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Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness

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Others books will tell you how to be hygge. This is the only book that will show you.

Though we all know the feeling of hygge instinctively few of us ever manage to capture it for more than a moment.

Now Danish actress and hygge aficionado Marie Tourell Søderberg has travelled the length and breadth of her home country to create the perfect guide to cooking, decorating, entertaining and being inspired the hygge way.

Full of beautiful photographs and simple, practical steps and ideas to make your home and life both comfortable and cheering all year round, this book is the easy way to introduce hygge into your life.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2016

174 people are currently reading
3026 people want to read

About the author

Marie Tourell Søderberg

37 books22 followers
Marie Tourell Søderberg was born on July 26, in Copenhagen, Denmark. She is an actress known for 1864 (2014) and Itsi Bitsi (2015). She graduated from the National Danish School of Acting in June 2012. She has also been studying at the Lee Strasberg Institute for Theatre and Film in New York.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah.
599 reviews99 followers
December 30, 2016
Beautiful to hold and glance at, but disappointingly thin in content. The cover will look wonderful on your shelves, but if you're looking for a more nuanced look into the culture of hygge, this isn't it.
Profile Image for Rebecca Jane Brown.
50 reviews1,450 followers
January 21, 2019
Review in 2019
I don't know why I previously rated this so high, upon a second good read, I don't believe it's that good. It's more of a collection of people's ideas of Hygge, as opposed to a written book by the author. It should have 'a collection' rather than 'by Marie T S'.

It felt more dressed up in aesthetic than being a great book, the illustrations/photographs and physical style of the book sort of distract from the content. I wish there was more of substance.

It's a good little introduction I suppose, but I don't think it's as good as other Hygge books I've seen out there.


Review in 2016
I was sent a copy of this by Penguin Books, but my opinions are my own.
-
Prior to receiving this book, I didn't know anything about the word 'Hygge'. After finishing - I feel I've had a huge education in culture and happiness! I have an urge to drop my life and suddenly move to Denmark - someone hold me back :).

Once I started the book, I was surprised how much of the content was in quotation marks. The quotations were interesting and on topic - but it made the book feel less of an individual's perception of Hygge and more a collection of works on the subject. I guess this contributed to how this is not just one person's experience of happiness - but how Hygge is embedded within the culture of Denmark.

As the book progressed, it felt more like an extended wikipedia entry, with recipes, case studies, photos, interviews, instructions for home decorations and opinions. Not what I expected, but an interesting take! :D.

There were some beautiful (and helpful) photographs throughout the book! I wish they were a little bigger though, but perhaps that's just the artist in me :D.

I know we shouldn't judge a book by it's exterior (cover) but that actually made a huge difference to me! The cover was welcoming, warming and the physical book itself was lovely to hold!

I read this fairly quickly, I'm going to wait a little while and re-read. There was lots of information to take in and it was a huge breath of fresh air :D.

As strange as this may read: it felt like a hug in a book and I loved it.

As a newcomer to Hygge, I'd recommend this to other newcomers - it may be less powerful in the lives of those already submerged in Hygge! I would definitely recommend this book! <3.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
953 reviews1,217 followers
November 3, 2016
I read this all in one sitting (or should I say lying in bed), and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. The phenomenon of hygge is something that does appeal a lot to my sentimentalities, and I was dying to read more about it.

What surprised me about this book was how many facets there are to hygge, and how different people interpret it. To me, I interpreted it as a very much solo activity, as I am a deeply introverted person by nature, whereas the people who contributed to this book mention spending time with friends and family a great deal. And I can completely see how I have been unintentionally implementing hygge in my own life, with our numerous nights in with friends, cooking and drinking wine and chatting with music playing in the background.

I liked that there were contributions from a lot of regular Danish people, from all parts of the country and all walks of life, as it was a nice personal insight into their lives and how they comfort themselves. There were also DIYs and recipes included, as well as tips on making a hygge home, which definitely appeals to me. The book itself is also gorgeous, with beautiful photographs throughout.

