If you wish to discover a stunning sense of happiness and well-being, then hygge is just the philosophy for you... Cravings for comfort, for coziness, for contentment: everyone experiences the desire for a happier, less stressful, and more serene life.
Hygge, the Danish-born philosophy, is one proven way to achieve such a life. From the Old Norse for “well-being,” hygge embodies a philosophy that is as much a mindset as it is a way of life.
Specific activities are designed to encourage you to cultivate togetherness and joy at the smallest and simplest things in everyday life.
This book provides an in-depth explanation of the hygge lifestyle, as well as numerous bits of practical advice on how to practice hygge every day.
As you read this book, you will find the following, and much, much more!
A thorough grounding in the Danish art of hygge, the lifestyle equivalent of embracing a hug from the inside out
The eight ways to incorporate practical aspects of hygge into every part of your daily life, from hearth and home to food and crafts
The four things you should know about nurturing happy and serene relationships with children, parents, partners, and friends
Why living your life in a constant rush and stress - even if it feels materially lucrative - is not the path to ultimate happiness. Instead, engage with the simple things in life with gratitude and pleasure.
How to achieve household harmony without sacrificing friends and self-care
How to foster a sense of cozy happiness throughout the year, with simple ideas for each season and holiday
How to do all the above, surrounded by family and friends - the hallmark of a happy life
Learning to embrace the homemade and the found, creating thoughtful gifts and meaningful interactions in every aspect of your life
How to do all the above in frugal, environmentally responsible - and undeniably entertaining - ways
The fundamental understanding of where true happiness comes from and how you can embark on your journey to joy today!
And much, much more!
Take a second to imagine how you’ll feel once you start practicing hygge, and how your family and friends will react when they start to experience the joys of a peaceful, cozy, happy life. Even if you feel that your life is too busy to slow down and enjoy all the benefits of hygge, you can certainly achieve a state of hyggelige with a little assistance from the tips and techniques offered throughout this book.
Beginning to practice hygge in your life simply requires a desire to create an atmosphere conducive to comfort and calm, a focus on togetherness and family rather than work and status, and a belief that material wealth and consumer products do not equal happiness. Rather, it is an intrinsic feeling that comes from leading a comforting life of self-care and well-being. Success, following hygge, is not defined via one material thing. Rather, success is about work-life balance, creativity, and productivity in your life, comfort, and happiness in your home.
If you truly wish to unlock the secrets of serenity and happiness, then scroll up and click “add to cart.”
So this was my first introduction into Hygge! So many people have been talking about it and I never knew what it is and I can say that after reading this little book, I know. It explains what is Hygge and also sort of where it comes from and gives some basic pointers about how to live by it.
Most of the book was fine and it gave a semi-cosy feeling, but I found the recipe part to be useless and boring. I mean if you got that far, you should understand already which of your foods are Hygge and which aren't. Some ideas are always good, sure, but you don't need a whole recipe for that. I mean, the author said to knit a scarf, but didn't give the pattern, why would recipe be different?
I didn't know how to rate this because it is so short and it was more learning about Hygge than actually reading a book, so, yeah.
This book is so white Inuits have 50 names for it.
I wanted to write an hyperbolic satire of the author’s complete disconnection from reality, but I think her own words are funnier: “The art of hygge is a simple one: immerse yourself in the warmth and comfort of your beautifully lit and naturally decorated house with good friends, hearty food, and some happy conversation. Ride your bike to the local café for some coffee and fika. Indulge in some serene self-care, curled up in your cozy nook with a good book and a warm drink.”
This is the book the (extremely rich) love child of Martha Stewart and Gwyneth Paltrow could have written if he was illiterate and had a concussion.
So this book is really, really pretentious. Maybe that's unsurprising for a book about Danish coziness, but I think this book was super tone-deaf to the realities of many Americans. Hayden's method of achieving a cozy, happy existence requires an abundance of time. Ride your bike. Work less hours. Spend lots of time with your friends and family (who also have loads of free time). Also, here's 10+ pages just about how the Danes are 10x better than us American capitalist cogs in the machine. If you're upper-middle class, perhaps a housewife, I think this book will be really cute and helpful for you. All it did for me was remind me how overworked I am, have no easy access to nature in walking distance, and oh, I guess buy some candles.
I am Danish, and though I do recognise some traits and habits of “hygge” and Danish lifestyle described in the book, this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever read. This is Danish culture described by a rich woman with a big house and an Instagram account to an American, who apparently lived in one of her tasteful guest rooms for a week, before he decided to write a book about her piles of blankets and closets full of socks.
