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The Joy of Hygge: How to Bring Everyday Pleasure and Danish Coziness into Your Life
Hygge (pronounced -hoo-gah-) is a Danish word that describes the feeling of being cozy, comfortable, and at peace with the world. It's almost impossible to translate to English, and it's probably the reason that Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world.
According to the London Evening Standard, hygge takes us beyond mindful meditation and adult coloring books and introduces us to a comfortable, warm, relaxing lifestyle exemplified by those in Denmark.
The Joy of Hygge is packed with recipes to warm you on a winter's evening, craft ideas for decorating your home, and inspirational suggestions for enjoying the magic of everyday pleasures. Learn how to make your life more hyggelig by:
-Creating a snuggly pair of hand-knitted socks -Filling your house with more light and nature displays -Building a cozy campfire for friends and family -Taking advantage of picnics, bike rides, and woodland walks -Appreciating the natural wonders that surround us every day -And more!
Remember--a little hygge brings a lot of happiness.
According to the London Evening Standard, hygge takes us beyond mindful meditation and adult coloring books and introduces us to a comfortable, warm, relaxing lifestyle exemplified by those in Denmark.
The Joy of Hygge is packed with recipes to warm you on a winter's evening, craft ideas for decorating your home, and inspirational suggestions for enjoying the magic of everyday pleasures. Learn how to make your life more hyggelig by:
-Creating a snuggly pair of hand-knitted socks -Filling your house with more light and nature displays -Building a cozy campfire for friends and family -Taking advantage of picnics, bike rides, and woodland walks -Appreciating the natural wonders that surround us every day -And more!
Remember--a little hygge brings a lot of happiness.
144 pages, Hardcover
Published March 21, 2017
119 people are currently reading
264 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
April 13, 2018
I think I need to start a shelf labeled "consumer idiocy."
Last year, Marie Kondo's so-called "magic of decluttering" was the Big Thing. She was on a mission to convince us to fold our socks appropriately so they didn't get their feelings hurt and to get rid of everything that didn't "spark joy." This was marketed to America as "The Japanese Art of Decluttering." Sure. Fine. Whatever.
This year, we go to Europe for our consumer lifestyle fad. Danish mid-century furniture is enjoying a renaissance lately, so enter "hygge." Now, I don't speak Danish (although I know someone who does and really should ask him for the actual translation of hygge) but the Pinterest-Instagram-verse would like us to believe that this word is Danish (or Norwegian, depending on the source) for "cozy and secure." Basically, hygge--or at least the Americanized marketing hype version of it-- is going to show you how to take your decluttered space from last year and do absurdly simple things with it to fill it up with more stuff.
The argument goes that the Danish are the happiest people on earth (according to some survey), and surely that must be because of how they decorate and their "style choices." What else could it be? Surely not the excellent affordable health care, the strong emphasis on gender equality and life balance, and the excellent (free) education system. Can't be the more healthful food (giving EU restrictions on GMOs and chemical gunk) or that they get more exercise because they get off their asses and actually walk and bike sometimes. Candles. It must be the candles.
You're going to need (need, I tell you) fairy lights in jars, felt slippers, lots of wool socks, oh, and cashmere blankets. Fireplaces with roaring wood fires, especially of expensive apple or cherry wood, are hygge. Apparently, being at all concerned about the pollution caused by wood fires is not hygge. Not that everything suggested is expensive. Some suggestions are so common that this book could be titled Everything I Need to Know About Hygge I learned in Girl Scouts. Like instructions for making popcorn. Or toasting marshmallows. Or how to cut snowflakes out of paper. Did you know playing in the snow is fun? And so are board games? Do you really need a recipe for hot chocolate?
Basically, this is little more than 140+ pages of photos from Shutterstock and a list of things the author thinks are "cozy" or "twinkly." It would have made a fluff magazine piece in Real Simple or Good Housekeeping. But probably not Martha Stewart. (Martha has standards.) Sure, all those little suggestions about getting comfy are "cute" and "sweet," but do you really need to be told by someone else that sitting by the fire with a blanket reading a book is relaxing? Are you really going to make pompoms for your hat and have no idea how? If so, just save yourself the $10 and go talk to a Brownie. She'll enlighten you for free.