The only thing that I would have liked a bit more of would have been practical ideas for implementing hygge into everyday life, beyond the obvious approaches of getting cosy at home. I would say though that this is a good starter book, it covers a lot of areas, and has that nice personal touch to it. I look forward to reading more on this topic.
Profile Image for Simona.
423 reviews793 followers
October 13, 2019
Rating: 5+/5 || Recenzia pe Secretele Simonei || Cumpără cartea

carte hygge the danish art of happiness


"Hygge has the wonderful nature of varying from home to home, and often I am surprised how many different places and styles I consider as hyggelig.
Hygge is strongly related to feeling safe. The hygge comes when you can feel that the person behind the surroundings is completely comfortable with his or her chioces, but at the same time isn't afraid of decorating intuitively and trying out new things and ideas." (p.110)


carte hygge the danish art of happiness

Este timpul pentru Hygge
Hygge, pronunțat hue-guh, este un termen de proveniență daneză care se referă la o atmosferă de relaxare pe care danezii o crează mai ales în momentele când lumina zilei este extrem de scurtă și frigul le îngheață sufletele. Confortul și stare de siguranță sunt definitorii pentru a exprima hygge.

Tot auzisem de termenul de hygge pe internet, însă nu știam la ce se referă. Am primit cadou cartea Hygge - The danish art of happiness de Marie Tourell Soderberg și m-am bucurat foarte mult că la început de 2017 aveam să pornesc lectura ei. Pe timpul lecturii mi s-a creat și mie în suflet o doriță mai mare de a-mi crea în jur o atmosferă care să mă facă mereu să mă simt relaxată și călduroasă.

În cadrul cărții am regăsit explicații despre viața daneză și despre ce implică conceptul de hygge. Hygge se poate regăsi oriunde, însă atmosfera ideală este creată în propria casă. Nu ai nevoie de multe lucruri care să îți facă viața una de tip hygge. Păturile călduroase și pufoase, ceaiurile, cărțile, jocurile de societate și discuțiile confortabile cu familia și prietenii sunt o descriere perfectă pentru ceea ce reprezintă hygge. Fiecare își creează propriul tip de hygge, așa că veți fi uimiți să descoperiți ce îi face pe alții să se simtă bine și în siguranță.

cotor carte hygge the danish art of happiness

Cum să ai viața plină de Hygge?
Dacă dorești să te simți mai calm după o zi lungă de lucru trebuie musai să apelezi la însemnătatea hygge. Realizează din casa ta, mai ales din camerele unde petreci mult timp, un loc unde să simți că sufletul ți se încălzește. Indiferent de anotimp, poți veni cu idei minunate și simple care să te relaxeze.

Iarna poți invita prieteni în sufragerie unde veți discuta în timp ce vă culcușiți sub pături călduroase alături de o ceașcă de ceai sau o ciocolată caldă. Vara puteți bea limonade și socate reci în timp ce atârnați luminițe decorative care să vă facă serile pline de magie.

Toate lucrurile simple și micuțe sunt parte din hygge, atmosfera cosy fiind cea spre care să vă orientați. Eu m-am bucurat mult de lectura acestei cărți. Mi s-a părut fain să descopăr detalii despre hygge în timp ce am admirat niște imagini superbe, pline de zâmbete și stare de bine. Am găsit și câteva rețete care să mă inspire în zilele de plictiseală și am primit alte sfaturi care să mă facă să îmi imaginez cât de faină poate fi și viața danezilor din acest punct de vedere.

carte hygge the danish art of happiness
carte hygge the danish art of happiness
carte hygge the danish art of happiness
Profile Image for Lindsay Nixon.
Author 22 books795 followers
January 7, 2019
I think most Americans wanting to learn about “hygge” will find this book disappointing. It’s not exactly the how-to manual with tips, examples, and actionable things we (Americans) tend to like. If I had not learned so much about hygge in Denmark, I would have left the book more confused.

