The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well

By: Meik Wiking
Published Year: 2017
Pages: 288
Publisher: Penguin UK

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Denmark is often said to be the happiest country in the world. That's down to one thing: hygge.

'Hygge has been translated as everything from the art of creating intimacy to cosiness of the soul to taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things. My personal favourite is cocoa by candlelight...'

You know hygge when you feel it. It is when you are cuddled up on a sofa with a loved one, or sharing comfort food with your closest friends. It is those crisp blue mornings when the light through your window is just right.

Who better than Meik Wiking to be your guide to all things hygge? Meik is CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen and has spent years studying the magic of Danish life. In this beautiful, inspiring book he will help you be more hygge: from picking the right lighting and planning a dinner party through to creating an emergency hygge kit and even how to dress.

Meik Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. He is committed to finding out what makes people happy and has concluded that hygge is the magic ingredient that makes Danes the happiest nation in the world.

                                                   First Impressions

My husband and I visited Denmark on our honeymoon and around that time I heard about Hygge. When I saw there was a book coming out that discussed exactly what it was and how to incorporate it in your life, I immediately knew I had to read it. Plus, how cute is that cover!
                
                                                    What I thought

This book came to me at just the time that I needed it in my life. Living in Chicago always leans towards ending up in a winter funk. Add to that being sick and anyone would be looking for a pick-me-up. Hygge is a Danish way of life and is said to be the biggest contribution to why they are the happiest country in the world.

This book breaks down what the word hygge means to the Danes and all of the ways that they find it. I loved being able to look into a different culture and see how to apply parts of that to my life. In short, hygge means comfort and coziness, but when you read the book it means a lot more.

I’ve never reviewed a book like this before, so it’s a bit hard to know where to start. What I found interesting about this book is that it allowed me a new perspective on things I do or see every day. I loved that this book not only explained what hygge is, but talked about ways to incorporate hygge into your life. I could easily see this book becoming a part of my collection as a reference book for moments when I feel a bit down.
 

Copenhagen at Christmas- a picture from our honeymoon I felt was pure hygge

I think this is a book that everyone should check out. In a world where we are surrounded by so many different cultures, any book that can give you insight into the way another culture sees the world is beneficial. Plus, who doesn’t need a book on happiness from the happiest country in the world? If you’ve been feeling like you’re in a funk or just want a new perspective on life, I would definitely recommend checking out this book.