Honestly, if we drank as much cocoa by candle lights as the book claims, I would be twice as big and have severe asthma problems.
The welfare data vary from “meh, not entirely correct” to “if that were true I would never work a day again in my life!”. (And finally have time for al that cocoa and cooking potatoes with my children).
The idea of hygge is amazing. This book is alright. It’s currently free on kindle unlimited, so it’s worth getting this short introduction to and concept we could all do with getting to know.
I like the simple overview of hygge, and this is a good place to start if you've never read anything about it and are looking for some basic concepts and a low-investment, quick read.
However, the author feels a bit out of touch with typical lives, which may turn people off to Hygge. Her frugal suggestions for crafting are actually quite expensive. I have tried knitting one of the chunky blankets she recommends - the yarn alone was $150 at a Michael's craft store. That's not frugal or cheap, and certainly not cheaper than the mass-produced stuff I could buy online. It's frustrating since she says Hygge emphasizes recycling and frugality along with homemade things. But a lot of her craft examples are a bit absurd to try to do on a budget or without a lot of free time on your hands. (Or if you don't live in an area with a lot of nature surrounding you already) I do like her ideas of repurposing natural items, thrifting, and simple pleasures. The focus on coziness, food, friends, slowing down, and ambience are all good. Hygge seems like a much needed antidote to American hustle and consumer culture. But she feels like a wealthy woman who doesn't have a grasp on the realities of how implementing her suggestions might not work in average homes in the US. The general spirit can be applied for sure, but her examples often feel stereotypical of a cottagecore or tradwife Instagram account.
I am also seriously turned off by the first couple of chapters preaching about and pining over the Scandinavian welfare state. Yeah, I get it. They have more vacation time and leisure, that's nice. But they make a lot less money, give a lot back to the government in taxes, and have significantly less autonomy and political freedom (in a more classical sense). That's not worth it to me. I can carve out Hygge in the US and still have a higher standard of living and more political freedom.
I mean, to each their own, I suppose. So if 50-60% taxes is worth it to you, then more power to you! Enjoy that lifestyle in Denmark, Sweden, or another European country. But the US offers an alternative for those of us that appreciate it. (And every system as it's downsides - trade offs are just part of life)
Also, her huge emphasis on the political system that supports Hygge in Denmark makes it feel even less accessible to an American audience that doesn't get year long maternity leaves and tons of vacation time. I don't think Hygge and the American political system have to be at odds. But she sure makes it sound like they have to be.
Some of it is cultural too rather than political. American society has always been like that Type-A, overachieving, anxious first born daughter. Rather than a more laid-back, go with the flow, youngest child. Changing our political system wouldn't necessarily change the underlying cultural elements that make hygge difficult for a lot of Americans. It takes a mental adjustment and a change in personal values to prioritize mundane pleasures and simple living. That's hard to change.
So, I'm giving it 3 stars. The general ideas are good, but the delivery left something to be desired. I suspect other books on the topic will be better.
Solche Bücher lösen bei mir immer den Drang aus alles zu verändern, dabei lebe ich bereits zu einem großen Teil nach dem Hygge Prinzip 😂 ich fand es super informativ und cozy und man hat einfach Lust jetzt mehr im Moment zu leben und wie die Dänen locker und cozy zu leben.
I wanted to start this year on a warm happy note so I picked this book. Denmark/ Finland/ Netherlands have been voted as the happiest countries to live many times and the art of Hygge is widely practiced in most Scandinavian countries. The book is an introduction to the world of Hygge (pronounced as Hoo- gah) - the danish art of warmth, coziness and simple pleasures. According to the author Hygge encompasses wearing warm cozy socks, lighting candles, sitting ideally in front of a warm roaring fire, breaking bread with loved ones and visiting open parks, having coffee or cocao with cakes every evening and working only 6 hours a day. Personally I think Hygge or atleast the version that the author talks about is impractical for developing Asian countries. Denmark is a developed country with free universal health care, free College education, 5 week paid vacation and 1 year paid maternity leave. So practicing the leisurely art of Hygge is more suited for them. European wellness practices like Danish Hygge, or the Italian 'Dolce far niente'( the art of doing nothing) are great for privileged inviduals as a way of life but not really practical for middle class folks like me. I think my positive take away from this book would be to have a self care day where I light some candles, curl up with my fav book in my Hyygekorg ( cozy corner) and sip some hot cocoa.I'd recommend reading this book only if you are interested in Hygge or live in a colder place.
