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The Book of Hygge: The Danish Art of Contentment, Comfort, and Connection
When life gets hectic, work grows stressful, and the days fly by, unplug and tune in. Hygge (hue-gah) is a Danish word but a universal feeling of being warm, safe, comforted, and sheltered—an experience of belonging to the moment and to each other.
Hygge anchors us, reminding us to slow down, to connect with place and with one another, to dwell and savor rather than rush and spend.
When you curl up by the fire with a blanket, or have a simple meal with friends, that is hygge. When you acknowledge the sacred in the secular, or focus on people rather than things, or when you express love through small gestures, that is hygge.
The Book of Hygge is an invitation to welcome abundance and contentment into your life. It is a call to live more fully by focusing on what moves you.
With beautiful full-color photographs and instructive meditations on relishing the everyday, it is your perfect guide to cultivating the coziness that has made Danes the happiest people in the world. The Book of Hygge is designed with an unjacketed, textured cover and crisp, clean interiors.
Hygge anchors us, reminding us to slow down, to connect with place and with one another, to dwell and savor rather than rush and spend.
When you curl up by the fire with a blanket, or have a simple meal with friends, that is hygge. When you acknowledge the sacred in the secular, or focus on people rather than things, or when you express love through small gestures, that is hygge.
The Book of Hygge is an invitation to welcome abundance and contentment into your life. It is a call to live more fully by focusing on what moves you.
With beautiful full-color photographs and instructive meditations on relishing the everyday, it is your perfect guide to cultivating the coziness that has made Danes the happiest people in the world. The Book of Hygge is designed with an unjacketed, textured cover and crisp, clean interiors.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published August 18, 2016
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did-not-finish
June 7, 2018What white nonsense is this?
I’m familiar with the Norwegian koselig, and since even this book references it when explaining hygge I assumed it would be similar. In reality I think it is, but this book only spends a bit of time on the etymology and history of the word/concept.
The rest of the book reads like a new agey idealized and myopic view of Danish culture. It presents families as a safe place, all problems can be solved if we just sit down and have a cup of tea. The books seems to try to package and sell this snake oil to Americans who eat up this white fantasy land where we can all just get along, if we all are that same. 🙄
I’m not looking for an Scandinavian Eat, Prey, Love.
I’m familiar with the Norwegian koselig, and since even this book references it when explaining hygge I assumed it would be similar. In reality I think it is, but this book only spends a bit of time on the etymology and history of the word/concept.
The rest of the book reads like a new agey idealized and myopic view of Danish culture. It presents families as a safe place, all problems can be solved if we just sit down and have a cup of tea. The books seems to try to package and sell this snake oil to Americans who eat up this white fantasy land where we can all just get along, if we all are that same. 🙄
I’m not looking for an Scandinavian Eat, Prey, Love.
February 24, 2018
Почти книга-медитация.
Q: Иностранцу сразу видно, что есть в Дании датского. Hygge (уют), tryghed (безопасность) и trivsel (процветание) — три отличительные черты датской культуры и человеческих взаимоотношений.
Samfund — датское слово, обозначающее общество в целом, имеет также значение «общность»...
Датское выражение man vil hinanden («мы имеем друг друга в виду») предполагает совокупность родства и доброжелательности, а также выражает удовольствие, которое мы доставляем друг другу своим присутствием...
Слово livskunst — «искусство жить» — означает то, что мы делаем для обретения подлинной жизни и достижения благополучия. Хюгге — это и есть искусство жить...
Дух веселья — это маленькое поле, которое каждый из нас возделывает внутри себя, место свободы и спонтанности. В течение года он проявляет себя в те дни, которые мы считаем праздничными. В Дании дух веселья называется festlighed. Он озаряет любую вечеринку, свадьбу, конфирмацию, выпускной или день рождения и вторгается в повседневную жизнь каждый раз, когда мы хотим отметить некий момент. Хюгге и festlighed идут рука об руку, но чем значительнее событие, тем призрачнее становится хюгге, предпочитающее интимность и определенные рамки.(c)
Q:
Оно восходит к древнескандинавскому слову hu со значением «мысль», «ум», «смелость». Древнескандинавская форма hyggja (наряду с древнеанглийским hycgan и древневерхненемецким hyggen) означает «думать». Слово «хюгге» было позаимствовано у норвежцев в конце XIX — начале XX столетия; в среднедатском оно означало «утешать» или «подбадривать». (c)
Q:
Хюгге (дат. hygge) — это умение жить настоящим, полагая себя частью целого. Это ощущение тепла, защищенности и комфорта.
Хюгге — это осознание собственной индивидуальности в единстве со всеми и окружающей средой, которое служит нам опорой и поддержкой, делая нас смелыми и одаривая теплом.
Пребывать в состоянии хюгге — значит радоваться близости и единению, быть нужным, отдаваться моменту и друг другу. Хюгге — это осознание своего благополучия и довольства. Хюгге заключается в том, чтобы быть, а не иметь...
Хюгге часто дополняется датским понятием stemning — «атмосфера». Создавать хюгге — значит создавать гармоничную атмосферу, в которой человеку тепло и уютно...
Пребывать в состоянии хюгге — это значит ощущать спокойствие духа, полноту жизни, свою защищенность и непосредственную радость момента; чаще всего мы себя так чувствуем в домашней обстановке, в компании близких людей. (c)
Q:
Хюгге не потребует от вас изучения датских рецептов или секретов скандинавского образа жизни. Достаточно ответить на несколько вопросов. Где вы чувствуете себя как дома? Какие занятия и привычки являются для вас определяющими? С кем вам легче всего? Что вы вкладываете в понятие благополучия прежде всего? Что помогает вам расслабиться? Какая обстановка для вас наиболее комфортна? (c)
Q:
Я призываю хюгге, когда разжигаю огонь в камине или костер во дворе, когда общаюсь с дорогими и приятными мне людьми или блаженствую в одиночестве. Хюгге обитает в историях, которые я читаю перед сном вот уже двадцать три года, в семейных праздниках и в таинстве Рождества. Для того чтобы прочувствовать смену сезонов, я круглый год плаваю в реке, по вечерам гуляю с собаками в полях, принимаю ванну под открытым небом. Я погружаюсь в хюгге, когда готовлю ризотто, предаюсь любви, завариваю чай или читаю в постели. Я ощущаю его на танцплощадке ближайшего городка, в походной палатке на мини-фестивале, в дружеской беседе за чашкой кофе. Оно обитает в отцовском кабинете, в саду матери, в тихих квартирах моих тетушек в Орхусе, на веранде дома родственников мужа под широким небом Африки. Хюгге возникает и тогда, когда у нас в доме собираются наши дети — все четверо, и мы сидим вокруг костра под дубами в саду, играем в карты, бродим по берегу реки, танцуем на кухне или вместе смотрим фильм, завернувшись в одеяла. (c)
Q:
СуществительноеHygge — хюгге.
