The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well - Meik Wiking
Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down.
The book itself is incredibly aesthetic, full of gorgeous photographs and illustrations, and is a joy to read through. Overall, it's an easy book, suitable for bedtime reading :) I've learned something about the Danish way of happy living, that is, to enjoy the little, everyday "coziness, warmth and togetherness," to cherish our relationship with our loved ones, and to focus on the present while appreciating the past.
However, despite all the effort that Meik Wiking has put out to persuade readers that "Hyggeligt" can be applied anywhere and anytime, for anyone, well, I doubt it :) As a person living in a tropical climate country, it's hard for me to imagine sitting next to an open fire while a snowstorm is raging outside or having a hot chocolate cup after skiing, for example. Thus, I suppose the feeling of "hygge" is quite exclusive for people in Denmark or those countries that already have impeccable social welfare rather than others. Of course, hygge is a Danish phenomenon, but at times I felt like the tips on how to implement hygge elements in my life were just out of reach, based on where I live. Nevertheless, it's nice to know about another nation's cultural identity.
For some of you who want a short and sweet guide to Danish culture, I highly recommend you to read this book. For others who are searching for a concrete blueprint to a happy life, this book is a good source, but don't expect too much; otherwise, you would end up feeling worse than before (as you realize the gap between "the happy life" depicted theoretically in the book and your reality is overwhelmingly huge), like I'm experiencing right now :)
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