The Little Book of Hygge, Meik Wiking

Title: The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well
Author(s): Meik Wiking
No. of pages: 288
Genre: Non-fiction
Publication date: 2016
Date read: February 16th 2018

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Blurb

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.
(Goodreads)

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Review

I got this book for my birthday from my Dad at the start of January and I only read it in February. This was mainly because I had a certain idea of when to read this book: the surroundings had to be very hygge. I was really looking forward to reading this book and it did live up to my expectations. I came to know that I already have been hyggeing my whole life. I love everything cozy and I love cold weather, just because I love the thought of coming home in a warm and safe house – that’s a big part of hygge: making yourself feel safe in an otherwise hostile environment. Think of watching the thunderstorm outside from behind the window, cuddled up under a blanket with a steaming mug in your hands. I love it!

Nevertheless, I definitely had my “huh?” moments throughout the whole book. I thought Wiking to be a bit too generalising every now and then. I can’t believe every Dane to be like the Danes Wiking describes in his book, but he tends to put every Dane under the same umbrella. He does the same with the Dutch. I didn’t feel like I belonged to the Dutch Wiking was talking about, although I’m born and raised and still living in the Netherlands!

Also, meat is a very, very, big part in the journey to live the ultimate hygge life. Aren’t there any vegetarians/vegans out there in Denmark? I didn’t really understand the big part of eating meat in achieving a hyggeligt feeling. I don’t think having dead animals on your plate as something nice or cozy at all. I guess that part is just about treating and not restricting yourself. Or maybe it’s just the annoying vegetarian in me speaking …

Still, I loved reading this book and it definitely inspired me to live an even more hyggeligt life!