Глагол
Неопределенная, начальная форма: at hygge.
От нее образуются два глагола:
1. Hygger — новый невозвратный глагол настоящего времени изъявительного наклонения.Hyggede — прошедшая форма глагола.At have det hyggeligt — оказаться в ситуации хюгге.
2. Hygge sig — старая форма — возвратный глагол со значением «погружаться в хюгге, заниматься хюгге».
Эта форма, описывая хюгге, подчеркивает личные ощущения.
Возвратная частица sig указывает на личное участие в хюгге, но отменяет некоторые социальные коннотации.
Фразы со словом «хюгге» используются в разговорной речи, особенно при прощании: Hyg dig!Ka' du hygge dig! Du må hygge dig!
Это означает пожелание собеседнику хюгге — «Желаю хюгге!»; похоже на то, как мы говорим «Всего хорошего!» или «Хорошего настроения!», но с бóльшим диапазоном значений.
Прилагательные
Hyggelig — подобный хюгге.Det var hyggeligt — это было как хюгге!
Прилагательное, которое описывает событие или момент: например, en hyggelig aften — «хюггеподобный вечер».
Наиболее употребительные сложносоставные слова
Существительные
Hyggeaften — хюгге-вечер.Hyggebelysning — хюгге-освещение.Hjemmehygge — домашнее хюгге.Hyggekrog — хюгге-уголок.Råhygge — сильное, самое настоящее хюгге.Julehygge — рождественское хюгге.
Глаголы
At julehygge — устраивать рождественское хюгге.At hyggesnakke — славно поболтать.(c)
Q: Иностранцу сразу видно, что есть в Дании датского. Hygge (уют), tryghed (безопасность) и trivsel (процветание) — три отличительные черты датской культуры и человеческих взаимоотношений.
Samfund — датское слово, обозначающее общество в целом, имеет также значение «общность»...
Датское выражение man vil hinanden («мы имеем друг друга в виду») предполагает совокупность родства и доброжелательности, а также выражает удовольствие, которое мы доставляем друг другу своим присутствием...
Слово livskunst — «искусство жить» — означает то, что мы делаем для обретения подлинной жизни и достижения благополучия. Хюгге — это и есть искусство жить...
Дух веселья — это маленькое поле, которое каждый из нас возделывает внутри себя, место свободы и спонтанности. В течение года он проявляет себя в те дни, которые мы считаем праздничными. В Дании дух веселья называется festlighed. Он озаряет любую вечеринку, свадьбу, конфирмацию, выпускной или день рождения и вторгается в повседневную жизнь каждый раз, когда мы хотим отметить некий момент. Хюгге и festlighed идут рука об руку, но чем значительнее событие, тем призрачнее становится хюгге, предпочитающее интимность и определенные рамки.(c)
Q:
Оно восходит к древнескандинавскому слову hu со значением «мысль», «ум», «смелость». Древнескандинавская форма hyggja (наряду с древнеанглийским hycgan и древневерхненемецким hyggen) означает «думать». Слово «хюгге» было позаимствовано у норвежцев в конце XIX — начале XX столетия; в среднедатском оно означало «утешать» или «подбадривать». (c)
Q:
Хюгге (дат. hygge) — это умение жить настоящим, полагая себя частью целого. Это ощущение тепла, защищенности и комфорта.
Хюгге — это осознание собственной индивидуальности в единстве со всеми и окружающей средой, которое служит нам опорой и поддержкой, делая нас смелыми и одаривая теплом.
Пребывать в состоянии хюгге — значит радоваться близости и единению, быть нужным, отдаваться моменту и друг другу. Хюгге — это осознание своего благополучия и довольства. Хюгге заключается в том, чтобы быть, а не иметь...
Хюгге часто дополняется датским понятием stemning — «атмосфера». Создавать хюгге — значит создавать гармоничную атмосферу, в которой человеку тепло и уютно...
Пребывать в состоянии хюгге — это значит ощущать спокойствие духа, полноту жизни, свою защищенность и непосредственную радость момента; чаще всего мы себя так чувствуем в домашней обстановке, в компании близких людей. (c)
Q:
Хюгге не потребует от вас изучения датских рецептов или секретов скандинавского образа жизни. Достаточно ответить на несколько вопросов. Где вы чувствуете себя как дома? Какие занятия и привычки являются для вас определяющими? С кем вам легче всего? Что вы вкладываете в понятие благополучия прежде всего? Что помогает вам расслабиться? Какая обстановка для вас наиболее комфортна? (c)
Q:
Я призываю хюгге, когда разжигаю огонь в камине или костер во дворе, когда общаюсь с дорогими и приятными мне людьми или блаженствую в одиночестве. Хюгге обитает в историях, которые я читаю перед сном вот уже двадцать три года, в семейных праздниках и в таинстве Рождества. Для того чтобы прочувствовать смену сезонов, я круглый год плаваю в реке, по вечерам гуляю с собаками в полях, принимаю ванну под открытым небом. Я погружаюсь в хюгге, когда готовлю ризотто, предаюсь любви, завариваю чай или читаю в постели. Я ощущаю его на танцплощадке ближайшего городка, в походной палатке на мини-фестивале, в дружеской беседе за чашкой кофе. Оно обитает в отцовском кабинете, в саду матери, в тихих квартирах моих тетушек в Орхусе, на веранде дома родственников мужа под широким небом Африки. Хюгге возникает и тогда, когда у нас в доме собираются наши дети — все четверо, и мы сидим вокруг костра под дубами в саду, играем в карты, бродим по берегу реки, танцуем на кухне или вместе смотрим фильм, завернувшись в одеяла. (c)
Q:
СуществительноеHygge — хюгге.
