Book info

• Title The Year of Living Danishly
• Author Helen Russell
• Year 2015
• Genre Travel

Given the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, Helen Russell discovered a startling statistic: Denmark, land of long dark winters, cured herring, Lego and pastries, was the happiest place on earth. Keen to know their secrets, Helen gave herself a year to uncover the formula for Danish happiness. From childcare, education, food and interior design to SAD and taxes, The Year of Living Danishly records a funny, poignant journey, showing us what the Danes get right, what they get wrong, and how we might all live a little more Danishly ourselves.

Thoughts

I listened to the audiobook of this, a hard to describe book - sort of self help, sort of travel guide, sort of memoir. It documents a year in the life of the author who ups and moves to Denmark thanks to her partner getting a job at Lego. Denmark is apparently a very happy country, so we spend the year trying to dig into lifestyles and traditions and find out why. Occasionally I got a bit frustrated by the endless surveys and reports that were referenced, but the anecdotes and real life stuff more than made up for it. A fun read.

Rating: 3 / 5