Overall it feels like a string of Instagram posts or a scrapbook... very scattered, often “off topic” and not very “here’s how and why you can hygge”

Analogy:
If it was a “guide to entertaining” book it would say “serve delicious food, be a good host, here’s some pictures of my friends”

The only meaningful thing I grabbed from this was the Danes “relax” with cookies, candy, wine, and food just like Americans do but the difference is the attitude. They DESERVE it. It’s GOOD for them, where we do it with Shame and arguing with ourselves about it. I find this is how French women feel about chocolate crossiants (hygge)
Profile Image for Trish at Between My Lines.
1,137 reviews330 followers
May 4, 2017
This review was originally posted on Between My Lines

I was very excited about Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness by Marie Tourell Soderberg, as the idea of adding hygge elements to my life sounded very appealing.  And I'm obsessed with books about happiness (like all the Gretchen Rubin books which I highly recommend).  Personally , I find them inspiring and they give me an instant boost.


My Thoughts on  Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness by Marie Tourell Soderberg

So first up, I learnt exactly what hygge is, and I love the concept of it. In a nutshell, my understanding is that it's all things cosy and comfy, taking time out with friends and enjoying special moments together. What's not to like?!

The format includes personal experiences of the author, snippets from other people, and lots of warm-and-snug feeling photos.  It also explains where the word evolved from and gives tips on how to apply to your home, in your cooking, etc.

But I don't feel that I ended up applying anything I read in the book to my everyday life. It reminds you to notice special moments, especially the smaller moments of pleasure like drinking a perfectly brewed cup of coffee, or a fun chat with friends. Basically stop and smell the roses, while wearing your comfy clothes, and appreciate how good it makes you feel.

The big BUT for me is that most of it is stuff I already do.  Still now I have a name for it. Overall, an entertaining read, but don't expect it to transform your life.

 
Who should read Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness by Marie Tourell Soderberg?

I'd recommend this to you if you want to find out what Hygge is all about.  Or if you want a coffee table book that is easy to pick up and put down, as I think that is the best format to read this book in.

Thanks to Penguin UK for sending me a copy of this book for review consideration.

 
Profile Image for Christine Spoors.
Author 1 book435 followers
November 24, 2017
I always love reading about hygge so I read this book in one night. I've been working so much recently that I needed something positive and cosy. It also snowed for the first time this autumn today so I was feeling very cosy anyway.

I didn't love this book as much as some other's I've read about hygge because this book was mainly filled with quotes from other Danish people about hygge. So it didn't feel like this author really wrote the book because we hardly heard from her. I would have liked to have read more about what hygge means to her.

This is an odd thing to complain about, but the font was really tiny in this book and only took up a tiny portion in the middle of the page. I definitely feel like they could have increased the font size by at least two and still been able to fit it all on in the same book size.

I'd recommend if you love Hygge and Denmark, but I didn't really learn anything new in this book so if you're new to Hygge I would probably recommend The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well instead. A gorgeous cover, but sadly I think the content needed a little more work.
Profile Image for Ietrio.
6,932 reviews24 followers
October 28, 2016
A pure soul, a good feng shui, a good karma, now hygge. A myriad of terms to denote something that is different for each individual, something that is invisible and impossible to quantify, something you can blame on the victim and offer anything from chamomile tea to a good beating to cast away the demons. These are the invisible clothing of the emperor.
Profile Image for Ellis ♥.
993 reviews10 followers
August 23, 2020

... o dell'apprezzare al meglio le piccole cose del quotidiano.

