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by Robin Sharma
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The Little Book of Lykke summary
The Danish Search for the World's Happiest People
20 mins
Brief summary
The Little Book of Lykke by Meik Wiking is a guide to finding happiness using the principles of hygge, the Danish concept of coziness and contentment. It explores the factors that contribute to happiness and provides practical tips for living a more joyful life.
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The Little Book of Lykke
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
A sense of community and spending time with others, rather than online, is essential to happiness.
Every once in a while, a list comes out that ranks the happiest places in the world, and there’s one place that often takes the top spot: Denmark. But what is it that makes the Danes so happy?
According to the United Nations’ World Happiness Report, one of the determining factors is a country’s sense of community and that people are united around a common good. When people feel like their fellow citizens have each other’s back, it allows them to rest easier and happier, especially in difficult times.
In 2014, a Gallup poll showed that nine out of ten Danes are happy to pay taxes, even though the average national income tax rate is 45 percent. And for those who earn over €61,500, the rate is a whopping 52 percent.
The reason Danes are so willing to pay is because it’s understood that the money is going toward the common good. It acts as a safety net; all taxpayers know they’ll be taken care of if they get sick or lose their job.
Along these lines, Denmark was the first nation to establish bofælleskaber, which translates to “living communities” in English. These are voluntary cohousing arrangements where residents and families establish their own self-sufficient neighborhoods.
The first bofællesskab appeared after writer Bodil Graae wrote an influential editorial, entitled “Children Should Have 100 Parents.” The article was a glowing endorsement of communal living, and it inspired a group of families to create Sætterdammen, a community in Hillerød, just north of Copenhagen.
Fast-forward to 2017, and around 50,000 Danes have joined cohousing communities, with hundreds more forming similar arrangements around Europe and America.
However, while a sense of community is shown to increase happiness, there’s also happiness to be found in disconnecting from the virtual world.
In 2015, the Happiness Research Institute conducted an experiment that monitored participants as they stayed away from Facebook for a full week. Sure enough, those taking part reported a reduction in loneliness and significantly higher levels of satisfaction in life.
Of course, stepping away from Facebook is easier said than done. But you can improve your chances of successfully cutting back by getting your friends and family on board with your plan. By joining forces and agreeing upon tech-free periods during specific days of the week or certain hours of the day, you’ll ensure that those around you will also be keeping their gadgets out of sight and getting the most out of life – together.
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What is The Little Book of Lykke about?
The Little Book of Lykke (2017) is a treasure trove of useful tips and Scandinavian secrets for how to live a happier life. It reveals many fundamental facts that contribute to human happiness and shows how Danish society has fused them into everyday life. Author Meik Wiking also demonstrates how you can take these lessons and start incorporating them into your life, no matter where you live.
The Little Book of Lykke Review
The Little Book of Lykke (2017) by Meik Wiking is a delightful exploration of what makes people happy and how we can create more happiness in our lives. Here are three reasons why this book is worth reading:
- With its well-researched insights and thought-provoking anecdotes, it offers practical tips for cultivating happiness in our daily lives.
- By examining different aspects of happiness, such as community, togetherness, and gratitude, it provides a holistic approach to achieving a more fulfilling life.
- Through its warm and accessible writing style, the book manages to make complex topics easy to understand, ensuring an enjoyable and enriching reading experience.
Best quote from The Little Book of Lykke
Happiness is good for your wallet: the Add Health Data, a large US sample of representative individuals, found that an individuals happiness when theyre young predicts future income, regardless of other factors.
—Meik Wiking
Who should read The Little Book of Lykke?
- Anyone who’d like to have more happiness in their life
- Travelers curious about Scandinavian life
- People interested in the science behind happiness
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The Little Book of Lykke FAQs
What is the main message of The Little Book of Lykke?
The main message of The Little Book of Lykke is to find happiness by embracing the principles of hygge and living a balanced life.
How long does it take to read The Little Book of Lykke?
The reading time for The Little Book of Lykke varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Little Book of Lykke a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Little Book of Lykke is worth reading to learn how to cultivate happiness and well-being through simple practices and insights about happiness from around the world.
Who is the author of The Little Book of Lykke?
The author of The Little Book of Lykke is Meik Wiking.
What to read after The Little Book of Lykke?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Little Book of Lykke, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Almost Nearly Perfect People by Michael Booth
- The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
- The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
- Meaningful by Bernadette Jiwa
- Manifest by Roxie Nafousi
- Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
- Focus by Daniel Goleman
- The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
- Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- Get Better at Anything by Scott H. Young