Глагол
Неопределенная, начальная форма: at hygge.
От нее образуются два глагола:
1. Hygger — новый невозвратный глагол настоящего времени изъявительного наклонения.Hyggede — прошедшая форма глагола.At have det hyggeligt — оказаться в ситуации хюгге.
2. Hygge sig — старая форма — возвратный глагол со значением «погружаться в хюгге, заниматься хюгге».
Эта форма, описывая хюгге, подчеркивает личные ощущения.
Возвратная частица sig указывает на личное участие в хюгге, но отменяет некоторые социальные коннотации.
Фразы со словом «хюгге» используются в разговорной речи, особенно при прощании: Hyg dig!Ka' du hygge dig! Du må hygge dig!
Это означает пожелание собеседнику хюгге — «Желаю хюгге!»; похоже на то, как мы говорим «Всего хорошего!» или «Хорошего настроения!», но с бóльшим диапазоном значений.
Прилагательные
Hyggelig — подобный хюгге.Det var hyggeligt — это было как хюгге!
Прилагательное, которое описывает событие или момент: например, en hyggelig aften — «хюггеподобный вечер».
Наиболее употребительные сложносоставные слова
Существительные
Hyggeaften — хюгге-вечер.Hyggebelysning — хюгге-освещение.Hjemmehygge — домашнее хюгге.Hyggekrog — хюгге-уголок.Råhygge — сильное, самое настоящее хюгге.Julehygge — рождественское хюгге.
Глаголы
At julehygge — устраивать рождественское хюгге.At hyggesnakke — славно поболтать.(c)
April 11, 2017
This book was quite boring. The most interesting parts were the quotes from other writers! If anything, it made me want to read their works, so I shall list them here in case anyone wants to skip a step and just go straight to the sources. The writers she quoted are: William Morris, Sensual Home by Ilse Crawford, Annie Dillard, Gaston Bachelard, Erich Fromm, Tove Jansson, Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life by Thomas Moore, and Ordinarily Sacred by Lynda Sexson.
September 25, 2016
This is a beautiful little book, with some gorgeous images and some lovely sentiments. Hygge is something that seems both delightful and yet also deeply claustraphobic. Part of me gets the feeling that the emphasis on Hygge is a reaction to a Danish past where showy, violent one upmanship was the norm. Having read a few books about life in Denmark I am not sure that I could survive in a society that seems to value group cohesion and conformity above all things. In some ways I get the feeling that it is this Nordic conformity that allows all of the real nastiness to escape in the form of their excellent but incredibly dark crime fiction. So thanks for conforming to the poin where such great writing and drama leaks out. :)
Basically part of me loves the concept of relaxing into a soporific world governed by Hygge and Jante's law, while another part thinks I could well end up shaving my head and going all Lisbeth Salander on someone's arse!
Either way this is essentially a great nordic take on Mindfulness and one that I find quite a lot easier to read about without gagging!
Basically part of me loves the concept of relaxing into a soporific world governed by Hygge and Jante's law, while another part thinks I could well end up shaving my head and going all Lisbeth Salander on someone's arse!
Either way this is essentially a great nordic take on Mindfulness and one that I find quite a lot easier to read about without gagging!
August 11, 2016
The main thing I took away from this beautiful little book, was to appreciate the small things in life. This may seem really obvious, but in reality it is something that can be quite difficult to remember to do with a busy lifestyle. It is certainly something at this moment in time I need reminding of. The book encourages you to really examine the relationships you have with the people and surroundings in your life, to appreciate and cultivate them into something that makes you happy. To create relaxing environments, taking time to enjoy what you have. Blankets are mentioned a lot, I'm guessing because it's generally colder in Denmark...
This is a really beautiful little book, lovely photographs and a wonderful layout. A perfect gift book.
This is a really beautiful little book, lovely photographs and a wonderful layout. A perfect gift book.
September 18, 2017
It's beautiful, no doubt. It's vaguely inspiring. It also meanders around the topic with no clear direction and a host of ephemeral pleasantries.
However, points for including excellent quotations from other writers.
However, points for including excellent quotations from other writers.
January 20, 2018
Repeat after me for the 100th time: Danish are some of the happiest people on Earth.
The book just repeats itself in various categories, but they all say the same thing. Get cozy, be present, be intimate, be warm, eat well, etc. I lost my page once and it took about 15 minutes to find it again because every page sounded like where I had left off. The pictures are nice but nobody's house looks like that, or is having a bathtub out in the forest practical. I understand it's the concept, but it gets old after beating a dead horse for 200 pages.
So maybe read the first few chapters and call it a day.
The book just repeats itself in various categories, but they all say the same thing. Get cozy, be present, be intimate, be warm, eat well, etc. I lost my page once and it took about 15 minutes to find it again because every page sounded like where I had left off. The pictures are nice but nobody's house looks like that, or is having a bathtub out in the forest practical. I understand it's the concept, but it gets old after beating a dead horse for 200 pages.
So maybe read the first few chapters and call it a day.
November 26, 2019
A deeper, more spiritual delve into the hygge theory than I've read elsewhere. Enjoyable. Thoroughly. And good for the soul. Beautiful pics as well.
February 3, 2020
A nice calm read, rwally pleasant. But nothing new.
March 6, 2022
O carte care repetă de nenumărate ori că fericirea și starea de bine stă în lucruri mărunte.
2.5 steluțe, rotunjite, pentru pozele drăguțe. Măcar așa am aflat și eu ce înseamnă hygge. Nici nu știam că o practic de ceva timp. 😆
2.5 steluțe, rotunjite, pentru pozele drăguțe. Măcar așa am aflat și eu ce înseamnă hygge. Nici nu știam că o practic de ceva timp. 😆
January 16, 2022
In questi giorni di chiusura forzata in casa, in ottemperanza al DPCM per ridurre il contagio da coronavirus, mi è tornato in mente questo libro letto un po' di anni fa.
"Il danese “hygge” (che si pronuncia “hugga”), letteralmente si traduce “calore, intimità”, ma racchiude molto altro: deriva dal norvegese antico, dove aveva un significato vicino a “benessere”. Apparso per la prima volta in un testo in danese intorno alla fine del XVIII secolo, da quel momento è entrato a far parte della lingua."