Sono arrivata a leggiucchiare questo libro un po' per caso, conoscevo - per sentito dire - il termine "hygge" ma non avevo mai provato il desiderio di approfondire... Fino a questo preciso momento. Sentivo il bisogno di trasformare una lunga serie di giornate NO in giornate o perlomeno "ni" 😅... Il saggio in sé è ricco di spunti interessanti e si presenta con una veste grafica davvero graziosa: foto, testimonianze, c'è anche un piccolo dizionario alla fine del libro davvero utile.
La felicità è un'emozione che va incoraggiata e ognuno di noi ha il suo metodo per ricercarla. Ad esempio c'è chi si rifugia in un libro, chi mette su la sua playlist preferita e balla spensierato in giro per casa o chi ammira un tramonto e sente il cuore colmarsi di gioia. "Quando siete felici, fateci caso" recita il titolo (nell'edizione italiana) di un libro di Kurt Vonnegut Jr ed è proprio vero, mai dare per scontato ciò che ci circonda, potremmo ritrovarci a costruire ricordi lieti da situazioni inaspettate. Non possiamo prevedere cosa ci accadrà domani, ma possiamo cominciare a guardare all'oggi con occhi nuovi e fronteggiarlo al meglio.
Profile Image for cuong tran.
266 reviews146 followers
September 18, 2020
Thích cuốn này nhất trong bộ ba quyển Phong cách sống Bắc Âu hê hê.
Profile Image for Bistra Ivanova.
881 reviews215 followers
January 11, 2017
"Гледай сега, думата hygge отнесе много критики тази година, защото стана супер тренди, обаче аз искам да ти направя един ранен коледен подарък, заповядай!", прегърна ме моята мила приятелка в една студена зимна вечер във Варшава. "Чрез тази книга ще можеш да ме опознаеш още по-добре, защото аз живях една година в Копенхаген като студентка преди 10 г. и това hygge стана интегрална част от мен. И много неща, които знаеш, че правя, сега ще разбереш откъде идват". На следващата сутрин тя изтича за кроасани, а аз седнах на масата да разгледам книгата. Докато тя се суетеше, запали свещички, направи чай, извади разни хубави неща за закуска, разгръщах красивите страници със снимки, цитати, мисли, истории, рецепти... И започнах да разбирам - защо тя отдаваше такова внимание на готвенето заедно, на приготовленията, на свещите, на уюта, на това всяка година да събира у дома в София приятелите си на греяно датско вино... Мисля, че полетът към София няколко часа по-късно беше най-приятният в тази дъълга поредица от полети през годината - имах много работа и трябваше да бачкам, но си подремнах и после прочетох половината книга, докато слънчицето ме грееше. Това е една хубава лична книга на споделянето, за това да бъдем заедно, да бъдем истински и близки. Пълна с лични истории, списъци, снимки, идеи, вдъхновения, но и малко академични знания и проучвания (откъси от трудове). Мен лично безкрайно ме вдъхнови да си каним по-често приятели вкъщи да си готвим, играем на новата ми мемори гейм на Benjamin Chaud, гледаме филми, творим и просто приказваме. И да сме повече заедно качествено, хайде стига с тази работа! ;-)
Profile Image for A..
105 reviews22 followers
March 10, 2018
nope.
Profile Image for Ramón Nogueras Pérez.
698 reviews395 followers
April 25, 2017
Este es un libro muy corto, a pesar de sus doscientas y pico páginas, porque está profusamente ilustrado con montones de fotografías. Las páginas que contienen texto tienen unos márgenes enormes, con lo que en realidad se lee en dos sentadas.

El libro explica el concepto de "hygge", una palabra danesa que tiene que ver con lo acogedor, lo agradable, y que se presenta como un puntal de su cultura, siendo Dinamarca uno de los países más felices del mundo. La autora qué cosas son hygge, qué actividades, y cómo incorporarlas a la rutina. Básicamente, es estar a gusto y tranquilo con gente o a solas, en un entorno que sea acogedor. Tampoco es que tenga un misterio detrás.

Sin embargo, una cosa que me ha hecho reflexionar de este libro es la importancia de tener una palabra que designe un concepto, para hacerte pensar más a menudo en ese concepto y, por tanto, tenerlo más presente. Hygge no es sólo un adjetivo, es un sustantivo y un verbo. Las cosas son hygge, las personas son buenas hyggeando o no, hyggear es una actividad. Cuando tienes una palabra para explicarlo, parece como que le das más importancia.

Como los daneses tienen la comida (sobre todo el dulce) como una parte importante del hygge, el libro trae unas cuantas recetas. También hay unas cuantas manualidades que se hacen mucho cuando estás de hygge, o que sirven para que la decoración sea acogedora. Para los daneses, si todo está en estado demasiado perfecto es frío, y eso no es hygge.

