The Little Book Of Hygge

Literary ombudsman John Crace never met an important book he didn't like to deconstruct. From Salman Rushdie to John Grisham, Crace retells the big books in just 500 bitingly satirical words, pointing his pen at the clunky plots, stylistic tics and pretensions of Big Ideas, as he turns publishers' golden dream books into dross.

New York Times Bestseller Embrace Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) and become happier with this definitive guide to the Danish philosophy of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. Why are Danes the happiest people in the world? The answer, says Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, is Hygge. Loosely translated, Hygge—pronounced Hoo-ga—is a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. "Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience," Wiking explains. "It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe." Hygge is the sensation you get when you’re cuddled up on a sofa, in cozy socks under a soft throw, during a storm. It’s that feeling when you’re sharing comfort food and easy conversation with loved ones at a candlelit table. It is the warmth of morning light shining just right on a crisp blue-sky day. The Little Book of Hygge introduces you to this cornerstone of Danish life, and offers advice and ideas on incorporating it into your own life, such as: Get comfy. Take a break. Be here now. Turn off the phones. Turn down the lights. Bring out the candles. Build relationships. Spend time with your tribe. Give yourself a break from the demands of healthy living. Cake is most definitely Hygge. Live life today, like there is no coffee tomorrow. From picking the right lighting to organizing a Hygge get-together to dressing hygge, Wiking shows you how to experience more joy and contentment the Danish way.

A practical guide to what makes us happy, from the CEO of the Happiness Research Instititue in Copenhagen and bestselling author of The Little Book of Hygge. We all know Denmark is the happiest country in the world—but this doesn't make it perfect. Happiness isn't exclusively Danish. Nor is it just eating pastries, lighting candles, and practising hygge. Happiness is something available to all, wherever you are, and whatever your means. Starting from the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Meik Wiking, probably the happiest man in the world, travels across the globe on a quest to uncover the secrets of the very happiest people from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro, taking back to his native country their tips, tricks, and unique approaches to a fulfilled life. Exploring the happiness gap for parents, how much money you really need to buy happiness, and why—luckily for us—the expectation of kissing Rachel Weiss is better than the real thing, Meik brings together a global roadmap for happiness with his trademark wit. Weaving together original research and personal anecdotes, The Little Book of Lykke gives us a new approach to achieving everyday happiness.

What’s the actual secret to happiness? Great memories! Meik Wiking—happiness researcher and New York Times bestselling author of The Little Book of Hygge and The Little Book of Lykke—shows us how to create memories that make life sweet in this charming book. Do you remember your first kiss? The day you graduated? Your favorite vacation? Or the best meal you ever had? Memories are the cornerstones of our identity, shaping who we are, how we act, and how we feel. In his work as a happiness researcher, Meik Wiking has learned that people are happier if they hold a positive, nostalgic view of the past. But how do we make and keep the memories that bring us lasting joy? The Art of Making Memories examines how mental images are made, stored, and recalled in our brains, as well as the “art of letting go”—why we tend to forget certain moments to make room for deeper, more meaningful ones. Meik uses data, interviews, global surveys, and real-life experiments to explain the nuances of nostalgia and the different ways we form memories around our experiences and recall them—revealing the power that a “first time” has on our recollections, and why a piece of music, a smell, or a taste can unexpectedly conjure a moment from the past. Ultimately, Meik shows how we each can create warm memories that will stay with us for years. Combining his signature charm with Scandinavian forthrightness, filled with infographics, illustrations, and photographs, and featuring “Happy Memory Tips,” The Art of Making Memories is an inspiration meditation and practical handbook filled with ideas to help us make the memories that will bring us joy throughout our lives.

One little word is the secret reminder of what really matters in life: Hygge. CHRISTMAS is the perfect time to embrace it and THIS BOOK will show you how. ------------------------------ To me, hygge is: - Meeting my sister for a walk in the park, chatting, laughing and clowning around, as if we were children again. - Listening to the rain on the roof with a cup of tea and my boyfriend next to me. - Drinking wine in my mum's garden - Enjoying a cup of coffee with good friends, that becomes a dinner, that becomes a late-night drink, because no one wants the evening to end. ------------------------------ 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 - star of BBC 4's 1864 - 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. 'Pretty, homey and intimate, scattered with reflections from ordinary Danes' Guardian

Discover the Swedish tradition of fika—the twice-daily coffee break—in this illustrated guide with facts, quotes, tips, and twenty sweet and savory recipes. Swedes are among the happiest people in the world—and for good reason. They know how to savor life’s little pleasures. And there’s nothing they enjoy more than taking a break—sometimes twice a day—to spend with friends over a delicious treat and a rich cup of coffee. The Little Book of Fika is your introduction to this time-honored ritual. With these traditional Swedish recipes, insightful quotes, and more, you’ll know why the Swedish love to say “Lagon ar bast” (Just the right amount is best).

THE INTERNATIONAL, NEW YORK TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, WITH OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE Guaranteed to bring warmth and comfort into your life, The Little Book of Hygge is the book we all need. Denmark has an international reputation for being one of the happiest nations in the world, and hygge is widely recognised to be the magic ingredient. Hooga? Hhyooguh? Heurgh? It is not really important how you pronounce or even spell it. What is important is that you feel it. Whether you're cuddled up on a sofa with a loved one, or sharing comfort food with your closest friends, hygge is about creating an atmosphere where we can let your guard down. The definitive, must-read introduction to Hygge, written by Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, this book is packed full of original research, recipes and ideas to help you add a touch of hygge to your life. 'The best qualified author . . . cosy and engaging' Sunday Express 'Infectiously positive . . . the best beginner's guide' Mail on Sunday 'This book explains everything you need to know about the Danish art of living well' Metro

The most beautiful guide to the Danish custom of hygge, the everyday life philosophy for better living. Hygge is a feeling of belonging and warmth, a moment of comfort and contentment. This beautiful little book will help you to find hygge and embrace it every day. Make a pot of coffee, relax in your favourite chair and discover for yourself how life is better with hygge. 'Best [book] for the philosophy of hygge' You Magazine '...a philosophy for mindful living' The Guardian ‘Her book is a thing of beauty’ Irish Examiner