Credo che da questi giorni difficili, si debba trarre il massimo profitto per la propria crescita personale, per rivedere le proprie abitudini, per ripensare al proprio concetto di intimità, adesso che tutto è ad almeno un metro di distanza.
La maggior parte degli uomini insegue il piacere con tanta impetuosità da superarlo frettolosamente.
Si riscopre così il senso di:
- appartenenza: "creare un senso di appartenenza richiede di dedicare tempo e spazio all’ascolto e alla cura degli altri";
- protezione: "Per sentirci al sicuro abbiamo bisogno di capire i segreti di un luogo, conoscere la struttura delle sue ombre e la forma del perimetro.";
- comfort: "Un profumo può evocare o cancellare la hygge altrettanto velocemente. Il comfort è di solito associato alla pulizia: entrare in una casa impregnata di profumi sconosciuti non è hyggelig";
- benessere: "Tramite l’accettazione dei limiti che l’esistenza stessa ci impone e la consapevolezza che possiamo trarre il meglio da ogni situazione se adottiamo il giusto comportamento, spalanchiamo la porta alla hygge.";
- semplicità: "La hygge richiede una consapevolezza che è difficile raggiungere se siamo sovraccarichi.";
- usanza: "La hygge è ciò che rende più semplici e piacevoli i compiti quotidiani. [.] La hygge ci ricorda quanto sia importante la vicinanza reciproca e celebra il senso di connessione con gli altri. Ci impegna a stabilire una relazione intima e duratura con il mondo intorno a noi."
Mai come in questi giorni stiamo sperimentando che "È dura sopravvivere senza sicurezza e senza un riparo.", dove, paradossalmente, sentiamo che la casa in cui abitiamo non è un riparo.
Questo momento è una risorsa se lo si usa al meglio: come sto facendo da tre settimane con i miei ragazzi, anche a me darò dei piccoli compiti quotidiani, per rendere la mia casa il più confortevole possibile. Ma questo non lo si può fare se non si rende abitabile la propria interiorità.
Cerchiamo ciò che ci fa stare bene. Apriamoci al flusso della vita. A volte mi incanto a guardare le mie piante, che in questi mesi ho trascurato. E in alcuni vasi sembrava tutto così morto, così perduto e spacciato. Eppure non so per quale irrazionale motivazione ho ripreso ad innaffiare quei vasi senza vita visibile e ho visto spuntare delle piccole piantine. Credo che questa sia un'ottima metafora di ciò che può accadere nella nostra vita quando vediamo tutto secco, tutto spacciato, tutto irrimediabilmente perso. Basta fare dei gesti controituitivi, come "il dare acqua".
"È il piacere di immergersi nel flusso della vita, di lasciarsi trascinare dalla sua corrente. Del resto il termine latino ritus è molto simile a rivus, torrente."
"Il danese “hygge” (che si pronuncia “hugga”), letteralmente si traduce “calore, intimità”, ma racchiude molto altro: deriva dal norvegese antico, dove aveva un significato vicino a “benessere”. Apparso per la prima volta in un testo in danese intorno alla fine del XVIII secolo, da quel momento è entrato a far parte della lingua."
Credo che da questi giorni difficili, si debba trarre il massimo profitto per la propria crescita personale, per rivedere le proprie abitudini, per ripensare al proprio concetto di intimità, adesso che tutto è ad almeno un metro di distanza.
La maggior parte degli uomini insegue il piacere con tanta impetuosità da superarlo frettolosamente.
Si riscopre così il senso di:
- appartenenza: "creare un senso di appartenenza richiede di dedicare tempo e spazio all’ascolto e alla cura degli altri";
- protezione: "Per sentirci al sicuro abbiamo bisogno di capire i segreti di un luogo, conoscere la struttura delle sue ombre e la forma del perimetro.";
- comfort: "Un profumo può evocare o cancellare la hygge altrettanto velocemente. Il comfort è di solito associato alla pulizia: entrare in una casa impregnata di profumi sconosciuti non è hyggelig";
- benessere: "Tramite l’accettazione dei limiti che l’esistenza stessa ci impone e la consapevolezza che possiamo trarre il meglio da ogni situazione se adottiamo il giusto comportamento, spalanchiamo la porta alla hygge.";
- semplicità: "La hygge richiede una consapevolezza che è difficile raggiungere se siamo sovraccarichi.";
- usanza: "La hygge è ciò che rende più semplici e piacevoli i compiti quotidiani. [.] La hygge ci ricorda quanto sia importante la vicinanza reciproca e celebra il senso di connessione con gli altri. Ci impegna a stabilire una relazione intima e duratura con il mondo intorno a noi."
Mai come in questi giorni stiamo sperimentando che "È dura sopravvivere senza sicurezza e senza un riparo.", dove, paradossalmente, sentiamo che la casa in cui abitiamo non è un riparo.
Questo momento è una risorsa se lo si usa al meglio: come sto facendo da tre settimane con i miei ragazzi, anche a me darò dei piccoli compiti quotidiani, per rendere la mia casa il più confortevole possibile. Ma questo non lo si può fare se non si rende abitabile la propria interiorità.
Cerchiamo ciò che ci fa stare bene. Apriamoci al flusso della vita. A volte mi incanto a guardare le mie piante, che in questi mesi ho trascurato. E in alcuni vasi sembrava tutto così morto, così perduto e spacciato. Eppure non so per quale irrazionale motivazione ho ripreso ad innaffiare quei vasi senza vita visibile e ho visto spuntare delle piccole piantine. Credo che questa sia un'ottima metafora di ciò che può accadere nella nostra vita quando vediamo tutto secco, tutto spacciato, tutto irrimediabilmente perso. Basta fare dei gesti controituitivi, come "il dare acqua".
"È il piacere di immergersi nel flusso della vita, di lasciarsi trascinare dalla sua corrente. Del resto il termine latino ritus è molto simile a rivus, torrente."
March 15, 2017
With Spring just around the corner, I'm kind of over the whole "let's get cozy in front of the fire with hot cocoa and fuzzy slipper-socks" thing. Cabin fever has set in with a vengence. Probably not the most optimal time to read a book about Hygge.