Es interesante. No es que te vaya a cambiar la vida, pero es simpático y se lee muy bien. Y con esto quizá saques un par de ideas para prestar más atención a los ratos de estar sin hacer nada, que es un hábito saludable que parece que se está perdiendo.
Profile Image for Lai Reading.
339 reviews566 followers
July 23, 2020
Uii sau bao lâu đọc về các sách phong cách sống thì cuối cùng mình cũng tìm ra chân ái của đời mình rồi, đó chính là Hygge - hạnh phúc từ những điều nhỏ bé.

Trước giờ mình vẫn luôn nghĩ mình thích tìm niềm vui trong mấy cái nhỏ bé xinh, nhưng xã hội với những lời kêu gọi làm giàu rồi phát triển nỗ lực đồ các kiểu lúc nào cũng làm mình thấy mình bình thường quá (nhiều lúc còn hơi tầm thường ý). Nhưng vấn đề là ở đó đó, mình chưa bao giờ mơ những thứ quá cao sang xa vời gì hết. Thế rồi gặp em sách này hihi

Phần đầu em sách giải nghĩa về hygge và cách đọc (bạn lên YouTube tìm "How to pronounce hygge" để phát âm đúng ha), sau đó là một phần dài ơi là dài về cách xây dựng tổ ấm "trạm hygge", những nơi thuộc về mình và mang lại cảm giác thoải mái (y như nơi con tim thuộc về á). Sau đó là nói đến cách sống cùng một số mặt trái và khó khăn mà hygge đang phải đối mặt.

So với Sisu thì Hygge được biên tập logic và toàn diện hơn, hoặc do mình thích quá nên chấm điểm dễ dãi. Nhưng em này rốt cuộc cũng cho mình nhìn thấy cụ thể hơn tương lai mà mình đang hướng đến. Ừ thì cứ nhẹ nhàng bình yên như mây trôi, hygge thôi ^^
Profile Image for Katie.
334 reviews48 followers
December 8, 2017
Such an interesting, enjoyable book! Dare I say it was a hygge-book? (There are about a million hygge compound words in Denmark, indexed in a useful glossary at the end of this book, and the author encourages you to make up your own hygge words!)

Here are some notes I took while reading, because I definitely want to remember the lessons of this book:

