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  • The Year of Living Danishly

  • Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
  • By: Helen Russell
  • Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
  • Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (3,211 ratings)

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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
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: 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)

What listeners say about The Year of Living Danishly

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable!

I can’t even remember how I happened upon this book. Probably a ‘you might like...’ recommendation from Audible. I’m so happy for whatever fortuitous algorithm made me click and purchase though.

I’m much older than Helen, and created the next generation almost three decades ago, but as someone who moved to a wild and windswept Scottish island four years ago I found there were a few comparisons (without the language barrier... although sometimes a ‘Ferrylouper’ translator might come in handy here too)

It’s beautifully written. Humorous and respectful in one go. I felt ‘invested’ in Helen’s progress/challenges, grinning like a chimp for much of the book and very definitely laughing out loud lots.

The narrator was also wonderful. Clear and engaging, and evident that she was enjoying bringing words to life.

I’m now off to make some more purchases of Helen’s work to listen to while I work.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

a little fact heavy! less story more article

very informative. written by a journalist (the sheer volume of facts listed in the prose show as much!) but not a STORY which is what I wanted, to get immersed in Danish life through. I wanted to be whisked away and discover another culture through a character! this is not that, even though it is very interesting and a good read!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

When can I go?

Going into this book I had limited knowledge of Denmark having only spent a week there in 1993 when it was selected as the destination of my school's Primary 7 trip (yes we went to Legoland).

This book has me wishing I had grown up in Denmark. There were negatives to living there just as there are anywhere sure but, on the whole they seem to have a better, more reliable system than here in the (not so) United Kingdom.

The author tells us of the year she spent in Denmark when her husband (known affectionately as Lego Man) got a job with Lego. You can tell the author is a journalist because this book is stuffed full of statistical information about every possible aspect of living in Denmark through the eyes of a very curious outsider. It was all interesting and and didn't feel infodump like I might add. I laughed through quite a lot of this (in a positive way) and I don't laugh naturally at books and I almost happy cried at a bit at the end too but I also didn't want it to end either.

Told in a way that's easy to understand and leaves you wanting to find out more this is a book I'd recommend to anyone although interests in travel, Lego and ways of life in foreign countries are all optional.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Peak into Danish life

I enjoyed this audio book. Not one to listen to with kids as language can be a bit 'adult' at times.

Great observations and comedy at times.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable listen.

What made the experience of listening to The Year of Living Danishly the most enjoyable?

Not a subject I would normally listen to, it was a very pleasant surprise.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Year of Living Danishly?

It was generally a very entertaining book.

What about Lucy Price-Lewis’s performance did you like?

Well performed, made the book a great listen.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it was a drop in drop out listen.

Any additional comments?

a very interesting view of Denmark well put across.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I want some hygge!

I loved this book, it only gets 4 out of 5 because I would have liked it to have been longer and more in depth, but what was there read as an interesting and entertaining feature article - unsurprising considering the author is primarily a journalist. It's definitely made me long for a change of scene to a simpler place (with better style and interior design!)

The performance was great too, I didn't realise it wasn't the author, and the narrator was lovely. Recommended.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Loved the concept

Loved the concept and writing, thought the story could have been more entertaining. However would recommend, a great read overall

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous

This is not the sort of book I would normally listen to but it was witty & insightful & I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had laugh out loud moments & really enjoyed learning about different cultures, highly recommended

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Definitely recommend

Very entertaining and interesting. It was also nice to have a well narrated audio book for once.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

loved this book

this book gives a really interesting and quirky look into a different way of living.

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