It’s no secret that I love to read. I spend at least few minutes every night reading, but I’ve also gotten super into listening to audiobooks. Certain books don’t work as audiobooks, but I’ve had great luck with listening to nonfiction books. Recently I downloaded The Little Book of Hygge. It’s under four hours so it was a pretty light and easy “listen.” I finished it up over a few days and LOVED IT.
“Hygge” is a Danish word that means a mix of comfort, safety, coziness, etc. It’s hard to directly translate into English because it’s really more of a “sense” or feeling. The book breaks Hygge down and explains what it means (and what it doesn’t!) and how you can achieve it at home.
A few people had recommended it to me after I mentioned on here that I was forcing myself not to hate winter. If you haven’t read the book yet, I highly highly highly recommend it! I think this is one case where listening to the audiobook might be a better experience than reading it. The author narrates it, which I found to be so helpful to get to know the pronunciations of the Danish words.
I happened to listen to the majority of the book right before a big rainstorm hit the area. I’m normally all about enjoying the outdoors on the weekend. Initially, I was disappointed to see rain in the forecast, but after learning about hygge, I was kind of excited to embrace it fully.
We had a cozy weekend inside watching the Olympics. I wore a thick sweater (verrrrrry “hyggeligt”), donned slippers, wrapped a blanket around my shoulders! We even went to a warm restaurant right as the rain turned into a downpour. Part of hygge is a sense of safety so I knew that being holed up enjoying French toast while the rain intensified only made our day more hyggeligt.
The only thing missing was candles! (If you’ve read the book, you know how important lighting and candles are, haha!)
What I ultimately liked the most about the book was the emphasis on happiness and how to find it within yourself and within your community. Denmark is consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries, if not the happiest! There is a lot to learn from them.
I have to force myself not to hate winter too, Carly, so I know exactly what you’re talking about. I think it’s a bit overrated but I do love the concept of hygge. Very cosy indeed! 😉
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
I have this audiobook too. Such a great concept to incorporate into your everyday life!
Taylor | http://www.livingtaylored.com
Reading this from “Hyggeligt” Copenhagen right now, wrapped in my blanket with a cup of coffee in my hand. You have to put Denmark on your must see list!
This looks so wonderful comfy!
With love from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
I loved The Little Book of Hygge! So warm and cosy!
I hope you have a wonderful Thursday!
Michael
https://www.mileinmyglasses.com
I love to spend a moment to read at night too! Feels so relaxing. Lovely post.
http://www.itsclaudiag.com
I’ll have to pick this book up. I always try to make my space “comfy cozy”, hygge sounds like a perfect, natural expansion of that. Thank you for the recommendation! xAllie http://www.theallthatglittersblog.com
I need to read this! Although I feel like I already embrace the hygge lifestyle, sometimes I get really restless. It’s important to create that sort of environment for yourself!
Olga
http://www.littlethingsolga.com
there’s a bar/ restaurant in my neighborhood called Bar Hygge and it’s amazing! it basically feels like you’re in a living room with soft seating everywhere…this makes me want to go!
Thanks for sharing! I have been trying to get back into reading, so if The Little Book of Hygge is a light read, I may just have to pick it up!
xo Sam
http://www.thecurrentclassic.com
I can’t wait to read this! My birthday was at the beginning of the month and I had a friend who kept asking how I wanted to celebrate and I almost had a hygge party because I’d prefer to stay in cozied up than go out partying like she wanted me too haha.
I’ve just gotten back into reading after a several year hiatus. During our snowpocalypse last weekend, I blasted the heat in my bedroom, got under some blankets, and finished a book I’d been reading.
I’ve been meaning to download some audiobooks so maybe I’ll try this one out!
Carly,
Where did you download the audio book from?
Thank you.
I studied abroad in Denmark and watched the super length days of August whittle down to only a few hours of daylight by December, during which I was in class the whole time. The Danes truly have mastered the secret to happiness, not just with hygge, but with their view on life. They are so much less focused on the grind and more about taking the time to love life and embrace the little moments that they work hard to make sure to have daily with their loved ones. I am so nostalgic for Denmark and am happy to see doses of hygge cropping up across the American trend map. You are so right – we have a lot to learn from them. Definitely read up on their socialist system…. they restrict campaign finance, have 6 weeks of PTO a year, and have a great safety net. It is so intriguing to see how they are doing it, but so hard to translate this from a homogeneous country of 5M people to a heterogeneous country of 320M+ . Okay, going to stop nerding out now but would definitely recommend a visit to Copenhagen soon if you are loving hygge <3
Not only does that book sound like it has a lot of great tips, but it sounds soothing to read. I definitely ordered a copy!!
LOVE that book! I read it and I did find the Danish words hard to follow at times. I love the tips he had for living a more hygge life. I ended up buying more candles for the house.
I will have to download it – thanks for the tip!
Lauren,
http://www.atouchofsoutherngrace.com
I read this book in the winter while studying abroad in London and right before I visited Copenhagen. It was a great way to embrace the cold weather and elevate my perspective!
Thanks for sharing! This sounds like a much better description than what I previously thought Hygge was – a type of decorating. Will have to check out this book for sure as I love being cozy!
Eva | http://www.shessobright.com
I love this book and the hygge culture in general! It’s definitely a book that I need to re-read each winter because I always dread it. Incorporating hygge traditions makes it so much more bearable though!
As a homebody, the idea of getting cosy on the weekend is… what I look forward to every week haha. I feel like I’ve heard about hygge for forever, and I feel so validated that there’s a word for this feeling ;P -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s
I love the concept of Hygge! thanks for sharing this lovely post on the subject.
Eme,
http://www.peoniesandpassionfruit.com
I knew about hygge thanks to Lucy Fink’s video (it’s quite good!). And it was right up my alley! I have not really gotten a chance to try it out but, this really made me want to!
Coco| pjsandstuff.wordpress.com
I love this!! I studied abroad in Copenhagen last semester and truly miss hygge. The Danes are all about fur throws, candles, and doing anything to beat the long, Scandinavian winters!