There's a tiny part of me that is fascinated by fads. Appalled and dismayed, but fascinated. When our library suddenly brings in three books on the same "lifestyle" trend, I can't help myself and have to see what on earth the latest mania of the moment is. It's almost always something I find ridiculous. Still, some of these things are more clever or interesting than others. At least Marie Kondo put some effort into her fad. This book looks more like a very long Hallmark card.
Last year, Marie Kondo's so-called "magic of decluttering" was the Big Thing. She was on a mission to convince us to fold our socks appropriately so they didn't get their feelings hurt and to get rid of everything that didn't "spark joy." This was marketed to America as "The Japanese Art of Decluttering." Sure. Fine. Whatever.
This year, we go to Europe for our consumer lifestyle fad. Danish mid-century furniture is enjoying a renaissance lately, so enter "hygge." Now, I don't speak Danish (although I know someone who does and really should ask him for the actual translation of hygge) but the Pinterest-Instagram-verse would like us to believe that this word is Danish (or Norwegian, depending on the source) for "cozy and secure." Basically, hygge--or at least the Americanized marketing hype version of it-- is going to show you how to take your decluttered space from last year and do absurdly simple things with it to fill it up with more stuff.
The argument goes that the Danish are the happiest people on earth (according to some survey), and surely that must be because of how they decorate and their "style choices." What else could it be? Surely not the excellent affordable health care, the strong emphasis on gender equality and life balance, and the excellent (free) education system. Can't be the more healthful food (giving EU restrictions on GMOs and chemical gunk) or that they get more exercise because they get off their asses and actually walk and bike sometimes. Candles. It must be the candles.
You're going to need (need, I tell you) fairy lights in jars, felt slippers, lots of wool socks, oh, and cashmere blankets. Fireplaces with roaring wood fires, especially of expensive apple or cherry wood, are hygge. Apparently, being at all concerned about the pollution caused by wood fires is not hygge. Not that everything suggested is expensive. Some suggestions are so common that this book could be titled Everything I Need to Know About Hygge I learned in Girl Scouts. Like instructions for making popcorn. Or toasting marshmallows. Or how to cut snowflakes out of paper. Did you know playing in the snow is fun? And so are board games? Do you really need a recipe for hot chocolate?
Basically, this is little more than 140+ pages of photos from Shutterstock and a list of things the author thinks are "cozy" or "twinkly." It would have made a fluff magazine piece in Real Simple or Good Housekeeping. But probably not Martha Stewart. (Martha has standards.) Sure, all those little suggestions about getting comfy are "cute" and "sweet," but do you really need to be told by someone else that sitting by the fire with a blanket reading a book is relaxing? Are you really going to make pompoms for your hat and have no idea how? If so, just save yourself the $10 and go talk to a Brownie. She'll enlighten you for free.
There's a tiny part of me that is fascinated by fads. Appalled and dismayed, but fascinated. When our library suddenly brings in three books on the same "lifestyle" trend, I can't help myself and have to see what on earth the latest mania of the moment is. It's almost always something I find ridiculous. Still, some of these things are more clever or interesting than others. At least Marie Kondo put some effort into her fad. This book looks more like a very long Hallmark card.
October 27, 2018
A quick book. Doesn't explain in depth about hygge, but does provide the means to setting the ambiance.
July 25, 2017
Quick read. Nothing that new or inspiring. Had some nice recipes and photos but most info was just common sense and things I've seen in other home and style magazines. I just thought there would be more to it but maybe it's because I've been doing most of these things already.....?
December 31, 2017
Let’s just say I’m glad I didn’t buy this book. It was pretty terrible and not at all what I expected. I hate this is technically the first book I read for the new year. I’m going to ignore it and say it was a technical glitch or some sort or a mishap at the library. It was mostly a book of pictures lists and recipes. I thought it would have a little more history and maybe some real Danish folks talking about hygge. I get the idea. I didn’t need this book
July 7, 2017
Nice photos and some good recipes (if I actually cooked!) and craft suggestions (if I actually crafted!).
July 30, 2018
Though there are nice photos, I’ve learned more about hygge from a short article than from this book.
May 11, 2020
Some of the sentiments written in this book are nice, but it is mostly just a compilation of stock photos.
