Tag: Hygge

BOOK REVIEW: The Little Book of Hygge, by Meik Wiking

~ Hillary Rose ~ Leave a comment

Title: The Little Book of Hygge: Danish secrets to happy living
Author: Meik Wiking
Genre: Hygge, Lifestyle, Nonfiction
Publisher: Penguin Life
Release Date: September 1st, 2016

What is hygee? And how do you say it, anyway? Meik Wiking says that hygge (pronounced HOO-GA) “is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home.” He then teaches how to create hygge in the home and in your life like the Danes, the happiest people in Europe according to the European Social Survey.

So what are some ways we can bring some hygge into our lives? Wiking includes a “Hygge Manifesto” complete with adorable graphics:

  1. ATMOSPHERE (Turn down the lights.)
  2. PRESENCE (Be here now. Turn off the phones.)
  3. PLEASURE (Coffee, chocolate, cookies, cakes, candy.)
  4. EQUALITY (“We” over “me.” Share the tasks and the airtime.)
  5. GRATITUDE (Take it in. This might be as good as it gets.)
  6. HARMONY (It’s not a competition. We already like you. There is no need to brag about your achievements.)
  7. COMFORT (Get comfy. Take a break. It’s all about relaxation.)
  8. TRUCE (No drama. Let’s discuss politics another day.)
  9. TOGETHERNESS (Build relationships and narratives. “Do you remember the time we…?”)
  10. SHELTER (This is your tribe. This is a place of peace and security.)

I loved this book! I recommend you reading it with a cup of tea or coffee, snuggled under a cozy blanket, with a candle lit close by. Now, doesn’t that sound hyggelig?

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The Book of Hygge

~ Hillary Rose ~ Leave a comment

Title: The Book of Hygge: The Danish art of contentment, comfort, and connection
Author: Louisa Thomsen Brits 
Genre: Hygge, Nonfiction, Self Help
Publisher: Ebury Press
Release Date: August 18th, 2016

I think it’s worth mentioning that hygge is pronounced hoo-gah. Now you know, you’re welcome. This book defines hygge as “a quality of presence and an experience of belonging and togetherness. It is a feeling of being warm, safe, comforted, and sheltered.”

Belonging – “At the heart of hygge is an experience of belonging and a sense of connection. It’s most often associated with being in the company of others, but we can enjoy hygge alone.”

Shelter – “Hygge is housed by an experience of shelter. The foundation of that shelter is our basic sense of security… Tryghed is the experience of everyday well-being, safety, peace of mind, and freedom rolled together that supports the framework of daily life.”

Comfort – “Hygge is the basic language of comfort, a vernacular common to us all, and the way that we seek comfort is one of the foundational elements of cultures worldwide. Every culture has a vocabulary of scent, texture, taste, sight, and sound that speaks to the hearts and bodies of its people.”

Well-being – “… is about a deep rapport with ourselves and the world around us. Hygge strengthens that rapport by nurturing consideration, responsiveness, and delight in our relationships with the places we inhabit and the people who make up our families and communities.”

Simplicity – “Hygge… is both an inner and outer condition of simplicity; a clarity of presence and intention, and an honest, uncomplicated, practice… Hygge is a timeless practice, an everyday mindfulness that comes from a wholehearted participation in life.”

Observance – “The observance inherent in hygge opens our eyes to the value of tradition and to the quality of soul slightly concealed in the details and commonplaces of ordinary life – the objects that are most alive and connected to the world through daily use and the modest activities that we repeat.”

This was a light, yet meaningful, book that was enjoyable to read. The idea of hygge resonates deeply with me, and I have been looking for and practicing it in my life without having the word for it – but now I do.

If you enjoyed this review, please consider following Reads & Roses. It would mean the world to have you on my team!

Reads and Roses is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.