While this was repetitive, I also found it informative. I have heard of hygge, but never fully researched it myself. The idea of enjoying life in a calm simplistic way is intriguing to say the least. The Scandinavian way of life, being less materialistic, and to truly enjoy life's simple pleasures is aspirational.
There were some grammatical errors, but it was free on kindle unlimited, so that was to be expected.
While I enjoyed learning more about how Danes incorporate hygge into their everyday lives year-round, this book also makes it extremely clear that the idea of "hygge" is, in America, only something middle-class and above (and then, only those living outside of cities) can achieve. It requires contentment, calm, and lack of anxiety, long lunch breaks, short work days, and spontaneous stop-bys at friends' houses. It expects simple, neutral-toned decor, lengthy explorations into nature, hours available to prepare warming meals enjoyed at set tables, and regular purchase of candles. In America, anxiety is expected and unavoidable for those who have to worry about access to food, healthcare, and education, are living in high-crime, unprotected areas, are murdered and jailed at disproportionate numbers to their light-skinned counterparts, work three jobs and never see their children because of it, and may or may not have an actual house to make "hygge."
That aside, if you are, in fact, fortunate enough to be in a financial and social position to create hygge space in your life, this book is a great starting point for how to do that. There are recipes, craft ideas, and decor suggestions, as well as discussion of how to incorporate hygge into your relationships, too.
Even if you can't manage all of the aspects of hygge, even including one or two in your daily life can be an emotional and mental benefit.
Note: I would probably have given four stars if not for the horrible editing. It was incredibly distracting and embarrassing.
I gave this book an extra star because the descriptions were lovely, evoking a cozy idyllic urban lifestyle where every job provides perfect work-life balance, everything is within walking or biking distance, there are clean, safe parks everywhere, and everyone has plenty of friends nearby who they spend lots of quality time with. Not to mention the children never misbehave, no one ever fights with their partner or family, and nothing is ever messy or ugly. It's prettily written utopian fiction masquerading as a lifestyle guide.
Unfortunately, the book is littered with preachy passages regarding the superiority of life in The Netherlands, snide little comments about the undesirability of computers and smartphones, and repeated exhortations regarding the absolute necessity of doing a whole bunch of things most people simply don't have access to. The range of 'acceptable' activities, interests, and even decorating schemes put forward in the book is very narrow and the author didn't seem to have much experience or to have done much research with some of them - the part about making ebelskivers was weirdly inaccurate, for example, and the references to craft/hobby materials as 'cheap' only make sense if the author has never been inside a craft store. All in all, this was a disappointing book that was more about the author's fantasy world than it was about the Danish concept of hygge.
The take away I got from this, thankfully, short book is that to live a hygge lifestyle you have to be frugal yet willing to spend lots of money on all the items the author thinks you need to live a cozy happy life. You need to update your entire wardrobe, buy a million pairs of socks. The word socks was mentioned in this book roughly the same amount of times, oh, and don’t forget the candles you will need enough that your home is a fire hazard. Personally I’m trying to find a sense of calm and peace in my own life, and I’m looking to books to point me in the right direction and give me some inspiration, but this book is not the one and I think it completely misses the point of what this lifestyle is about. Not to mention that it is extremely repetitive, and I noticed in one instance the author repeated how much tax is paid and between one chapter and the next it had risen by 10%! Not one I would recommend!
Whats another little book explaining to me what Hygge is and how to live that lifestyle? ;)
This little book was nice, offering ideas and suggestions on how to incorporate Hygge into my everyday life. What set this one apart was the part on Hyggefying my relationships. I hadn't thought of using Hyggelieg in my relationships with my kids and husband before and I really appreciated the commentary this book had to offer on that subject.
I enjoyed the chapters on crafting with organic materials, and the recipes; I liked the idea they gave to create Hygge spaces in the house and office. There's really not a whole lot that sets this particular book apart from the hundreds of other Hygge books but it was enjoyable to read through and I recommend it to anyone looking to further their knowledge on the subject or follow the lifestyle themselves. :)
This is a cosy little book regarding the concept of Hygge. It's a collections of ideas and recommendations on how to incorporate the Danish concept of wellness in your everyday life. The writing was not my favourite. It was a bit repetitive and at times it felt like I was inside the writer's Pinterest vision board - and not in a good way. A lot of people are claiming that this is a socially insensitive book and though that argument might be valid, I think there were instances that the writer was quite self-aware about the level of privilege one needs to have to be able to perform these practices on the daily. Ultimately, in this day and age, the concept of Hygge itself is intended for a very privileged crowd. Would I highly recommend this book? No. But it's a decent 1-2 hour read for a cosy Sunday evening.
