As soon as it hit September the skies started to weep; a miserable way to commence the changing of the seasons. The days are getting shorter and darker, and it's so very easy to get pulled back into the routine and stresses of school and work, the quieter and more relaxing holiday period disappearing into a distant memory. I for one actually prefer the colder seasons, but I too got dragged back into the rut of work and it sometimes can be hard to find enjoyable moments to look forward to. The Little Book of Lykke has been the perfect antidote for me these past few weeks; its sunny exterior and positive contents providing inspiring moments of happiness.
And Meik Wiking has done it again. With the follow-up to his super cosy and comforting The Little Book of Hygge, in which he details the secrets to the Danish way of living well, The Little Book of Lykke delves into his global search for happiness and things that have made a positive impact on the world. As the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute there isn't a better person to have undertaken this search, and he's compiled an admirable list of inspiring stats and case studies in his book.
The Little Book of Lykke is absolutely jam-packed with heartwarming stories of people bringing together communities and being kind, alongside statistics of impactful initiatives that have made a proven difference, and top tips with easy ways in which we can all contribute to a happier world. Meik has researched and written a book that is both inspiring and educational.
There are six pillars to Meik's research into happiness; togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust and kindness. For each of these he outlines which places in the world are getting it right and how, also providing personal examples of people making a difference. Their initiatives were often quite simple in nature but making a huge difference, so if you too want to attribute to a kinder and happier world, it really doesn't have to be very hard to start.
I was pleased to see my home country, the Netherlands, scoring well on many occasions but was also fascinated to learn that in some cases countries that seem wealthy, such as the US, because of the huge prosperity divide they actually have a much larger discrepancy between the country doing well and the people being happy. In Denmark average salaries may be lower and taxes may be exceptionally high, but because it's contributing to the well-being of all the people and the state, the citizens are much happier overall. Interesting, right?
After turning the final page I felt more positive than I had in ages as I have been so hugely stressed out over work and life, and I wanted to spread some of the kindness captured within its delightfully illustrated pages. This is a true beauty inside and out, and while less focused on cosy elements such as lighting candles and fleece blankets, it captures the same feeling of togetherness and positivity as The Little Book of Hygge, making it the perfect pick-me-up for the darker and colder days ahead.
Towards the end Meik asks his readers to share inspirations of happiness and kindness on social media with the hashtag #Look4Lykke. I shared The Book Fairies and Books on the Underground, initiatives that share endless bookish joy with the world, but let's not forget that The Little Book of Lykke itself is in itself the perfect example of something that can make a positive difference on our own well-being and the way we interact with others.
The Little Book of Lykke is published by Penguin Living and you can purchase your copy now from Foyles or your own preferred retailer.
Connect with the author:
Also make sure you pop by the other stops on the blog tour for more posts about The Little Book of Lykke!
As a special treat each blog tour stop also has its very own happiness tip, and here is mine:
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