Still, it was all right. Much more accessible than other Hygge books I've read. For example, this Hygge book didn't try to sell me candles...or encourage unhealthy eating habits, like binge-eating cakes and pies and such. This book also didn't suggest that Hygge was something exclusive to Danes and no one else could really achieve it (I know...how pretentious, right?).
Rather, this Hygge book talked about the actual elements of Hygge. Like comfort, coziness, togetherness, and happiness through simple pleasures (HA! I KNEW it wasn't about buying 1,001 candles!!). Kind of common knowledge. I didn't learn anything new I didn't already know from observing my cats, who are both Grand Masters of Hygge.
AH-HA! Now THERE'S a book I should write: "All I Need to Know About Hygge I Learned From My Cats."
p.s. What's up with the random photos, though? They're like something a shrink would show you ("Describe how this photo makes you feel about your mother") when they're trying to get inside your head.
Still, it was all right. Much more accessible than other Hygge books I've read. For example, this Hygge book didn't try to sell me candles...or encourage unhealthy eating habits, like binge-eating cakes and pies and such. This book also didn't suggest that Hygge was something exclusive to Danes and no one else could really achieve it (I know...how pretentious, right?).
Rather, this Hygge book talked about the actual elements of Hygge. Like comfort, coziness, togetherness, and happiness through simple pleasures (HA! I KNEW it wasn't about buying 1,001 candles!!). Kind of common knowledge. I didn't learn anything new I didn't already know from observing my cats, who are both Grand Masters of Hygge.
AH-HA! Now THERE'S a book I should write: "All I Need to Know About Hygge I Learned From My Cats."
p.s. What's up with the random photos, though? They're like something a shrink would show you ("Describe how this photo makes you feel about your mother") when they're trying to get inside your head.
December 19, 2016
I won Louisa Thomsen Brits' The Book of Hygge from a Books Are My Bag competition on Twitter, and couldn't have been happier with my prize. As an object, the book is beautiful; it is a sturdy yet compact hardback, which has been filled with the most lovely and calming photographic accompaniments, some of them double paged spreads.
Thomsen Brits' book is essentially a manual on hygge, and she demonstrates how to notice the little moments and take pleasure in everything. Hygge is a big thing in my life, although I must admit that I didn't know that there was a precise word for it until a couple of years ago! The Book of Hygge is a comforting and nicely written read, which really makes you take note of what is around you, and the little moments which you should never take for granted. It is a particularly perfect tome to curl up with in front of a roaring fire on a winter's day - there's a wonderful hygge moment for you right there.
Thomsen Brits' book is essentially a manual on hygge, and she demonstrates how to notice the little moments and take pleasure in everything. Hygge is a big thing in my life, although I must admit that I didn't know that there was a precise word for it until a couple of years ago! The Book of Hygge is a comforting and nicely written read, which really makes you take note of what is around you, and the little moments which you should never take for granted. It is a particularly perfect tome to curl up with in front of a roaring fire on a winter's day - there's a wonderful hygge moment for you right there.
March 22, 2017
While the book is not hard to read in just one afternoon, I think the author is repeating herself a lot in this little book. That made me often think, that I was reading the same page or chapter.
What I liked in this book were the beautiful pictures.
What I liked in this book were the beautiful pictures.
March 10, 2017
Yes. A beautiful little book that says the same thing over and over and over again. 2 stars instead of one because it has good photos and design.
May 26, 2023
loove this book to pieces 🥰 learned a lot about the Danes and their way of life. Didn’t realize how much of a hygger i was even before 💛
Hygge pronounced as “hoo-gah” is the Danish way of creating and experiencing comfort, connection and contentment for oneself and others.
It’s sitting in the cozy corner of your favorite cafe wrapped up in a good book, it’s creating a welcoming home for your friends, a pillow fort, the sound or the scent of someone you love or waking up from a refreshing sleep.
It’s anything that makes you physically and psychologically at ease. More than being fully present, it is finding value and joy in the simple, daily things you do.
It’s a goal, a sense of being and an achievement in itself.
This book has given me simple, direct yet very vivid descriptions of this concept and it is probably my favorite non fiction read for this year. 🤍🩵
Hygge pronounced as “hoo-gah” is the Danish way of creating and experiencing comfort, connection and contentment for oneself and others.
It’s sitting in the cozy corner of your favorite cafe wrapped up in a good book, it’s creating a welcoming home for your friends, a pillow fort, the sound or the scent of someone you love or waking up from a refreshing sleep.
It’s anything that makes you physically and psychologically at ease. More than being fully present, it is finding value and joy in the simple, daily things you do.
It’s a goal, a sense of being and an achievement in itself.
This book has given me simple, direct yet very vivid descriptions of this concept and it is probably my favorite non fiction read for this year. 🤍🩵
February 5, 2017
A bit on the heavy side - more of a philosophical/historical guide to hygge.
It's worth noting that the author is making a donation to a homeless charity for a every copy that is bought.
It's worth noting that the author is making a donation to a homeless charity for a every copy that is bought.
Read
October 30, 2023This book could not have come at a better time for me. We’ve been intentional and focused on our community for a while and this book was such a beautiful reminder of being elevated higher than having, of finding moments of connection and lightheartedness and in chasing the sacred found in the mundane. My winter goal is more candles, more cozy, more intentional connection: hygge.
February 7, 2017
https://procitajto.com/2017/01/16/hyg...
Riječi nastaju iz kulture, povijesti, podrijetla i mjesta. Oblikuju ih vrijeme i navike te se pričama, obredima i vrijednostima prenose s jedne generacije na drugu, zapisala je Louisa Thomsen Brits u uvodnom poglavlju svoje knjige Hygge : sretan život na danski način. Neke su riječi, doista, povezane s podnebljem kojem pripadaju ljudi iz čije povijesti i kulture izviru, govornici čije su se priče, davnih dana, oblikovale u krugu čvrsto povezanih tijela okupljenih oko logorske vatre. Islanđani, tako, poznaju mnogo više izraza za snijeg od, primjerice, Španjolaca. A Danci, iako ga ne mogu jednoznačno prevesti niti definirati, bolje od ikoga poznaju hygge.
