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The Year of Living Danishly
- Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
- Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 09-06-15
- Language: English
- Publisher: Audible Studios
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: £14.99
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In all the writing and reporting KJ Dell'Antonia has done on families over the years, one topic keeps coming up again and again: parents crave a greater sense of happiness in their daily lives. In this optimistic, solution-packed book, KJ asks: How can we change our family life so that it is full of the joy we'd always hoped for? Drawing from the latest research and interviews with families, KJ discovers that it's possible to do more by doing less, and make our family life a refuge and pleasure, rather than another stress point in a hectic day.
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.
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- melisa
- 04-11-15
Completely fascinating and bonkers
To start with the overly 'arch' reading got on my nerves - read too fast and with too much comic emphasis - it was all a bit 'Bridget Jones' and over-egged. However, I got used to it as the narrative was so compelling. Just incredibly fascinating story of burned-out London couple's relocation to Denmark. Despite the fact she is a journalist, it comes across as pseudo researched, and a bit cliched, everything taken at face value, defined and tied up neatly - assumptions and massive conclusions seem to have been built on minimal experience/research about 'how things are' - but non-the-less incredibly interesting as a memoir of a first year in the land of 'Cosy'.
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 18-09-15
Let's all be Danish!
Loved this book, funny and a really good insight into Denmark. I found it really interesting as I'm in the welfare to work industry. I think ill book a weekend to Copenhagen now.....
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Steve K
- Liverpool
- 04-11-15
Enjoyable
I really have no interest in Denmark and I've never heard of the author but something told me to give it a go and I was glad I did. Always looked forward to getting time to listen to it again.
16 of 18 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alathia
- 23-01-16
BRILLIANT
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.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kaggy
- United Kingdom
- 04-12-15
A likeable and possibly true Nordic myth
I think the origin of this book is a series of Sunday newspaper magazine articles and it certainly comes across that way. This is a cosy and fairly lightweight insight into Danish society and an attempt to explain why everybody there is just so darned happy. Some of the reasons are fairly obvious. Denmark is a wealthy nation where the citizens enjoy job security, a great health service and abundant cheap childcare. If you like fatty pastries and joining clubs you will be in heaven. Some of the theories I found a bit less convincing. For example vegetarians are 'scientifically' proven to be miserable so as a nation of prolific eat eaters Danes are bound to be jumping for joy. I think it largely boils down to positive self-promotion but the idea of a nation of happy and trusting people is certainly an attractive one in these grim times. The author does overdo the Bridget Jones traits but she does raise some doubts and questions, so this doesn’t come over too much like an advert for the Danish tourist board. The reader was fine, and if she mispronounced some Danish words, I couldn't care less.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- shopafrolic
- Hampshire, England
- 24-09-15
An unexpected pleasure
If you could sum up The Year of Living Danishly in three words, what would they be?
humorous
interesting
comforting
What did you like best about this story?
The book is filled with statistics and information that really affirms some basic human instincts. It's interesting but balances the facts and figures with the very amusing narrative of the couples trials and tribulations as they settle into their new life in Denmark.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
I found the chapter discovering new clubs and organisations really laugh out loud funny.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
The book is thought provoking. I recommended it to a an audible member friend, I knew she'd love it, but waiting for her to finish has been really hard, not being able to quote bits of the book so as not to spoil it for her, but there are so many issues that crop up in day to day conversation where you can refer to it and open up debate. It's written with lots of humour too. Although the author is a decade younger than me, there were lots of references to her childhood that I related to, and she made them quite hilarious.
Any additional comments?
I am ordinarily a fiction only kinda gal. I'm not sure what drew me to this book but I'm so glad I read it. It may well lead me to try a few more in this genre.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christine Williamson
- 23-01-16
Funny and Inspirational
This is a great story; very entertaining with accurate reflections on everyday modern life. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in travel or self help.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- reddfish
- 09-06-15
Fantastic, uplifting and funny book. A ++
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
A great listen for a long car journey. It made me reflect a lot on my own life and where I could make changes. By taking each month at a time it was easy to dip in and out of, and it was nice to experience another country through all 12 seasons.
What did you like best about this story?
The personal style of the audiobook made me really connect with the author. I identified with her reasons for making a life change and embracing new opportunities. The ending was so warm and happy that it really made me cry!
Have you listened to any of Lucy Price-Lewis’s other performances? How does this one compare?
N/A
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The final chapter and epilogue is really heartwarming and a fantastic ending.
Any additional comments?
Highly recommended if you are interested in Denmark, happiness, or making a few changes in your own life.