- What is hygge? Hygge is not ecstatic, momentary happiness, but a kind of everyday happiness that contributes to a general contentedness in the long run
- when guests step inside, try and sense where they are mentally and what they need. If they've come in from the cold, offer them a blanket. Ask if they would like to choose a cup, if we're going to have something warm to drink. Then they may end up having a favourite cup at your place, and that helps them feel at home.
- it prizes home culture over cafe culture (but hygge is definitely pub culture too!)
- hygge is the glue that holds Danish families together
- Hygge is not exclusively Scandinavian but it definitely fits in with the larger Scandinavian ethos and values system and culture of community, the social welfare state, and inclusiveness (also because Scandinavians believe when the basic needs are met, and you have the security that comes with knowing there's a social safety net, there is more room for one to explore the social, creative and personal elements of one's life - and it is easier for hygge to thrive),
- At schools in Denmark: "Don't forget to have some potter-time." Means walking around with little effort or purpose, winding down, seeing that hygge can simply hide within a pair of slippers
- You can't force hygge! But you can coax it, and set up patterns and thoughts that make hygge a natural part of your day
- Hygge isn't necessarily communal, it can be solitary too (curled up on a couch reading for example)
- The book includes recipes for hygge, like like rodgrod med flode (summer compote from summer berries), potato sandwiches (on open-faced rye bread), thick pancakes, morning rolls, oatmeal with caramel sauce, apple and roasted almonds (from Grod's famous creator, Lasse Skjonning Andersen), snobrod (twisted rolls made over the embers of a fire, like bannock, but sweetened with sugar and cardamom), and elderflower cordial
- the Danes are the second highest sweet-eating nation in Europe, and that's mostly because hygge is associated with drinking and eating (but not necessarily eating broccoli florets!)
- Hygge lives in the contrast between the cold outdoors and the cosy, warm indoors of your home
- Making your home hygge - Hygge grows out of a sincerity in the things you surround yourself with. When you put thoughtfulness into how and why you have chosen to surround yourself with particular furniture, objects, art, flowers, knick-knacks, then you relax.
- Interior design and hygge -> materials play a big role here. Wood, paper, linens, wools, metals, ceramics and stoneware are a part of Scandinavian style DNA.
- Have a hyggekrog --> a hygge nook in your house that is cosy. For me, that would be the corner of my couch with tons of pillows (all in different materials like faux fur, knit, etc) and soft blankets, perfect to curl up in with a book or something good on Netflix
- In the bedroom --> make space for your special routines - a place for your book, your glass of water, your jewellery.
- Denmark uses the most candles of all EU countries (because hygge is closely associated with candlelight!)
- a Danish DJ and legendary radio host gives a hygge playlist of 10 songs that automatically and in a subtle way put you in a hyggelig mood
- Don't be afraid of the cliche of souvenirs - if a mini version of the Eiffel Tower reminds you of an unforgettable trip to Paris, bring it back with you and enjoy the memories seeing it provokes.
- A whole section at the back of the book looks at all the hygge compound words (and there are a TON, you really get the sense of just how massive a cultural mindset hygge is in Denmark based on all the words they've created with hygge in it). I love this word, hyggesyg, hugge-sickness. When you have to stay home from work sick, but not so sick you have to lie down in pain. So, walking around at home, with slippers and warm socks on, watching films and eating nice things, but not well enough to go to work.
- Julehygge --> Christmas hygge.
- it is interesting to see that while people in the West have suddenly become quite preoccupied with achieving hygge as anything Scandinavian is ridiculously trendy, people in Denmark might see the concept differently. Apparently the political left wing criticizes hygge for being alientating, introvert and fearful of cultures outside of Scandinavian. The political right wing criticizes hygge for being a barrier to ambition, intensity, and growth, and that too much hygge is bad for productivity and effectiveness.
- The book does wonder if hygge "works" best in homogenous populations like Denmark, and how it can sometimes be seen as introverted and exclusionary.It can also be challenged by society's focus on efficiency and multi-tasking, as well as the rise of social media in our lives.
- This made me laugh --> "There are trends in today's society that threaten hygge. Thousands of Danes are suddenly running marathons, a niche sport that was reserved for a few eager fools in the old days and was never intended to become a popular sport. If the health wave continues to roar, hygge will face an uphill struggle."
- More on social media --> "Social media takes time away from time that could be spent together as a family, are disruptive to the presence of our children and can be sources of conflict."
- But this book makes the case for podcasts, saying that listening to something instead of taking in knowledge and entertainment visually demands more presence, and thus better conditions for hygge.
- Conclusion: Why is hygge important? Hygge moments are the small everyday moments that make you happy. Having a word for it makes you aware that they are right in front of your eyes.
643 reviews58 followers
February 7, 2017
I understand the concept of hygge is very popular nowadays. The of books associated with it ballooned right before Christmas. I have not read all of them but this is a very lazy attempt to cash in on the craze.

I can literately get more understanding of hygge browsing through Instagram. The book is filled with quotes from other people, I have no idea what the author's point of view is. There are a couple recipes and DIY ideas dotted in there but, again, taken from someone else's idea. The only reason it doesn't have one star is because I have finished reading it (though it was a very short book with little information so only took 1 hour), and I only reserve one star for books I can't finish or truly hate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Valerie Brett.
575 reviews79 followers
December 13, 2018
This is like a person’s scrapbook or mood board of what hygge means to them, and it’s very soothing to read and look at. Subjective, obviously, and kind of random, and a lot of huge long quotes rather than original writing. Definitely you achieve hygge by reading about it; this is much more about the mood than the research (totally different vibe than a lot of the other hygge books I’ve read).
Profile Image for Barbara.
534 reviews43 followers
October 6, 2023
It was an ok book about danish lifestyle. It felt more like a table book at times though.

Favourite quotes:

“The great thing about organic materials is that,if you treat them right,they have the ability to age well.How they carry the story of being used over time is the best example of bringing soul,authenticity,attachment and a sense of belonging- qualities like these are closely attached to the phenomenon of hygge.”