2.5/5 Definitely not one of the best books on Hygge. It talks about items you should have at your home as decor or how to decorate the guest bedroom and what to wear. You can clearly see how that book was written by an American, who lives a materialistic lifestyle. Hygge is not supposed to be about what you wear or what furniture and decor you have at home. It is about living a life in comfort with your favourite people around you. Living the little life, not the biggest and most expensive life. Moreover, the book brought up several American holidays that are not even celebrated in Scandinavia. Instead of talking about the Independence Day, introduce the reader to midsummer. If you chose to include recipes in your book, it would be helpful for the reader to have an actual picture of the dish in front of them and a list of ingredients that are needed.
This book was an overview of the art of Hygge, a Danish philosophy of coziness. Pronounced hoogah it offered many examples and suggestions and overall was a good introduction to the topic. The health benefits of an anxiety free and comfortable life were discussed. There are recipes, decor ideas, and relationship goals. It was an interesting cultural overview although it sets a high bar for many who have personal, physical, or financial situations that won't allow that level of ease in their lives.
I think that there is a lot to take out of this for people whom need to slow down and witness life. Many of the things in this book are great ideas and I by no means can dismiss this lifestyle. Much of it is appealing and good practice for mental health. That being said, there are somethings that I won’t give up. These things make me happy and thus would be counterproductive. Overall the book is cute and well read.
Hygge: Unlock the Danish Art of Coziness and Happiness by Barbara Hayden Hygge book talks about what Hygge is. Danish art of coziness and happiness and how you can adapt it in your lifestyle. There are so many practical chapters about foods, clothing, customs, tradition, even crafts. Found the book interesting as I have heard about these before and have seen how Danish life, even in Vikings days of having a big great room for all to congregate.
I have always had an interest in learning more about different cultures, and Scandinavia intrigues me. :) While I don’t agree with all the ideology of hygge, I’ve always enjoyed cozy atmospheres and learning more about cultural practices, and points about living life filled with gratitude and cultivating togetherness are certainly biblical. Overall, this book was an interesting insight into Scandinavian culture and offered practical tips for adding a layer of cozy to your life.
I enjoyed this simple read, reminding you to enjoy the simple things in life and create a warm comfy lifestyle for yourself and loved one. Enjoyable read. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a comfort book to remind them to simplify their life and enjoy small moments as well as any moment we are given. Peaceful
I thought this book was good! But not as good as the other Hygge books I have read. Super easy and fun little read. A little too many danish politics for me though haha But it had the most AMAZING chapter on practicing Hygge in parenting and relationships. Highlighted SO much. I will be coming back for that chapter alone!
While I love most of the ideas for living a hygge life, some I’m not a fan of such as wearing neutral colors. It’s just not who I am and quite frankly I find it very boring. Also, most of the things are not realistic for when you are living in the U.S. It’s just not how life is built here. You can’t just go to a cafe daily during the day for a date with a friend, or bike to work or the market for example. It’s quite beautiful when it is possible and I envy those who are able to live such relaxed life but in the U.S. we are not able to. However a person can still implement a lot of the ideas to be more hygge.
I have been wanting to learn to slow down and not always feel like I am rushing through life and this is the perfect book for me! I gained so many ideas on making my life and home warm, cozy, and inviting. If you are looking for tips on living a Hygee life, this is the book for you!
A great book to read to put or keep what is important into perspective. Awesome insights and tidbits of information that can improve anyways sense of well-being.
Concepts of being present, minimalism and connecting with people are not new. By and large though, it is neither practical nor relevant when you’re living by the equator.
Reads like an American version of Meik Wiking’s The Little Book of Hygge. It expanded a bit and gave me more ideas for how to implement hygge in my everyday life. For that reason, I would recommend this as a second read or third read on the topic of hygge.
Lovely book to read; simple inspiration that yields pleasure rather than abundance and moves us from electronics to family times and activities. A focus on the creatively making a simple lifestyle. I am half way there.
I love the concept of hygge. That being said, this book was definitely catered to people who have a house. There are a lot of things that seem like a great idea but would be incredibly difficult to maintain in small spaces.
This is the most out of touch, privileged book I’ve read in a long time. There is no way someone who isn’t at least upper middle class can follow this advice. If you are looking for a practical guide to preserve your sanity in this late-stage capitalist hellscape, look somewhere else.