Natasha Whelehan joins us today with a review of The Little Book of Hygge and suggests it might be a great stocking filler for some friends and family in your life.
The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking was recommended to me last year by a friend but I only recently got round to getting it. Written by Mike Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Institute of Copenhagen, the book explores the concept of hygge.
But what is Hygge? Described as everything from “the art of creating intimacy”, “cosines of the soul”, “the absence of annoyance” to “taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things”, “cosy togetherness” and “the pursuit of everyday pleasures”.
Hygge is about candles, soft furnishings, warm blankets, good food, hot chocolate, and very importantly….cake! Hygge is about more than just getting cosy in front of the fire though. It’s about enjoying the moment, spending time in nature and being with close friends and family. Hygge is hugely important to the Danes and is believed to be a big part of the reason they have consistently topped or been in top 3 of global happiness polls.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a great introduction to hygge, and gives loads of hints and tips on how you can bring a little more hygge to your own life. Whether it’s cushions, hot chocolate, warm blankets or hanging out with friends around a roaring fire, the book paints a picture of hygge as something we should all be aiming to have a little more of in our lives!
The book also includes lots of original research into happiness conducted by Wiking and his team which I found fascinating. It really got me thinking about the importance of enjoying the moment and being more present when spending time with friends and family.
I listened to this on Audible and have to admit that I wish I had bought it in hard copy. The book contains a number of recipes, photographs and useful lists plus it has a beautifully illustrated cover. It would be nice to be able to quickly flick back through the pictures, reread recipes and some of the specific hygge tips.Having listened to it rather than buying it in hard copy I feel I missed out on some of the hygge experience.
Overall, a lovely book that would make a really nice inclusion in someone’s Christmas stocking. It makes you want to wrap up in a fleecy blanket with a hot chocolate and watch your favourite old movie in front of a roaring fire. What better way to spend Christmas!
Available at most book stores in Ireland, Avoca or online from Amazon here.
