Tuesday, March 28, 2017

The Little Book of Hygge

The Little Book of Hygge (pronounced HOO-GA): Danish Secrets to Happy Living / Meik Wiking, 221 p.

An absolutely charming book that attempts to define the concept of Hygge, which the Danes, the happiest people in the world, think of as "coziness of the soul."  The necessary ingredients include candles, hot drinks, scarves, sweets, fireplaces, books, nature, and spending time doing fun things at home with a close circle of friends.

Well, you get no argument from me.  But I wonder if Wiking isn't just having a bit of a laugh at his American audience.  He points out, "Universal and free health care, free university education, and relatively generous unemployment benefits go a long way toward reducing unhappiness." On my way home tonight I'm going to stop and pick up a few candles.

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