Hygge? The word is enough to make you smile. And that is the only thing that should matter when you decide how to pronounce it, says the author of the book. But, seriously, What is Hygge? Hygge, pronounced Hoo-ga is a feeling, mood, or a state of mind where a person derives pleasure in everyday comfort things. The Danish people are the happiest people on Earth, and their secret to happiness is Hygge. In The Little Book of Hygge, author Meik Wiking brings you the secret to maintain a sense of well-being, togetherness and comfort. From designing your living spaces to picking the right dress, the author helps you stay comfortable and happy.
Meik Wiking is CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, research associate for Denmark at the World Database of Happiness, and founding member of the Latin American Network for Wellbeing and Quality of Life Policies. He and his research have been featured in more than five hundred media outlets, including The Washington Post, BBC, Huffington Post, the Times (London), The Guardian, CBS, Monocle, the Atlantic, and PBS News Hour.
The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living
Author: Meik Wiking
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (January 17, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0062658808, 978-0062658807
The Little Book of Hygge Summary
Who doesn’t want to be happy? It is inconceivable to think that people choose to be miserable when they have a choice to be happy. The author begins with a short introduction to the word and when it originated int he Danish culture. He then moves on to simple things in life that create a feeling of Hoo-ga. I remember evening when the power went out. We used to light candles and sit around in the mellow, warm yellow glow. No amount of fluorescent lights can bring that feeling. Danish, it seems have got it right with he candles. They consume the maximum number of candle wax in the world and associate Hoo-ga the most with candle light.
But Hygge is not just about candles and placements of lamp to create lighting that is soothing. The author says you also need to talk about Hygge. He shares the special Hygge vocabulary with his readers and encourages you to talk about it. Hygge is an abstract subject and it is a feeling that makes you feel comfortable, safe, and relaxed. Teh author asks you to surround yourself with people you love, with things that you like, and in an environment that you cherish. It could be as simple as sharing a hot cup of Coco on a cold day or night when it’s raining cats and dogs outside.
In The Little Book of Hygge, the author shares many other instances and experiences that are Hygge for Danes. He strongly believes in work-life balance and staying back at the office after 5.30 in unimaginable and like sitting in a morgue. Get back home, put on a dim light it candle, surround yourself with food you love, slide into comfortable clothe, and forget about what’s happening out the walls – that is Hygge.
The author shares how to create this experiences in various chapters as he shares tips on comfortable desgin, rich food, and body hugging clothes for a Hygge experience. And Hygge experiences do not need to be expensive. The author shares how you can have the same experiences at a low cost.
The Little Book of Hygge Reviews
The book has captured the attention of many. With more than 15oo voters, the book has an approval rating of nearly seventy percent. Most readers like that the book uses an easy writing style, though it quotes surveys and stuff. The beautiful photographs and recipes too are a major winner for the book. The author has various design and lighting tips that help you create a comfortable living space and also suggests a few calming tips for the anxious lot.
Meik Wiking on Hygge
Meik Wiking talks to Geoff Llyod about his book The Little Book of Hygge.