the little book of hygge

By: Hannah Davis

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Have you heard of the word hygge?
Hygge is the Danish word for cosiness, coziness and warmth. It’s a cultural phenomenon in Scandinavia which encapsulates an immersive experience of simple pleasures and positive emotions which stem from the rough climate and long, dark winters.
It can help promote a sense of community among people who live in or visit these countries. In short, it's all about embracing Danish culture with qualities such as well-being, cheerfulness and togetherness that attract people from around the world.
The word was introduced to the English-speaking world in 2011 by Australian psychologist Marie Kondo who appears on Netflix TV show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Though not a direct translation, it conveys the same sense of comfort and togetherness as the Danish term does — and it has been used in marketing campaigns for some time now, such as for Campari or Samsung phones.
Hygge has also become a buzzword in many different fields, as people try to capture the Danish way of life and get closer to this concept. While the word means a lot of things to a lot of people, it is perhaps most often used when talking about home decor, interior design and art and design.
However, hygge is not just the place where people live and work. It's a sort of lifestyle that encompasses more than just space and objects; it's also about how we spend our time together—both at home and outside of it. This cozy feeling is what makes hygge such an interesting concept for design research and practice.
Why is it so precious to our well-being? How can we generate hygge in our own lives?
This book covers:

• What is Hygge
• And much more…

It was not until recently that hygge rose to international attention. The word has existed in Danish language since the 17th century, but the concept did not receive much attention until the 1980s. In recent years, there hasn't been a noticeable increase in hygge due to its many meanings and interpretations but rather an increase in its recognition as a national treasure worth preserving.
The word's appearance in English has generated a big commotion among the Danish because it has been used as an adverb in Danish since roughly the seventeenth century, but it was always translated as "well" or "cozy."