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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.5
This book can indeed be charming, but it is quite repetitive and the structure leaves a lot to be desired. It's good natured stream of consciousness, part Danish cultural insight, part light-hearted humor for what must be a very gray country, part tutorial for how to achieve happiness, at least in one form.
I love that there is a Happiness Institute that does this kind of research full-time. They briefly cover broader societal structures that promote well-being and it's fun to learn about Danish/Nordic culture. I found myself bristling a bit that hygge has to be social and indoors more often than not. As an ambivert leaning introvert, much of my happiness comes from finding ways to entertain myself and needing sunshine. Perhaps Danes have less opportunities for sunshine, so they've had to come up with a host of other ways to have hygge/joy. It's a small book that tries to accomplish not too much, and I guess I was hoping for a bit more. What contributes to less hygge, for instance? They touch on it, but this was a topic I've been thinking about a lot and hoped to find some more discussion here.
This book can indeed be charming, but it is quite repetitive and the structure leaves a lot to be desired. It's good natured stream of consciousness, part Danish cultural insight, part light-hearted humor for what must be a very gray country, part tutorial for how to achieve happiness, at least in one form.
I love that there is a Happiness Institute that does this kind of research full-time. They briefly cover broader societal structures that promote well-being and it's fun to learn about Danish/Nordic culture. I found myself bristling a bit that hygge has to be social and indoors more often than not. As an ambivert leaning introvert, much of my happiness comes from finding ways to entertain myself and needing sunshine. Perhaps Danes have less opportunities for sunshine, so they've had to come up with a host of other ways to have hygge/joy. It's a small book that tries to accomplish not too much, and I guess I was hoping for a bit more. What contributes to less hygge, for instance? They touch on it, but this was a topic I've been thinking about a lot and hoped to find some more discussion here.
ugh, if this wasn't so short I would have given up on it. I didn't find it to be very enlightening or informative. it was repetitive and boring
More of a coffee table book than an actual read, but a really cute one. I’d give the content a 2 as it is fairly superficial and repeats quite a lot (for a more interesting and substantial read about ‘hygge’, try ‘A Year of Living Danishly’ instead. But overall it gets a 3 because it’s a gorgeous book that gives you all the warm feels that hygge brings. Also, it reminds you to look for happiness in the everyday, which I enjoyed. A cute book indeed.
Such a cute little book. I thoroughly enjoyed this and can't wait to read the other books by this author!
Snuggly little book
Wrapping up reading this, snuggled up in bed listening to a thunderstorm. I'm enchanted by the concept of hygge and the author explains it well. I look forward to adopting some hygge concepts myself.
Wrapping up reading this, snuggled up in bed listening to a thunderstorm. I'm enchanted by the concept of hygge and the author explains it well. I look forward to adopting some hygge concepts myself.
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Being from Denmark I feel like I'm somewhat of a ✨hygge✨ expert myself, and the concept is certainly familiar to me and engrained in everyday life. For what the book does, it does it well. It's a pleasant and short read that -in my humble opinion- explains well what hygge is, how it manifests, and what it means and encompasses.
So, what does the book do exactly? It's stats. It's really just statistics. The author, Meik Wiking, is connected to the Happiness Research Institute in our capital, Copenhagen, and it shines through every chapter that he's a scientist at heart. That being said, it's infinitely more interesting and entertaining to read the stats presented in text-form with illustrations, pictures, and personal anecdotes than it would've been to see those same stats represented in an Excel spreadsheet or in a boring graph.
I loved the humour, the jokes, and the (at times offendingly hilarious) comments on the Danes as a people and our way of thinking and navigating life. I wish there were more of these, as the author isn't exactly generous with spreading these subjective comments among the objective facts.
So, what does the book do exactly? It's stats. It's really just statistics. The author, Meik Wiking, is connected to the Happiness Research Institute in our capital, Copenhagen, and it shines through every chapter that he's a scientist at heart. That being said, it's infinitely more interesting and entertaining to read the stats presented in text-form with illustrations, pictures, and personal anecdotes than it would've been to see those same stats represented in an Excel spreadsheet or in a boring graph.
I loved the humour, the jokes, and the (at times offendingly hilarious) comments on the Danes as a people and our way of thinking and navigating life. I wish there were more of these, as the author isn't exactly generous with spreading these subjective comments among the objective facts.
This is truly a gorgeous little book, and a treat to read. It’s a lovely introduction to hygge, and I appreciated the sprinkle of recipes and craft ideas, too!
relaxing
slow-paced