“…the colour of an organic material most often originates from its history- it tells you about the process it has been through,about the way it has been treated and where it comes from.At the same time the colour of a natural material is strengthened by its basic characteristics of texture,pattern and depth.”
Profile Image for Marlathemom.
279 reviews3 followers
February 9, 2018
What a sweet, beautiful read! Hygge (with varying pronunciations but most closely the “hu” from “huge and the “gi” from “girl”) is the Danish term for what we call coziness - curling up to snuggle and share. In weather like this (that mirrors Denmark’s), this slim book was a godsend on reflecting on the importance of recharging and reconnecting - it’s a perfect housewarming gift for a friend or yourself. Critics may note the history of Denmark is not overly detailed, but I just loved this little jewel. Grab your tea and some sweets (which are truly part of this process, yay) and hygge away.
Profile Image for Ella.
619 reviews105 followers
January 10, 2019
I loved this book! Definitely inspired me to start to include more hygge in my life!
Profile Image for Sharon.
659 reviews
November 22, 2018
A bit dark and dreary as I write this, a perfect backdrop and background to appreciate the nature of Hygge, its spirit and related lifestyle choices. Time to light some candles, brew some tea, and curl up with my next read.
Profile Image for Katie.
8 reviews2 followers
February 6, 2019
Perfect read after bouts of stress, bustle, or a frenzied pace and workload. A good reminder that efficiency and productivity are not the only measures of a good and full day.
Profile Image for Наталія.
Author 11 books33 followers
September 17, 2017
This is not quite a regular 4-star rating but more like an average of the 5 I'd give for the book's design and the 2-3 I'd give for its content.

The book is wonderful to look at, read and touch. Whoever came up with the design and the concept clearly poured their heart and soul into making the reading experience as pleasant as possible. The flip side is that the book is way expensive (I'm talking at least twice the price I'd pay for any other hardcover here in Ukraine), so this is a moment to thank my favorite bookstore/cafe for a chance to read it.

The reading itself won't take much time. Hygge is hardly a comprehensive guide, which is marketed as its advantage, but I wouldn't say it worked that way for me. The book consists of pretty random things that can give you the feeling of hygge, interviews with people about what hygge means to them, etc., so it reads kind of like a well-designed magazine without making too much impact on you.

Something I'd definitely recommend as a gift (because it's beautiful, seriously), but would hardly buy for myself. (I'm open to other people giving me this as a gift tho ^^)
Profile Image for Am Y.
857 reviews37 followers
November 17, 2017
There's a special word for "happiness" in Denmark and that is "hygge". This book discusses all that hygge is about and comprises. We get stories from various Danish people about what hygge means to them, with lots of photos accompanying the text to try and help convey the feeling of hygge. There are hygge recipes, hygge interiors, hygge activities, etc. The last part of the book also very briefly discusses hygge from a sociocultural and political perspective - e.g. pros and cons of hygge, what hygge means today, the future of hygge, etc. Overall this book provides a romanticised and politically correct explanation of hygge, so is more of a coffee table book than anything else.
Profile Image for Catherine.
121 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2018
While I came to enjoy this book more by the end, I found the majority of it a little boring. Perhaps it was just not quite what I expected, given the title suggests it's about the "art of happiness", when in reality it seems to be more about the "art of making your house Danish and cosy by lighting candles making clay bowls". The last few pages touch on the concept of looking for happiness in the little things, for example by making time for genuine moments with family and friends (over too much screen time), however the majority of the book is made of tiny average-looking photos and people talking about how the Danes love to rug up and light candles.
Profile Image for Supersinajin.
22 reviews3 followers
February 6, 2017
I just finished the book and I'm so in love with it. It only took me about two hours, I think, I just couldn't stop.
I' ve read "The little Book of Hygge" just before, so I already had a pretty good idea what hygge is, but I still could learn some new things.

Instead of trying to explain the concept/term, it gives you the feeling of what hygge is.
I felt like this book was some kind of 'scrapbook'. It collected little pieces, stories, recepies, quotes, etc. and by that, sharing the expierence of hygge.

I just loved that!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews

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