The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well

Embrace Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) and become happier with this definitive guide to the Danish philosophy of comfort, togetherness, and well-being.

Why are Danes the happiest people in the world? The answer, says Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, is Hygge. Loosely translated, Hygge pronounced Hoo-ga is a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. "Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience," Wiking explains. "It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe."

Hygge is the sensation you get when you re cuddled up on a sofa, in cozy socks under a soft throw, during a storm. It s that feeling when you re sharing comfort food and easy conversation with loved ones at a candlelit table. It is the warmth of morning light shining just right on a crisp blue-sky day.

The Little Book of Hygge introduces you to this cornerstone of Danish life, and offers advice and ideas on incorporating it into your own life, such as: Get comfy. Take a break. Be here now. Turn off the phones. Turn down the lights. Bring out the candles. Build relationships. Spend time with your tribe. Give yourself a break from the demands of healthy living. Cake is most definitely Hygge. Live life today, like there is no coffee tomorrow.

From picking the right lighting to organizing a Hygge get-together to dressing hygge, Wiking shows you how to experience more joy and contentment the Danish way.

"Much has been made, as of late, of the Danish philosophy of hygge…And a new tome, The Little Book of Hygge… instructs on how to use the practice to cure the ailments of the modern world." InStyle

"Meik Wiking…[cites] psychological research showing that close social relationships and time spent socializing, eating, and relaxing… tend to be the greatest drivers of joy." Elle

"Meik Wiking…knows the secret to happiness…[he] has written a gorgeously designed …guide to the Danish state of being that embraces coziness, sociability, thankfulness and comfort food." The Times (London)

"The Little Book of Hygge, which is already a best seller in Britain… is the most engaging of what is becoming a full-fledged lifestyle category." New York Times

Meik Wiking is CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, research associate for Denmark at the World Database of Happiness, and founding member of the Latin American Network for Wellbeing and Quality of Life Policies. He and his research have been featured in more than five hundred media outlets, including The Washington Post, BBC, Huffington Post, the Times (London), The Guardian, CBS, Monocle, the Atlantic, and PBS News Hour. He has spoken at TEDx, and his books have been translated into more than fifteen languages. He lives in Copenhagen, Denmark.