Što je hygge? Kako Thomsen Brits odmah u uvodu kaže, to je osjećaj intime i sklada. Javlja se kad smo na pravom mjestu s pravim ljudima. U svojoj je suštini hygge osjećaj obilja, ali ne u materijalnom smislu. Nematerijalno obilje? Jesu li to sva ona iskustva što ih tijekom života stječemo, sve ono što nas kao osobu oblikuje, što nosimo u sebi i žarko želimo prenijeti drugima, obogatiti ih? Djelomice zasigurno jesu. No zapitat ćemo se postoji li nematerijalno bez materijalnog obilja? Danci nekoliko godina uzastopce odnose možda i najvažniju titulu s predmetkom naj – onu najsretnije nacije na svijetu. A plaćaju jednu od najviših poreznih stopa na svijetu. Novac, dakle, nije i ne može biti mjerilo sreće.
Što može biti? Očekujete li od ove knjige čvrsto određene, utabane i jednosmjerne upute, ostavite je na polici. Hygge : sretan život na danski način nije univerzalna uputnica za sretan i bezbrižan život. O knjizi Louise Thomsen Brits prikladnije je razmišljati kao o multimedijalnom vodiču koji od svog čitatelja traži aktivno sudjelovanje i promišljanje. Ne možete slijepo slijediti autoričine naputke jer takvih u ovoj knjizi nema. Prije su to naputci, niti vodilje koje je moguće povezati na stotine različitih načina, ovisno o strpljivosti, vještini i maštovitosti pletilje ili tkalca.
Jer to je ono, poručuje nam autorica, što svatko od nas u konačnici jest. Na početku života dobili smo klupko i samo o svakome od nas ovisi kako ćemo ga isplesti i hoćemo li ga uopće razmotati. Možemo, naravno, dopustiti da se razmota samo i stajati postrance, čekati da nas, poput zamorca, zavrti u svome krugu. Možemo preuzeti nečiji tuđi kroj i pretvarati se da je naš vlastiti. A možemo i pokušati taj isti, univerzalni kroj, prekrojiti prema svojim mjerama. I pritom se u njemu ugodno osjećati.
To je ono što ova knjiga jest. Ona je kroj sastavljen iz šest dijelova : pripadnosti, utočišta, ugode, blagostanja, jednostavnosti i njegovanja običaja. Na svakome od čitatelja jest da iz tog kroja sašije odijelo po vlastitoj mjeri. Ili vuneni džemper, tople čarape. Ono što će mu pružiti najtopliji i najsigurniji osjećaj, navesti ga na hygganje.
Analogija s pletivom nipošto nije slučajna. Naime, uz hygge pojavio se i instagram hygge, trend koji se, iako u svojoj suštini također bavi osjećajem ugode, topline, sigurnosti i zadovoljstva, od osnovnog danskog koncepta bitno razlikuje. Osnovicu pronalazi u posjedovanju, u lijepo dizajniranim, fotogeničnim stvarima koje će i preko fotografija dalekim rođacima, prijateljima ili samo pratiteljima na društvenim mrežama dočarati koliko je posjedovatelju lijepo i ugodno.
No je li mu zaista i je li to posjedovanje nužno? Louisa Thomsen Brits kaže da nije. Dapače, najbolje hyggate kada je sva tehnologija ugašena, a vi se neopterećeno šećete vlastitim domom u udobnoj odjeći, u društvu onih uz koje vam je najugodnije. Ili se posvećujete nekoj ispunjavajućoj aktivnosti, bilo to čitanje, ples na šipci ili pripremanje obroka za krug najdražih prijatelja. Bitno je prestati se osamljivati. Ili za osamom posegnuti samo kad ona služi kako bismo se vratili sebi, a ne otuđili od drugih.
Ukrasti trenutak za sebe svakako je hygge. Osvijestite li pritom da je to samo trenutak i da će proći, ali da ga uvijek možete ponovno proizvesti, na dobrom ste putu shvaćanja filozofije što je ova, opsegom nevelik, ali porukom snažan priručnik o načinu življenja, prenosi. Dopustite li si da, na krilima tog trenutka preživite i najnapornije dane, pravi ste hygge majstor.
Danski je pokret otpora za Drugog svjetskog rata spašen zahvaljujući samo jednoj riječi. Neizgovorivoj svakome tko nije Danac. Sreća svijeta neće, nažalost, biti spašena zahvaljujući peteroslovnoj riječi neodredivog značenja. Ali ljudi koji proniknu u koncept iza tih pet slova bit će, makar malo, sretniji. A i to je mnogo.
Riječi nastaju iz kulture, povijesti, podrijetla i mjesta. Oblikuju ih vrijeme i navike te se pričama, obredima i vrijednostima prenose s jedne generacije na drugu, zapisala je Louisa Thomsen Brits u uvodnom poglavlju svoje knjige Hygge : sretan život na danski način. Neke su riječi, doista, povezane s podnebljem kojem pripadaju ljudi iz čije povijesti i kulture izviru, govornici čije su se priče, davnih dana, oblikovale u krugu čvrsto povezanih tijela okupljenih oko logorske vatre. Islanđani, tako, poznaju mnogo više izraza za snijeg od, primjerice, Španjolaca. A Danci, iako ga ne mogu jednoznačno prevesti niti definirati, bolje od ikoga poznaju hygge.
Što je hygge? Kako Thomsen Brits odmah u uvodu kaže, to je osjećaj intime i sklada. Javlja se kad smo na pravom mjestu s pravim ljudima. U svojoj je suštini hygge osjećaj obilja, ali ne u materijalnom smislu. Nematerijalno obilje? Jesu li to sva ona iskustva što ih tijekom života stječemo, sve ono što nas kao osobu oblikuje, što nosimo u sebi i žarko želimo prenijeti drugima, obogatiti ih? Djelomice zasigurno jesu. No zapitat ćemo se postoji li nematerijalno bez materijalnog obilja? Danci nekoliko godina uzastopce odnose možda i najvažniju titulu s predmetkom naj – onu najsretnije nacije na svijetu. A plaćaju jednu od najviših poreznih stopa na svijetu. Novac, dakle, nije i ne može biti mjerilo sreće.