January 10, 2021
Turns out, this is essentially the life I have already cultivated for myself. This book was a fun read that was perfect for a cold, winter morning. Many of the crafts were not things I would do and the decor was not much my style but I loved idea for recipes and what was warming and I loved the coziness aspect. Reading, playing board games, fires, big socks or slippers are all amazing in my book. It had some great tips for adding extra snuggliness into your life. Definitely mid-Seattle winter appropriate.
May 22, 2025
I thought this short novel would be filled with tons more information and suggestions about Hygge, besides this. But there is nothing that new or inspiring. Had some nice recipes and photos but most info was just common sense, and some ideas that I've seen in other home and style magazines in the past. I just thought there would be more to it than this…. I guess not. I’m just glad I didn’t spend money on this one.
Fantastic pics, though.
3 stars.
Fantastic pics, though.
3 stars.
September 12, 2018
This is an amazing book. The pictures are awe inspiring. I want to try to do everything in this book. There are sections in this book on how to transform your home to conform to the Hygge way, crafts to do, activities to do and recipes to make. This would make a cute housewarming gift. Or just a cute book to add to your personal bookshelf.
~April
~April
July 29, 2017
Read this since it was mentioned in Younger.
October 19, 2025
Feels like a money grab coffee table book which, I will say: very unhygge
November 24, 2017
Lots of beautiful photos, but nothing earth shattering.
December 28, 2017
Simple little book with beautiful photos about being cozy & bringing nature into your home. Seashells, pine cones, candles, making comfort food, warm blankets, hot chocolate, playing board games, getting out into nature, fresh flowers, soft cushions, blankets (twice, I know), wooly socks and comfy jammies.
April 24, 2020
Mostly a bunch of pictures and reading similar to one of their other books.
January 11, 2020
I definitely would not have spend $15 on this book.
Overall I really loved looking at the photography in this book. The photos were calm, serene and really and really represented the kind of peaceful life I want to strive for in 2020.
Do I think that this book offered fantastic, life changing ideas for how to achieve this peacefulness? No. But sometimes we need to be reminded of how to find joy in even the simplest of things.
Overall I really loved looking at the photography in this book. The photos were calm, serene and really and really represented the kind of peaceful life I want to strive for in 2020.
Do I think that this book offered fantastic, life changing ideas for how to achieve this peacefulness? No. But sometimes we need to be reminded of how to find joy in even the simplest of things.
July 20, 2018
The only reason I gave this book two stars instead of one is because there were certainly some lovely pictures.
Other than that however, it's essentially a simple hygge Pinterest board on paper.
I didn't finish it.
Simply put, it was quite boring. Only worth a quick flip-through if you happen to spot it on the shelf at the library.
Other than that however, it's essentially a simple hygge Pinterest board on paper.
I didn't finish it.
Simply put, it was quite boring. Only worth a quick flip-through if you happen to spot it on the shelf at the library.
April 15, 2022
The nicest way I can describe this book is... unnecessary.
This is one of those books made for geriatric white women who don't know what a "wee-fee" is. Most of this book is just the most cliched stock images in the world, and the rest of it is giving you the basics of a Better Homes and Gardens or Martha Stewart magazine. "Here are some images." "Your house should have natural light." "Here's a recipe for popcorn." Y'know? All of the things in this book could be given to you in less than 500 words if you just look up the word "cottagecore" or "self-care" online.
There are multitudes of other books, articles, and videos around the internet that contain more information and more helpful information.
This is one of those books made for geriatric white women who don't know what a "wee-fee" is. Most of this book is just the most cliched stock images in the world, and the rest of it is giving you the basics of a Better Homes and Gardens or Martha Stewart magazine. "Here are some images." "Your house should have natural light." "Here's a recipe for popcorn." Y'know? All of the things in this book could be given to you in less than 500 words if you just look up the word "cottagecore" or "self-care" online.
There are multitudes of other books, articles, and videos around the internet that contain more information and more helpful information.
January 27, 2021
Hygge is *my* style. It is the way I’ve lived and decorated for many, many years—even before I knew i was a style had a name. We are comfortable in our simple, small home and so are those who come to visit. I believe in sharing hospitality and we have we have welcomed many to our home over the years. Hygge has and continues to bring me joy, as did this book, because, “it gets me” and encourages people to stay cozy, warm and comfortable which was quite helpful in 2020 lockdown. I don’t think I learned anything new (except some good recipes) but if you havent tried the hygge way of life, it would help you understand and get started. Find your simple pleasures!
