Reviews

The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country by Helen Russell

julan1027's review against another edition

5.0

A very funny, while still thought provoking and informative, book about a British couple who moves to Denmark for a year. Helen Russell was used to a very busy career with a monthly publication and she finally has time to devote to her writing. Her husband, Lego-man, has taken a job with Lego. Together they explore and discover and try to uncover just what makes Denmark one of the happiest countries in the world.

I found myself laughing out loud - frequently, sharing what I was hearing with others - constantly, and wanting this book to go on much longer than it did.

I listened to the book in audio form and it was presented beautifully.

lpn32's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting to hear about another culture and the differences. I especially liked that the author went back and added a section at the end to address some of the things lacking in the initial publication. It definitely tempted me to live more Danishly.

cpope9's review against another edition

4.0

If only...

This was a great escape during covid times.

ashleywinchester's review against another edition

5.0

Really wanted to hate this, because Helen Russell is basically doing what I do, but better and a few years earlier. Instead, I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this read about Russell’s extremely relatable experience moving to Denmark, and found myself sharing bits and pieces of it, fact check style, with the Danes in my life, and lol’ing regularly.

You can get a lot of things wrong, writing about the trendy topic of Danish happiness (here’s looking at you, Patrick Kingsley’s “How to be Danish”) but Helen Russell walks the walk and talks the talk (well, kind of - the struggle is real with learning Danish) and the outcome is this funny, educational memoir of an English-speaking journalist’s experience moving here to Denmark.

5 stars, would recommend!

anaoaxaca's review against another edition

2.0

The author is smug and ignorant. I wanted to stop reading because I could barely tolerate her and her writing. However, the details about Danish culture were interesting. I should have just read a travel book which would have had less British indignation and implied superiority.

myramirza's review against another edition

funny informative lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

5.0

lilac_rose's review against another edition

funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

vagabond_mari's review against another edition

5.0

Цікаво і легко написано. Швидко читається. Сподобалась чітка структура, з поділом на місяці з розкриттям різних аспектів данського життя і відкриттями, які робила авторка того чи іншого місяця чи сезону.
Інформація про данців подана на контрасті з британскістю авторки і цей контраст гарно підсвічує певні моменти (хоча часом реакції авторки мені здавались трохи перебільшеними). Особистий досвід підкріплений чи протиставлений думці данських експертів, з якими зустрічалася авторка, і доповнюється даними досліджень. В мене це викликало довіру до написаного і подяку авторці за пророблену роботу, а не вибір легкого шляху - просто написати про свій досвід. Тому ще одне означення книжки - інформативна.

kellishinn's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.75

k8so's review against another edition

funny informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

Not bad. Little preachy.