The Little Book of Hygge Summary
6 min read ⌚
The Danish Way to Live Well
The Danish Way to Live WellNo, this is not the Vikings era, but it sure does bring something extraordinary.
Don’t worry, this won’t be another history lesson, but an insightful journey spiced with the taste of Danish Life.
In our MicroBook, we summarize the essential elements which act against unhappiness and anxiety.
Who Should Read “The Little Book of Hygge”? And Why?
One cannot grow, without identifying its weakness. Don’t be afraid to get out of the comfort zone in order to discover the meaning of “living the life.”
“The Little Book of Hygge” is a one-of-a-kind book that gives a slight portion of the Danish way of life. We recommended it to all workaholics and other people who are suffering from depression.
About Meik Wiking
Meik Wiking is an author born in Denmark in 1978. He has an executive role as a CEO in a Research Institute located in Copenhagen. From a very young age, he expressed interest in finding more about the quality of life.
“The Little Book of Hygge PDF Summary”
If you understand the geography and climate of Scandinavian countries, you are familiar with the two assets that describe the region: the cold, and lack of sunlight.
Wow, is this about the never-forgotten Vikings who emerged at the shores of Britain? Well, not quite, this is the story of the modern Danes.
This doesn’t prevent the Danish people to be ranked among the happiest people in the world. What is their secret?
In recent history; the term “hygge” has gained extra momentum as the main incentive for sharing positive vibes in the community. But what’s the real meaning of this?
As we mentioned, Denmark continues on a regular basis to outrank other European countries regarding the happiness index. That’s not something that comes out of a clear blue sky.
The
According to experts, in both 2013 & 2016, Denmark was pronounced a winner in the same category, while in 2015 it was positioned in the third place.
Individuals who lack the knowledge about the Danish culture, would not understand the essence of this report.
As far as the economy is concerned, Denmark has incredibly high tax rates; a state policy that tries to suffocate major class differences.
Let’s find out, how the Danish Community manages to maintain the high global status in terms of happiness! Basically, there are two fundamental concepts:
- The first one covers the taxes, and how should a person contribute to the state in order to become a valuable member of an equal society.
- The second one represents the magic of the hygge.
This concept had its first use back in the 19th century. It’s one of those words; you cannot merely translate without absorbing its social meaning.
In Norwegian, it literally means “well-being.” Nowadays, the world has reached its full-expansion, and the Danish even use it as an adjective – hyggelig.
Hygge isn’t a second-rate substitute for happiness; it’s a term that has its own unique use.
As an indispensable part of the Danish culture, it shines up into the sky by promoting a good and healthy atmosphere amongst the people.
One of the ways that can help you digest its meaning is the design of candlelight. According to the Danes, candlelight is even synonyms with hygge.
If you wonder, what is the big deal with lighting a room, take a moment and organize your thoughts. This is the ultimate recipe you must taste to reach a stage, where you can actually sit down in peace.
Denmark is a freezing place, positioned in both the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere. Its inhabitants burn more candles per person than any other country in Europe.
To the Danish, lamp design is a tradition, ongoing for generations. This mindset is responsible for stimulating closeness and warmth during the cold and dark days.
Certainly, such attitude and dedication must be thoroughly examined. Finding the right mix of lights is a skill that generates comfort and an atmosphere of support.
In such regards, “hygge” reaches its full growth during the winters, when everyone is feeling nostalgic about their homes. Yep, that’s not specific to Danes, but to the world. However, our Scandinavian friends, have found the secret formula for filling the atmosphere with positivity.
Finding shelter and inner harmony is a formula used by the Danes to achieve satisfaction. Solitary attitude and mentality is not a prescribed method for reaching bliss on all levels.
According to the Danish society, when the person’s basic needs are well-satisfied, the next best thing comes in the form of friendship and mutual respect.
From such standpoint, you can begin to absorb the value of real friendliness and strive for comfort. In Denmark, there are strict laws that restrict the process of overtime employment.
Such regulative grants the people an abundance of privileges to enjoy life while maintaining a perfect balance between personal and professional endeavors.
For instance, hygge is something so “insignificant” as sitting on a park bench with your friends or playing cards with your family.
It can be understood in myriad ways because it’s all about embracing playful and carefree attitude while staying devoted towards the well-being of others.
Key Lessons from “The Little Book of Hygge”
1. Find the activity that triggers “hyggelig”
2. Money doesn’t buy happiness
3. At the end of the day, all we have left is love and solidarity
Find the activity that triggers “hyggelig”
Another illustration of applying the “hygge” behavior is through biking. The Danish people love bikes, and unlike cars, RVs, buses, and other vehicles, a bike brings you closer to the environment.
Moreover, urbanization of a country is less possible, where people prefer bikes over cars and other transportation methods.
Money doesn’t buy happiness
It all comes down to this – the less expensive something is, the more it belongs to the hygge category. How do you understand hyggelig?
The truth is, you cannot purchase such orientation, because hygge appreciates the process of time well-spent and engagement with the rest of the community.
At the end of the day, all we have left is love and solidarity
By now, we assume that you already have a clue about the significance of the “hygge,” as a helpful tool or weaponry that will protect you from the unforgiving wilderness and hostility.
It all comes down to the present moment, be blessed with real love and congeniality.
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“The Little Book of Hygge” Quotes
The closest you will ever come to seeing vampires burnt by daylight is by inviting a group of Danes for a hygge dinner and then placing them under a 5,000K fluorescent light tube. At first, they will squint, trying to examine the torture… Click To Tweet So, to all you introverts out there, do not feel embarrassed or boring for being a person who prefers things that are hygge. Click To Tweet Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happens but seldom. Click To Tweet Nobody takes center stage or dominates the conversation for long stretches of time. Equality is an important element in hygge—a trait that is deeply rooted in the Danish culture—and also manifests itself in the fact that everybody takes… Click To Tweet Every person I’ve met who has moved to Denmark tells me the same thing. It is close to impossible to penetrate the social circles there. Click To Tweet
Our Critical Review
You cannot receive better lecturing than reading a book written by a person who was born and raised in a country that has a high happiness index.
We are pleased to be a part of such a journey and encourage you to do the same.
Emir is the Head of Marketing at 12min. In his spare time, he loves to meditate and play soccer.