February 24, 2019
I LOVE winter. I am probably one of the few people who loves winter more than summer. For me winter is about being cozy inside my house. It is about fluffy blankets, fuzzy socks, a crackling fire, and a good book or movie. Who knew that this whole time I was practicing Hygge? Although I wish this book was a bit more informative, I did find myself liking it. The book gave me a few more ideas to make my cozy winter nights even cozier and thanks to the pictures it filled me with calm. The book didn’t blow me away. A lot of it was mostly common sense, but it was not a waste of time.
May 31, 2018
It is very beautiful book with tons of inspirational photos and images and very nice proverbs. It is simple as hygge and very short book ( 2 stars I probably expect a little more but that is probably what we not danish people do - missing the point of hygge be happy from simple stuff )
Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less,
breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more;
and all good things are yours.
—Scandinavian proverb
Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less,
breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more;
and all good things are yours.
—Scandinavian proverb
July 13, 2019
A quaint introduction to Hygge - Hyega Danish concept/way of life. I grabbed this from the library because Hygge came up when I have been searching for 'mindfulness' books to read. Hygge books tend to be the trend on the bookstore shelves these days so I thought I would check it out. This turned out to be an easy to read, cute coffee table book with lots of cozy pictures to browse through to get a sense of all that is Hygge... great to set a cozy & comfortable mood but not much more.
December 3, 2020
It's like a blog post and quick Pinterest search rolled into one. It gives pages (and pages) of detailed instructions on important topics like how to cut out paper snowflakes, roast marshmallows, and take a bath (a smooshed up banana on your face is a must, apparently).
Save yourself the hour by Googling "hygge" and reading the first 2-3 results instead. I gave it an extra star because I think there was an original idea in there somewhere.
Save yourself the hour by Googling "hygge" and reading the first 2-3 results instead. I gave it an extra star because I think there was an original idea in there somewhere.
March 23, 2018
OK
This book is rather short. There are some good pictures and good ideas. However, if you don't live near a beach or a lake, the woods or a forest, or don't have a fireplace or a fire pit, then many of the ideas are not viable. If you can't -or don't - cook then the recipes aren't much help either. So, all in all, while it had its charm, I wasn't too impressed.
This book is rather short. There are some good pictures and good ideas. However, if you don't live near a beach or a lake, the woods or a forest, or don't have a fireplace or a fire pit, then many of the ideas are not viable. If you can't -or don't - cook then the recipes aren't much help either. So, all in all, while it had its charm, I wasn't too impressed.
June 5, 2019
I think “The Joy of Hygge” might be a starting point rather than a destination. Perhaps the authors felt that way, too. The photography is wonderful, though not always relevant. Some of the drink recipes are quite good. I don’t know if I’d recommend this book. I feel there are probably better times on Hygge (pronounced hoo guh) out there.
October 9, 2019
A warm and fuzzy book with beautiful pictures. I loved it's message - of "seeing the beauty in the everyday and savoring each moment either in the form of well-deserved -"me time" or spending time with loved ones." I believe we can all benefit from this way of living as today's world is far too distracted.
November 25, 2019
Great pictures that provide the hygge feeling, but the information is basic to the point that I considered checking if it was a children's book. I did however enjoy the inclusion of recipes and easy crafts and intend to try one or two.
2.5 because this would be a great source for any child who had never encountered the concept of hygge before. I just expected more.
2.5 because this would be a great source for any child who had never encountered the concept of hygge before. I just expected more.
May 30, 2017
I approached this book unsure of how I felt about hygge and wanting to know more about it. This book was a decently well-rounded, and gives lots of suggestions that seem easy enough to incorporate into your daily life. Its worth reading just to enjoy the beautiful pictures on every page.
June 6, 2017
The Joy of Hygge was a flashy picture book with very little by way of instructional value. Some beautiful shots of Danish coziness does not fulfill the promise of how to bring that into your life. I wouldn't recommend it.
July 11, 2017
I was hoping for a significant amount of hygge inspiration, but felt like this book was thrown together and had generic ideas (you'd find similar things on a hygge Pinterest board).
There are far better books and/or online sources that will provide you with the inspiration you're looking for.
There are far better books and/or online sources that will provide you with the inspiration you're looking for.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews