know and take what you can of it
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The concept is indeed interesting, however the author repeats himself quite a bit, so the book could be twice as short
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book and insightful ideas. Greatful for listening. Thank you
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Nice narration and great practical tips for a life of Hygge ?
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Good book and very encouraging. I may read it again .
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Easy to read. I really enjoyed. But in the first chapters there was too much emphasis on meat and animal skins. I think Danish people are not so killing orientated nowadays.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Just finished my first audio book! It was delightful and just by listening to this, I already can felt that definition of hygge. It's all about moments and experiences.
Would recommend listening to this while you wind down from a hectic day. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It analyses different dimensions of happiness and try answer the unanswered question of humanity.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It was SUCH delight to listen to this book! It made me happy just to listen to it.
I recommend it to everyone :) - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved it! The narrator has a great soothing voice, the content was useful, and it was a joy to listen to.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved it! This book is very motivational and field with practical ideas. I loved the music, narrator's voice and Danish accent, it's very hyggely :)
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nice comforting book to listen to. Doesn't require too much attention but able to grasp the information.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Feels too much like a propaganda piece than an actual book. the ideas are cute but never actually developed. the Danes may have great happiness levels but that doesn't mean that someone in a less wealthy country can achieve the same by just geeing some candles and tea.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book literally changed my life. In every chapter and example, I’ve been inspired to make small changes that make me feel so much more at home in the world. The biggest gift of this book is that it affirmed my inner world. Growing up in the United States, the things that were subtle creature comforts to me (like gentle lighting, natural furnishings, candlelight) were never validated until this point.
Although I’m not Christian, my family does celebrate Christmas. And I’m so glad that I was able to listen to this audiobook and make the most of our winter holidays this year. There is an entire chapter on Christmas, and it inspired me to make little changes and priority shifts that had my whole family feeling so much more cozy and at ease – even though it was a very stressful holiday overall; in a pandemic and on lockdown away from people we love.
Also the author’s reading is great! I often struggle with audiobooks and have to try a few before I can find one I can actually listen to. I enjoyed the author’s style and humor, and felt like I was having an intimate conversation with him about nurturing the things that my heart holds dear.
I’m not much of a reader since grad school – so I never would’ve gotten through this if I had a hard copy in my hand. I have to say though that listening to the audiobook while on long and short drives, was inspiring, relaxing and engaging.