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deathlyhellos's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book as I am currently dating a Dane and I wanted to get a bit of background on his home country from a different perspective.
How to be Danish is an good read and gives what I perceive to be a well rounded view of Denmark. In places, even my partner learned a few things about his homeland!
If you wish to know more about Denmark, this book is most certainly a good starting point.
How to be Danish is an good read and gives what I perceive to be a well rounded view of Denmark. In places, even my partner learned a few things about his homeland!
If you wish to know more about Denmark, this book is most certainly a good starting point.
leitheoirrialta's review against another edition
The book is like a collection of extended articles on various aspects of modern Denmark: from politics, to design, to television, to cooking, etc. I learned quite a lot about the country considering the book is not particularly long. I'd definitely recommend this as a sort of 101 introduction to contemporary Denmark.
bmoskun's review against another edition
4.0
A good overview of some of the current trends in Denmark, but it focused a little too heavily on Copenhagen.
etak_c's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
3.75
carolinerandolph's review against another edition
3.0
I bought this book while visiting Denmark (mostly because the cover is nice), but it was a good read. I learned a lot about Denmark’s food, welfare state, history, and people. The reason I give this book three stars is because the author put way too much time and energy into the Danish show “The Killing.” It seemed most of the book was about this show, which I had never heard of. Maybe he should have written a novel about “The Killing” instead.
joaniemaloney's review against another edition
3.0
Patrick Kingsley writes from an outsider [English] perspective on Denmark in this bright red little book. From the presentation and synopsis, I was expecting a rather effusive read but was very pleased with how much information and analysis was comprised in this short volume.
So, Denmark is the toast of the town. From an international standpoint, we know about the high living standards, the rise of New Nordic cuisine, the furniture design, the shows (The Bridge, The Killing), etc. but is that really what the country is about?
Kingsley travels there for a deeper look under the surface, and finds quite a lot to praise in Denmark but also counters the positives as well. There's a wonderful welfare state to support every citizen and the sense of folkelighed, a mutually committed community, but in this homogeneity, immigrants find it very difficult to integrate themselves in Danish society. They struggle with not belonging because they don't share the same cultural values or look and act the same, and that translates not just on a local level but on a national level with the politics.
On a similar note, this concept of sameness can lend itself to affecting other aspects of Danish culture, like with design: aka the famous Egg chairs from Arne Jacobsen. This has placed the country on the map but with its incredible success, actually ends up stifling the generation that comes after it to produce more of the same. The New Nordic cuisine is a phenomenon and a resurgence for local food internationally, but can be difficult for restaurants to branch out from under that label.
That said, Denmark does seem like a neat country to visit. I love what it's exported to the rest of us, and will definitely plan to visit someday. All those bike lanes in Copenhagen? Heaven to someone commuting in a city where cars are still favoured over investing over public transit, much less bike lanes. I can't imagine staying there for a long period of time without familiarizing myself with the culture or language though, I'd stick out even more than I already would.
So, Denmark is the toast of the town. From an international standpoint, we know about the high living standards, the rise of New Nordic cuisine, the furniture design, the shows (The Bridge, The Killing), etc. but is that really what the country is about?
Kingsley travels there for a deeper look under the surface, and finds quite a lot to praise in Denmark but also counters the positives as well. There's a wonderful welfare state to support every citizen and the sense of folkelighed, a mutually committed community, but in this homogeneity, immigrants find it very difficult to integrate themselves in Danish society. They struggle with not belonging because they don't share the same cultural values or look and act the same, and that translates not just on a local level but on a national level with the politics.
On a similar note, this concept of sameness can lend itself to affecting other aspects of Danish culture, like with design: aka the famous Egg chairs from Arne Jacobsen. This has placed the country on the map but with its incredible success, actually ends up stifling the generation that comes after it to produce more of the same. The New Nordic cuisine is a phenomenon and a resurgence for local food internationally, but can be difficult for restaurants to branch out from under that label.
That said, Denmark does seem like a neat country to visit. I love what it's exported to the rest of us, and will definitely plan to visit someday. All those bike lanes in Copenhagen? Heaven to someone commuting in a city where cars are still favoured over investing over public transit, much less bike lanes. I can't imagine staying there for a long period of time without familiarizing myself with the culture or language though, I'd stick out even more than I already would.
vaiomo's review against another edition
1.0
Idk why I even gave this 2 stars before looking back this is more of a 1'er
elenatanasoiu's review against another edition
3.0
Very quick read. Was more educational as to how the brits see Denmark than about Denmark itself. But fun and insightful nonetheless.
In regards to the information written in there, he got most things spot on. I recommend it to people looking to understand Denmark without having to make the effort of peering into the abyss of Danish unwritten norms.
In regards to the information written in there, he got most things spot on. I recommend it to people looking to understand Denmark without having to make the effort of peering into the abyss of Danish unwritten norms.
tregina's review against another edition
3.0
Picked this up with an eye towards a historical cultural survey, but even though I figured out from the outset that this was not that, it was still an interesting look at modern Denmark, with a few sojourns into historical background and a relatively balanced point of view.