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booksandteas's review against another edition
5.0
This book is exactly what I needed to start my year. I know that I will have to read it one or two more times this year to fully allow the ideology to be absorbed, not only into my mind, but into my life. I adore and believe in the basic premise of hygge, but my life does not reflect that. I would venture most American lives are not hyggily. We become so immersed in our mundane tasks, our achievements, our future, or our basic struggle at survival that making space for mindfulness and simplistic comfort is not encouraged or modeled.
To practice hygge is to be aware of the simple pleasures and the things that bring comfort to ourselves and others and then act on those comforts. To bask in the joy and contentment of allowing oneself to be comforted without anxiety of the next task or guilt of other people/pressing concerns. It is NOT dissociating in the form of binge watching Netflix, scrolling on Instagram, or drink to the point of excess.
My realization is that I thought it common practice to not allow those pleasures often, to delay gratification. I do not often allow myself comforts and pleasures because of the mindset that I should be... Earning them? Perhaps? But I see that the social theme around me is to either completely deny oneself, or to completly immerse oneself in pleasure to the point of gluttony. My goal is to create an environment of simple pleasure in my daily life, my environment, and in the lives of those around me.
To practice hygge is to be aware of the simple pleasures and the things that bring comfort to ourselves and others and then act on those comforts. To bask in the joy and contentment of allowing oneself to be comforted without anxiety of the next task or guilt of other people/pressing concerns. It is NOT dissociating in the form of binge watching Netflix, scrolling on Instagram, or drink to the point of excess.
My realization is that I thought it common practice to not allow those pleasures often, to delay gratification. I do not often allow myself comforts and pleasures because of the mindset that I should be... Earning them? Perhaps? But I see that the social theme around me is to either completely deny oneself, or to completly immerse oneself in pleasure to the point of gluttony. My goal is to create an environment of simple pleasure in my daily life, my environment, and in the lives of those around me.
kchin's review against another edition
1.0
Repeat after me for the 100th time: Danish are some of the happiest people on Earth.
The book just repeats itself in various categories, but they all say the same thing. Get cozy, be present, be intimate, be warm, eat well, etc. I lost my page once and it took about 15 minutes to find it again because every page sounded like where I had left off. The pictures are nice but nobody's house looks like that, or is having a bathtub out in the forest practical. I understand it's the concept, but it gets old after beating a dead horse for 200 pages.
So maybe read the first few chapters and call it a day.
The book just repeats itself in various categories, but they all say the same thing. Get cozy, be present, be intimate, be warm, eat well, etc. I lost my page once and it took about 15 minutes to find it again because every page sounded like where I had left off. The pictures are nice but nobody's house looks like that, or is having a bathtub out in the forest practical. I understand it's the concept, but it gets old after beating a dead horse for 200 pages.
So maybe read the first few chapters and call it a day.
sb1999's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my favorite books I’ve read on hygge. I really like the philosophies behind it to help understand the practice a little bit better.
morganashley121's review against another edition
4.0
This book perfectly describes the quality of life I have been searching for. It got a bit redundant at times, but still a great, quick read with a lot of ideas on how I can achieve my own hygge.
mugren's review against another edition
1.0
Save your time and money and just read the Wikipedia entry for Hygge.
Despite all the times the writer says “Hygge is”, she doesn’t actually give it a proper definition. I’m left believing that Hygge can actually be any emotion you’ve ever experienced in your life.
Despite all the times the writer says “Hygge is”, she doesn’t actually give it a proper definition. I’m left believing that Hygge can actually be any emotion you’ve ever experienced in your life.
elise_oliver's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting concept and a beautiful book to have in print but I did feel it was sometimes repetitive. Still intriguing though and definitley worth the read.
zoubata's review against another edition
2.0
Its a beautiful book for sure but with too much repetitions and way too simple; nothing new under the sun. Moreover, I know it's supposed to present the danish way of living but the book idealized the country way too much for me to actually appreciate it. All your issues can be solved thanks to a blanket, candles and tea.
However, I liked the quotes from other writers she included but that's about it. Clearly not the best book about hygge.
However, I liked the quotes from other writers she included but that's about it. Clearly not the best book about hygge.
jandilinde's review against another edition
4.0
such a comforting book! this book makes me even more interested in danish culture :) learning about hygge allows me to be more aware of it in my life. such a beautiful way to view life