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 30-09-15
Made me want to move to Denmark
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.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Barcelonakink
- New York
- 09-06-16
I found myself wincing every couple of minutes
Is there anything you would change about this book?
I bought this book to unearth some facts about Danish happiness. Facts there are, gleaned from Google, and this did save me a lot of time looking for myself. However the techniques used by Helen Russell in order to make the story humorous are excruciating. From the very beginning she refers to her husband as 'Legoman', which was mildly amusing the first couple of times, but grates from them onward, and the term is used relentlessly until the very end, groan. It also seems incredulous that the writer who wants to 'uncover the secrets of the world's happiest nation' doesn't even think about learning Danish until her third month in the country, and then only because somebody suggests that it might be a good idea! The author borrows all of the staple literary tricks of this genre, the most common being exaggeration for dramatic effect, and caricature. However it feels somewhat forced, and comes across as rather unconvincing, and annoyingly self conscious. Imagine that Bridget Jones has been sent to a small town in Jutland to write about her experiences a la Bill Bryson and you get the idea. However the author falls way short of the comic genius of Helen Fielding and doesn't come anywhere near the dazzling narrative of Bill Bryson. The result an awkward and somewhat annoying book. If your intention is to 'uncover the secrets of the world's happiest nation' I would recommend the far more informative, insightful and well written 'The Cozy Life: Rediscover the Joy of the Simple Things Through the Danish Concept of Hygge' by Pia Edberg.
Has The Year of Living Danishly put you off other books in this genre?
It has made me a little more wary of books of this genre.
What does Lucy Price-Lewis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
A bubbly voice
Was The Year of Living Danishly worth the listening time?
Not really, I would have rather learned the interesting stuff and skipped the self-conscious, and not particularly funny observations from the author's 'journey'.
Any additional comments?
If you are genuinely interested in what makes Danish people happy, this is not your book. There are other better ones out there. In fact, the author seems to mock the Danish way of life more than trying to understand it.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- AR
- 17-02-17
Entertaining but Brittle
Pleasant but superficial account of the author's first year in Denmark as a British expat. As a personal history, the book is glib, with very little attempt at plumbing depths of feeling or experience. The author writes in a bright, brittle style that may have been what she was used to as a staffer for a slick London magazine. She's also not as witty as she thinks she is. As an impersonal, journalistic account of contemporary Danish society, the book is entertaining, but slanted heavily towards the rosy. Russell doesn't bother to examine the negative implications of some of the national characteristics she describes, such as the pressure to conform and the dread of conflict. If you want a balanced look at Denmark and the Danes, you'll have to go elsewhere. Lucy Price-Lewis does a fine job with the narration.
85 of 89 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jennifer Soudagar
- 13-11-15
Interesting content. Unfortunate delivery.
Where does The Year of Living Danishly rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
This book ranks right in the middle. Time well spent and very interesting, but not touching or miraculous or life changing.
How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?
I do wish that the author had read this book herself for the audiobook as there was a lot of subtle humor and personal musings that were totally lost in Lucy Price-Lewis's delivery. There were quite a few very funny moments - big and small - that managed to fall noticeably short. Knowing nothing about her beyond reading this book, I imagine that the author is very sharp-witted, fun and bold. This was a story about her personal life and it was unfortunate that it somehow felt flat and impersonal.
What three words best describe Lucy Price-Lewis’s performance?
Not well matched, too proper, lacking a flair for subtle humor.
Any additional comments?
I truly enjoyed taking a step into Danish culture and felt like the author hit every mark - from pastries to neighbors to politics to parenting. Her professional writing experience offered an unexpected quality of perspective and observation. I came to appreciate that her story wasn't just a meandering "year in the life", but followed a rather diligent and purposeful (but still lighthearted) path.
The concept of "hygge" (even if it was pronounced incorrectly) is a major theme that stands out as one of the only things I have any hope of embracing or emulating in my own life. I hope to do so though as it seems to be a wonderful thing! Unfortunately, most of the social norms and programs described could never exist outside of such a small and unique country. There is just no comparing Denmark to my fast-paced country suburb of New York City and I tried hard not to let the stark differences in maternity leave, work days, education and bakery offerings depress me.
A worthwhile read nonetheless!
97 of 102 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 20-08-15
Very Enjoyable
What made the experience of listening to The Year of Living Danishly the most enjoyable?
As an expat in Denmark myself, it was both interesting and entertaining to hear from another expat's perspective. I really like hearing the facts and figures to boost her anecdotal observations. I liked how open and honest she is about her life and her experience. I laughed. I cried. It was a good listen.
