Book Review | The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking

Genre: Nonfiction, Self-Help, Philosophy, Cultural

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 (description via goodreads)

This book is a short and sweet description of Hygge, which I struggle to pronounce correctly (it’s hoo-guh according to the youtube video that I just watched). I loved the overall feel of coziness that this book presented–reading it felt like holding a warm cup of tea and cuddling under a fluffy blanket. The design was adorable, with tiny and colorful illustrations throughout, and I think that an even shorter and more concise version of this would make for a lovely pocket-sized book. The idea of creating a sense of home, comfort and togetherness was explained as an important aspect of Hygge. While there were a lot of concrete tips and suggestions, the overall message was to create an atmosphere that allows you to feel snug, relaxed and most like yourself. The book provided examples of a Hygge atmosphere and lifestyle for individuals of all economic classes. It provided recipes, clothing suggestions, home decor tips and it inspired me to want to buy a bunch of Hygge lamps. I think that this was a cute and worthwhile read that I can see myself giving as a gift in the future.

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