Year of Living Danishly
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 childcare, education, food, and interior design to SAD, taxes, sexism and an unfortunate predilection for burning witches, The Year of Living Danishly is a 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.
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What Hacker News says
- "Year of living Danishly" [0] is this but for English -> Denmark.
Neighbours who knock on your door to explain you are putting the rubbish bin out wrongly in the street and it concerns them.
My sense of Denmark changed after reading this book, to one which included 'very high expectations of social conformity' which in some ways, matches Japan.
(ok. not this exactly because not primarily language focussed but there is topic drift in this thread)
[0] The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country - Helen Russell
- Although written from a us mother's experience I suspect there are echoes for many cultures. "My year of living Danishly" by Helen Russell (sans Child) covers much the same experiential situation for a British couple in Denmark for instance.
- > Automation isn't the problem, living is a culture incapable of valuing leisure time is what needs to change
Leave North America, it's a whole new world(TM)
I recently read "A Year of Living Danishly"[1] - an amazing account of two early-30s brits who move to Denmark and learn how life works there. After an adjustment period, they are floored, and I mean absolutely floored how good the work/life balance is. They are shocked their old life they loved can seem so horrible in comparison.
I asked my Danish friend about it, and he said "Yeah, I like living in a country that focuses on being happy rather than focusing on getting money."
[1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/1785780239/?tag=roadchoseme-20