I'd recommend it, and have, to anyone who wants to know more about Denmark, or just the expate experience in general.
What aspect of Lucy Price-Lewis’s performance would you have changed?
Lucy Price-Lewis had a very pleasant voice, but her Danish pronunciation was almost unintelligible.
31 of 33 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lauren
- 23-03-17
Loved it
Great story. Have been looking for someone to explain Scandinavian culture and she did it hilariously. Great insight into the Danes as well as what makes them so happy (and shines a spotlight into why Americans and Brits are not as happy). I laughed out loud repeatedly at her Brit wit. Liked that the book was organized into different topics each month. She made it very informative while keeping it light and very fun. Was ready to move to Denmark after the first chapters. Don't want this book to ever end. Wish she would do the same treatment/living experiment with other countries too. Only downside, the narrator. She blasts through the text so quickly that she does blow through many of the jokes, ruining the timing, as mentioned by other reviewers. Needs a different narrator. Could be more fun to read in print so you can pace it yourself. But don't miss this book!
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Alison S.
- 13-03-17
Mediocre at best. Reads like a first year university student's paper
It reads like a first year university paper with a bit of humor and lots of stats. She is very judgmental but tries to cover it up with support of constant references-just like a new university student learning how to write. I thought it was ironic that the main intention of the book is to figure out how the Danish are the world's happiest people when one of her references, which she shares only 1/2 way through, is that the Danish on the whole take more antidepressants than any other European country. Other than a few humorous stories here and there, don't waste your time. I will not be reading any of her other books after this one.
49 of 57 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Brigham
- 23-02-16
A Surprising Little Nugget of Awesome
I'm impressed with this book for many reasons. The author was relateable and her situation was epathtically lamentable. In the end, this is upper-class writing.
As non-fiction goes, an author's voice is often dull and mechanical, unless you are Helen Russell. She was witty, glib, and completely normal from start to finish. As I do, she assigned nicknames to most of those she interacted with. Examples include "Judgy Face" or "Lego Man."
Her research was neither tediously academic nor jeuvenile. The majority of her research is based on interviews, jotted notes, and humerous internal monologue.
From start to finish the reader loves the story woven around her main goal to identify what makes Danes so happy. The project is broken up into 12 months, with each month ending in a summary of her findings. The best of her observations, interviews, and internet research are highlighted throughout. The reader stands to learn more about rural Danish life and tradition than you thought possible. Certainly more than you previously thought interesting.
In summary, well done Helen. Please write more so I can read all of your work.
20 of 23 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Russell
- 06-10-17
Danish Destination Delights
Excuse the alliteration but I am feeling whimsical and after listening to this book and am now seriously considering including Copenhagen on my next vacation to Europe. Bob Hope said that he owed his long life to always gravitating towards a group of people heartily laughing rather than to the crowd that was grumbling. Maybe spending a few days in Denmark will be good for the soul, though I suspect the Danes may not be more bubbly and openly friendly than other cultures, they are just more secure and well cared for.
Helen Russell and Lucy Price-Lewis team up to give us an insight into a successful compassionate social model that we should all aspire towards. We are given a month by month account from an outsider who is curious about the source of the country's happiness. At the end of the month Helen tells us what she has learned and links that to worldwide research findings.
Not everything is perfect in the state of Denmark, but there is enough there to be envious. And if I do visit and the Danes don't open up to me in my brief encounters, Helen has me wondering about how tasty all those baked goods really are. After all there must have been good reason to name one of them a danish.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Arpi Mardirossian
- 14-03-16
A detailing of why Denmark is great
I expected the author to be mindful of the fact that a very small percentage of her readers either live or have the option to live in Denmark! She is really not. There are no general learnings/approaches that can be applied anywhere. This is simply a Denmark fan going over in detail why Denmark is her Utopia.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Georgie Fear, RD
- 24-05-17
Just loved it!
Witty, insightful, and hilariously charming. As delightful as nonfiction gets. The author Helen Russell describes her personal adventures in a year of living in Denmark, including personal stories interwoven with expert interviews analyzing WHY the Danish are so consistently happy, is it possible for foreigners to achieve the same mindset, and how can the rest of global humanity adopt aspects of Danish living without uprooting to the tiny, cold pastry paradise. As a reader, I couldn't get enough. As a nonfiction author myself, I am inspired by a great example.
Side note: Her other book Leap Year is equally lovely.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Crystal
- 22-01-16
Fun book, an audio vacation
This is a great fun book. The narration is great. It is like a vacation in an audiobook. I just loved curling up to it with a hot cup of tea.
9 of 11 people found this review helpful