Što može biti? Očekujete li od ove knjige čvrsto određene, utabane i jednosmjerne upute, ostavite je na polici. Hygge : sretan život na danski način nije univerzalna uputnica za sretan i bezbrižan život. O knjizi Louise Thomsen Brits prikladnije je razmišljati kao o multimedijalnom vodiču koji od svog čitatelja traži aktivno sudjelovanje i promišljanje. Ne možete slijepo slijediti autoričine naputke jer takvih u ovoj knjizi nema. Prije su to naputci, niti vodilje koje je moguće povezati na stotine različitih načina, ovisno o strpljivosti, vještini i maštovitosti pletilje ili tkalca.
Jer to je ono, poručuje nam autorica, što svatko od nas u konačnici jest. Na početku života dobili smo klupko i samo o svakome od nas ovisi kako ćemo ga isplesti i hoćemo li ga uopće razmotati. Možemo, naravno, dopustiti da se razmota samo i stajati postrance, čekati da nas, poput zamorca, zavrti u svome krugu. Možemo preuzeti nečiji tuđi kroj i pretvarati se da je naš vlastiti. A možemo i pokušati taj isti, univerzalni kroj, prekrojiti prema svojim mjerama. I pritom se u njemu ugodno osjećati.
To je ono što ova knjiga jest. Ona je kroj sastavljen iz šest dijelova : pripadnosti, utočišta, ugode, blagostanja, jednostavnosti i njegovanja običaja. Na svakome od čitatelja jest da iz tog kroja sašije odijelo po vlastitoj mjeri. Ili vuneni džemper, tople čarape. Ono što će mu pružiti najtopliji i najsigurniji osjećaj, navesti ga na hygganje.
Analogija s pletivom nipošto nije slučajna. Naime, uz hygge pojavio se i instagram hygge, trend koji se, iako u svojoj suštini također bavi osjećajem ugode, topline, sigurnosti i zadovoljstva, od osnovnog danskog koncepta bitno razlikuje. Osnovicu pronalazi u posjedovanju, u lijepo dizajniranim, fotogeničnim stvarima koje će i preko fotografija dalekim rođacima, prijateljima ili samo pratiteljima na društvenim mrežama dočarati koliko je posjedovatelju lijepo i ugodno.
No je li mu zaista i je li to posjedovanje nužno? Louisa Thomsen Brits kaže da nije. Dapače, najbolje hyggate kada je sva tehnologija ugašena, a vi se neopterećeno šećete vlastitim domom u udobnoj odjeći, u društvu onih uz koje vam je najugodnije. Ili se posvećujete nekoj ispunjavajućoj aktivnosti, bilo to čitanje, ples na šipci ili pripremanje obroka za krug najdražih prijatelja. Bitno je prestati se osamljivati. Ili za osamom posegnuti samo kad ona služi kako bismo se vratili sebi, a ne otuđili od drugih.
Ukrasti trenutak za sebe svakako je hygge. Osvijestite li pritom da je to samo trenutak i da će proći, ali da ga uvijek možete ponovno proizvesti, na dobrom ste putu shvaćanja filozofije što je ova, opsegom nevelik, ali porukom snažan priručnik o načinu življenja, prenosi. Dopustite li si da, na krilima tog trenutka preživite i najnapornije dane, pravi ste hygge majstor.
Danski je pokret otpora za Drugog svjetskog rata spašen zahvaljujući samo jednoj riječi. Neizgovorivoj svakome tko nije Danac. Sreća svijeta neće, nažalost, biti spašena zahvaljujući peteroslovnoj riječi neodredivog značenja. Ali ljudi koji proniknu u koncept iza tih pet slova bit će, makar malo, sretniji. A i to je mnogo.
March 9, 2025
niektoré myšlienky ako-tak pekné, ale reálny obsah tejto knihy by sa zmestil tak na tri strany. v kratšej verzii to mohla byť magnetka.
July 4, 2018
Habar n-am ce mi-a venit să-mi cumpăr o carte despre Hygge! Şi am mai şi apucat să-ţi pomenesc de ea la “Ce citim acum”, ceea ce pe blogul nostru echivalează cu o adevărată promisiune în legătura cu o viitoare “recenzie” care mă îngrozeşte: cum să scrii ceva palpitant despre o carte în care nu se întâmplă nimic, care te duce în zonele liniştite, paşnice ale existenţei tale şi te îndeamnă să petreci cât mai mult timp acolo? Cum?!
Recenzia completa pe https://anaarecarti.ro/main/cartea-de...
Recenzia completa pe https://anaarecarti.ro/main/cartea-de...
February 12, 2017
Naprosto zbytečná kniha o tom, že pohodu a spokojenost naleznete v místech, kde se cítíte bezpečně a s lidmi, které máte rádi. Autorka pořád dokola mele to samé a celé je to úplně zbytečné a receptu na štěstí se nedočkáte. Ilustrující fotografie jsou podle mě depresivní. Celkově vzato zcela vyhozené peníze a promarněný čas, který jsem mohl věnovat něčemu užitečnému. V podstatě cokoliv by bylo užitečnější než čtení této knihy.
March 14, 2017
these hygge books seem privileged and surprisingly bitchy.
February 1, 2022
I feel bad for what I am about to say because the author seems very passionate about the topic and is making a donation to those who are under-housed for every copy sold. Nevertheless, here goes...
This is not a good book. Brits does a poor job of giving it a direction. The subtitle ("the Danish art of living well") indicates there will be some exploration or explanation of what the art itself is. However, there is no real historical exploration save for a few early paragraphs that don't do the subject any justice. Early in the first paragraph, she writes, "throughout this book, there are suggestions on how to weave Hygge into daily life." This is an understatement; there are so many suggestions strung together through 187 pages which robs the book of any boundaries or focus.
I might be a salty because Brits is not one to use an Oxford comma, which is particularly painful when the book is chock full of lists filled with flowery language. However, if this is where my complaints ended, I would simply state the author has a writing style that isn't for me. But... there's more.
The book, in short, is word salad. Brits combines words and imagery that frankly don't make any sense. One gets the impression she is trying to inspire or uplift and it just doesn't work. For the parts where my eyes didn't glaze over, the meaning of the sentences was more often than not difficult to extract.
When she does manage to avoid metaphor or abstract imagery, her writing is painfully repetitive. At times it becomes contradictory as she tries to give examples of what Hygge is to fit a chapter. On other occasions, the title or subtitles of a chapter are in no way related to the writing that follows.
