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The Year of Living Danishly

Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country

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The Year of Living Danishly

By: Helen Russell
Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
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Summary

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 child care, 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.

Helen Russell is a journalist and former editor of MarieClaire.co.uk. She now lives in rural Jutland and works as a Scandinavia correspondent for the Guardian as well as writing a column on Denmark for the Telegraph.

©2015 Helen Russell (P)2015 Audible, Ltd Denmark Europe Scandinavia Funny Village Inspiring Witty Feel-Good Happiness Thought-Provoking Socialism Denmark History
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Critic reviews

"A lovely mix of English sensibility and Danish pragmatism. Helen seems to have understood more about the Danish character than I have! My only worry is that it will make everyone want to have a go and my holiday home area will get overcrowded." (Sandi Toksvig)

"Russell is possessed of a razor-sharp wit and a winning self-deprecation - two of the things that make this book such a delight." (The Independent)
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I am shocked by how much I loved this book. It's the sort of cultural exploration I love. The author presented the facts about Denmark - how amazingly happy it is as a coubtry, made some hypothesis about why this was and then went to test those ideas, usually ending in a very entertaining and insightful anecdote. Really, really good.

The narrator did just want narrators should in this sort of book, just made me feel I was listening directly to the author tell her stories.

BRILLIANT

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Loved this book and listened to it all in a couple of long early morning car journeys without getting even slightly bored (normally I need to listen to music and stop over at services to keep myself awake). Great narration, and friendly, personal story telling - it felt like a good friend was telling me of her experiences. Fascinating subject matter and very thought provoking about how the Danes are so happy, with lots of sensible achievable advice about how you can emulate that.

Made me want to move to Denmark

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I was curious about the happiest people title the Danes have earnt and thoroughly enjoyed hearing about their lifestyle choices and traditions. For anyone thinking about moving there this is a good book to monitor how you feel about the Danish approach to life. Hope to holiday there one day and now feel I will understand things a little more and get closer to the essence of the country.

Interesting and informative

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excellent book well narrated enjoyable was sad when it was finished will listen again .

brilliant

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What did you like best about this story?

The author's reference to Lego Man, instead of his name.

Any additional comments?

This is an eye-opening account of a woman and her family moving to Denmark. Russell goes into everything, and I mean everything, producing a detailed diary, cross culture comparison between her old life in the UK and her new one in Jutland. It is an emotional journey as well as a journalistic testimony as she tells the readers how she settles, becomes pregnant, and embraces nearly every aspect of the new and vibrant culture. Her endearing portrayal of her husband’s (Lego Man) own journey adds another layer to her observations.
It is an entertaining read, but it is also an education in itself. I had to stop reading several times to look up something she experienced because it was fascinating. It was also very personal, and being let into someone’s life, for a year, and hearing about the drastic changes, failures, and Faux pas, made the book feel personal to the reader; it was like getting a letter from an old friend each time I picked up the book.

A brilliant exploration of cultural differences

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