Once upon a time ... -- Trust : I have trust in people -- Education : I have a place in society -- Freedom and independence : I am free to choose my own way in life -- Equal opportunity : I can become whomever I want -- Realistic expectations : I have realistic dreams -- Solidarity and respect for others : I feel better if you feel good -- Work-life balance : I want lots of "hygge" time -- Relationship to money : I'm happy with what I've got -- Modesty : I don't think I'm better than other people -- Gender equality : I feel free to choose my role.
Summary: Explores ten aspects of Danish life that afford them high levels of happiness and fulfillment, including trust, education, freedom, equal opportunities, realism, respect, work-life balance, relationship with money, modesty, and gender equality.
For decades Denmark has ranked at the top of the world's happiness surveys. How is it that these 5.6 million Danes are so content when they live in a country that is dark and cold nine months of the year and where income taxes are at almost 60 percent? At a time when talk across the Western world is focused on unemployment woes, government overreach, and anti-taxation lobbies, our Danish counterparts seem to breathe a healthier and fresher air. Interweaving anecdotes and research, Malene Rydahl explores how the values of trust, education, and a healthy work-life balance with purpose--to name just a few--contribute to a "happy" population. From eye-opening stories about open-air vegetable stands to babies safely left unattended while parents have coffee, to very generous paternity leave policies, Rydahl provides tips that we can all apply to our daily lives regardless of where we live.
"Originally published in French as Heureux comme un Danois : les 10 clés du bonheur."
Includes bibliographical references (pages [137]-144).
Once upon a time ... -- Trust : I have trust in people -- Education : I have a place in society -- Freedom and independence : I am free to choose my own way in life -- Equal opportunity : I can become whomever I want -- Realistic expectations : I have realistic dreams -- Solidarity and respect for others : I feel better if you feel good -- Work-life balance : I want lots of "hygge" time -- Relationship to money : I'm happy with what I've got -- Modesty : I don't think I'm better than other people -- Gender equality : I feel free to choose my role.
Explores ten aspects of Danish life that afford them high levels of happiness and fulfillment, including trust, education, freedom, equal opportunities, realism, respect, work-life balance, relationship with money, modesty, and gender equality.
Denmark is a cold, dark Scandinavian country that has some of the highest taxes in the world and is one of the 12 remaining monarchies in Europe. But before grabbing your pitchforks to liberate the Danish people, you might want to read Rydahl's thought-provoking explanation of why Denmark perennially ranks at the top of world happiness surveys. In this short read, Rydahl examines 10 reasons why she believes Danes lead happy lives. These include trust, education, work-life balance, and gender equality, and each is carefully explained with a combination of statistics, personal anecdotes, and examples from Danish culture. Rydahl takes care to point out that Denmark is not perfect and highlights some pitfalls of growing up Danish, including prolific alcohol use and fewer opportunities for gifted students. While it might initially feel boastful to some readers, Happy as a Dane is, at its core, an examination of what happiness truly means. This international bestseller is a conversation starter because it opens readers' minds to other cultures and prompts reflection.--Smith, Patricia Copyright 2016 Booklist
Author notes provided by Syndetics
Born in Denmark, Malene Rydahl is a writer, executive coach, and keynote speaker on happiness and well-being, named one the top 24 Women of the Year by the French news magazine L'Express, and appointed goodwill ambassador of Copenhagen. She is based in Paris.