Unfortunately, she also has the habit of discussing Danes as a monolith instead of Hygge itself, painting the entire group with a broad brush that makes Denmark's citizens seem like automatons of cosiness.
The book does have some standout parts, but none of these are good:
- (p. 133) "Danes regularly express gratitude and satisfaction without lacquering it in mawkish sentiment." This smacks of irony as this entire book is best described as "mawkish sentiment."
- (p. 145) "The naked togetherness and heat of a sauna, or bathing alone outside in warm water, enveloped by dusk, green leaves and birdsong, both dissolves our boundaries and holds us in intimacy." My first thought while reading this was "where can anyone bathe in warm water outdoors in Denmark?" She answered my question by placing a picture of a bathtub in the middle of the woods with a fire under it on the opposing page. I shit you a not. A bathtub. Outside. With a fire under it.
- (p.156) There is a quote on this page by Ludwig Wittgenstein which made me laugh out loud because my only thoughts conjured at the thought of him are anguish, self-flagellation, and asceticism.
This brings me to my last issue: the quotes. At first, it seemed all the quotes were directly related to Hygge and I found myself thinking "Yikes, the quotes are the best reading in this book." However, it soon became clear she was inserting quotes as long as they were even only minimally related to the topic at hand. The quoted person was often in no way related to Denmark or Hygge itself. And this, to me, is the crux of the issue. This book is more concerned with making an artistic impact than delivering anything of substance. Unfortunately, it fails to do even this.
This is not a good book. Brits does a poor job of giving it a direction. The subtitle ("the Danish art of living well") indicates there will be some exploration or explanation of what the art itself is. However, there is no real historical exploration save for a few early paragraphs that don't do the subject any justice. Early in the first paragraph, she writes, "throughout this book, there are suggestions on how to weave Hygge into daily life." This is an understatement; there are so many suggestions strung together through 187 pages which robs the book of any boundaries or focus.
I might be a salty because Brits is not one to use an Oxford comma, which is particularly painful when the book is chock full of lists filled with flowery language. However, if this is where my complaints ended, I would simply state the author has a writing style that isn't for me. But... there's more.
The book, in short, is word salad. Brits combines words and imagery that frankly don't make any sense. One gets the impression she is trying to inspire or uplift and it just doesn't work. For the parts where my eyes didn't glaze over, the meaning of the sentences was more often than not difficult to extract.
When she does manage to avoid metaphor or abstract imagery, her writing is painfully repetitive. At times it becomes contradictory as she tries to give examples of what Hygge is to fit a chapter. On other occasions, the title or subtitles of a chapter are in no way related to the writing that follows.
Unfortunately, she also has the habit of discussing Danes as a monolith instead of Hygge itself, painting the entire group with a broad brush that makes Denmark's citizens seem like automatons of cosiness.
The book does have some standout parts, but none of these are good:
- (p. 133) "Danes regularly express gratitude and satisfaction without lacquering it in mawkish sentiment." This smacks of irony as this entire book is best described as "mawkish sentiment."
- (p. 145) "The naked togetherness and heat of a sauna, or bathing alone outside in warm water, enveloped by dusk, green leaves and birdsong, both dissolves our boundaries and holds us in intimacy." My first thought while reading this was "where can anyone bathe in warm water outdoors in Denmark?" She answered my question by placing a picture of a bathtub in the middle of the woods with a fire under it on the opposing page. I shit you a not. A bathtub. Outside. With a fire under it.
- (p.156) There is a quote on this page by Ludwig Wittgenstein which made me laugh out loud because my only thoughts conjured at the thought of him are anguish, self-flagellation, and asceticism.
This brings me to my last issue: the quotes. At first, it seemed all the quotes were directly related to Hygge and I found myself thinking "Yikes, the quotes are the best reading in this book." However, it soon became clear she was inserting quotes as long as they were even only minimally related to the topic at hand. The quoted person was often in no way related to Denmark or Hygge itself. And this, to me, is the crux of the issue. This book is more concerned with making an artistic impact than delivering anything of substance. Unfortunately, it fails to do even this.
November 8, 2016
Un livre rapide à lire, quoi qu'un peu répétitif, sur ce sujet tout doux qu'est le hygge. On revient sur son histoire et ses différentes caractéristiques et c'est plutôt intéressant.
Mais pourquoi avoir choisi cette couverture austère pour un sujet aussi doux ?!
Mais pourquoi avoir choisi cette couverture austère pour un sujet aussi doux ?!
May 14, 2024
Questo libro sembra scritto apposta per recare noia e fastidio in chiunque cerchi di fare il contrario: avvicinarsi all'appagante modo hygge di vivere le cose. Il libro dei misteri mentre fai la cacca ha obiettivamente offerto spunti migliori.
March 5, 2017
I like the idea of this book, it's more of a slow down and smell the roses theory. Live in the moment, take joy in the small things and use your "special" dishes every day.
January 30, 2022
This is a Buzzfeed listicle stretched out to 200 pages of word salad.
June 19, 2017
This was a warm little book, interspersed with relevant quotes in large type (I like that!).
The entire book is about the essence of hygge; I was hoping for a little more instruction but what the author did was kindly impart, in friendly details, all you'd ever want to know about hygge. She's Danish so I trust her POV. While the book isn't quite what I expected, she does a nice job. For me, the photos inside and the quotes are the best parts. Truly beautiful.
The entire book is about the essence of hygge; I was hoping for a little more instruction but what the author did was kindly impart, in friendly details, all you'd ever want to know about hygge. She's Danish so I trust her POV. While the book isn't quite what I expected, she does a nice job. For me, the photos inside and the quotes are the best parts. Truly beautiful.
September 5, 2024
“The salient feature of hygge is the atmosphere of warm and relaxed enjoyment of the moment which it allows. While it is nurtured by thoughtfulness and mutual involvement, hygge is informal and unrestrained.”
I strive every day to live my life in a state of hygge. I love the contentment that it brings me. I wish that the average American home practiced the art of hygge more often, and that we weren’t so driven by consumption. This book was thought-provoking.
I strive every day to live my life in a state of hygge. I love the contentment that it brings me. I wish that the average American home practiced the art of hygge more often, and that we weren’t so driven by consumption. This book was thought-provoking.
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