The Year of Living Danishly
My Twelve Months Unearthing the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
Ratings23
Average rating3.9
15
My Twelve Months Unearthing the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
Ratings23
Average rating3.9
When she was suddenly given the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, journalist and archetypal Londoner Helen Russell discovered a startling statistic: the happiest place on earth isn't Disneyland, but Denmark, a land often thought of by foreigners as consisting entirely of long dark winters, cured herring, Lego and pastries. What is the secret to their success? Are happy Danes born, or made? Helen decides there is only one way to find out: she will give herself a year, trying to uncover the formula for Danish happiness. From childcare, education, food and interior design to SAD, taxes, sexism and an unfortunate predilection for burning witches, The Year of Living Danishly is a funny, poignant record of a journey that shows us where the Danes get it right, where they get it wrong, and how we might just benefit from living a little more Danishly ourselves.
Reviews with the most likes.
This book was a little boring. The problem is that it's a mixture of non-fiction (facts about Denmark) and a novel (the story of a journalist moving to Denmark for a year), but none of the two is good enough. Facts and statistics are outdated (despite the “recent studies show” lines without any date indication) and the novel itself doesn't have any conflict or interesting plot, you can't emotionally connect with the main character (and her husband - whose name remains unknown: she calls him “Lego Man” and that in itself was, well... cringy.
I found this story fascinating at times I was dazzled with the idea of living in Denmark and other times I had second thoughts. It was interesting to learn about this culture and style of thinking. I love the idea of having trust and and finding joy. I like the idea of equality and available resources. I love the passion for the nation and the care of the environment. But this book did show some of the dark sides too gender equality isn't as great and we first thought also high divorce rates and drinking rates are questionable. Overall I think I'd like to live a year Danishly.
The Year of Living Danishly is a memoir of Helen Russell's move to Denmark for a year. Russell used the year to take a close look at why Danish people report themselves to be the happiest people in the world. I am happy to have learned more about happiness from this book.
A surprising little nugget of awesome.
Ok, I'm impressed with this book for many reasons. The author was relateable and her situation was epathtically lamentable. In the end, this is upper-class writing.
As non-fiction goes, an author's voice is often dull and mechanical, unless you are Helen Russell. She was witty, glib, and completely normal from start to finish. As I do, she assigned nicknames to most of those she interacted with. Examples include “Judgy Face” or “Lego Man.”
Her research was neither tediously academic nor jeuvenile. The majority of her research is based on interviews, jotted notes, and humerous internal monologue.
From start to finish the reader loves the story woven around her main goal to identify what makes Danes so happy. The project is broken up into 12 months, with each month ending in a summary of her findings. The best of her observations, interviews, and internet research are highlighted throughout. The reader stands to learn more about rural Danish life and tradition than you thought possible. Certainly more than you previously thought interesting.
In summary, well done Helen. Please write more so I can read all of your work.
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