9 Hygge Books to Keep You Cozy All Winter

We live in a fast-paced, frantic, frenetic, and overwhelming world. People are constantly searching for an antidote to help make their lives more meaningful, slower, and happier. With lifestyle trends popping up everywhere (hello, minimalism), we may have finally stumbled upon one that everyone can agree is beneficial and easily adaptable into our daily lives.

Hygge (pronounce Hoo-ga) refers to the Danish way of life that places emphasis on comfort, coziness, and relaxation. Most Nordic countries exhibit extremely high levels of happiness, but hygge is what makes Denmark rank highest among the others.

The word "hygge" originates from a word meaning "embrace" and can be thought of as being hugged by life. The Winter months are a perfect time to adopt this enjoyable and pleasurable way of life. In order to fully understand the hygge movement, here are some books that explore all facets of this cozy, relaxing, and uplifting lifestyle.

01
How to Hygge: The Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life by Signe Johansen

How to Hygge: The Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life by Signe Johansen

How to Hygge by chef and author Signe Johansen is an illustrated how-to guide to hygge. This book is jam-packed with recipes, simple tips, and breath-taking interior shots. You will, quite literally, want to curl up inside this book. Signe Johansen is a writer and cook who grew up in Norway and currently lives in London. Her work has been featured in The Times, Sunday Times, and Marie Claire.

02
Hygge: A Danish Concept of Cosy and Simple Living by Noah Nielsen

Hygge: A Danish Concept of Cosy and Simple Living by Noah Nielsen

Noah Nielsen grew up in Denmark and then moved to New York City to study interior design. It was during that time in the hectic hustle of the Big Apple that he discovered the importance of hygge. Hygge: A Danish Concept of Cosy and Simple Living helps readers familiarize themselves with the concept and put it into real-life action.

03
The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country by Helen Russell

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

The Year of Living Danishly takes a more "day in the life" approach to hygge. When British journalist and former editor of Marie Claire UK Helen Russell found herself unmoored in life, she decided to pick up and move to rural Jutland, a place known for being the "happiest place on earth." Russell set about answering the question "Why?" and documenting her hygge experiences along the way.

04
The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life by Anu Partanen

The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life by Anu Partanen

Journalist Anu Partanen truly wants people to experience the happiness that she felt growing up in Finland. After moving to America in 2008, Partanen quickly went from a "confident, successful professional to a wary, self-doubting mess." She became determined to understand why life in the United States differed so greatly from her upbringing in Finland.

In The Nordic Theory of Everything, Partanen compares and contrasts life in the United States with life in the Nordic region, focusing on four key relationships — parents and children, men and women, employees and employers, and government and citizens.

Less about hygge and more about the Nordic way of life, this book provides a more in-depth look at our cultural differences and what changes we can make to live a more joyful, peaceful, and enriching life.

05
The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking

The Little Book of Hygge is the "definitive guide to the Danish philosophy of comfort, togetherness, and well-being."

Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, says he is committed to finding out what makes people happy. He has concluded that hygge is the magic ingredient that makes Danes the happiest nation in the world. "Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience," Wiking explains. "It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe."

The Little Book of Hygge is a great introduction into the Danish way of life and offers plenty of tips for people just starting out on their hygge adventure. Read through this hygge "to-do list" and you will see that it just might be the greatest self-help movement of all time.

Get comfy. Take a break. Be here now. Turn off the phones. Turn down the lights. Bring out the candles. Build relationships. Spend time with your tribe. Give yourself a break from the demands of healthy living. (Cake is most definitely hygge.) Live life today. Live in the moment.

06
The Year of Cozy: 125 Recipes, Crafts and Other Homemade Adventures by Adrianna Adarme

The Year of Cozy: 125 Recipes, Crafts and Other Homemade Adventures by Adrianna Adarme

From the author of the popular blog A Cozy Kitchen comes The Year of Cozy, a beautifully photographed book with all the recipes and projects you'll need for some cozy inspiration this holiday season — and all year long.

07
Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness by Marie Tourell Soderberg

Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness by Marie Tourell Soderberg

Danish actress and hygge aficionado Marie Tourell Soderberg has traveled across her home country in order to write the ultimate guide to cooking, decorating, and entertaining the hygge way: Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness. This book is full of uncomplicated steps to bring the happy, blissful elements of the hygge life to your doorstep and allow you to celebrate this newfound joy all year round.

08
The Cozy Life: Rediscover the Joy of the Simple Things Through the Danish Concept of Hygge by Pia Edberg

The Cozy Life: Rediscover the Joy of the Simple Things Through the Danish Concept of Hygge by Pia Edberg

Pia Edberg helps readers incorporate hygge into their everyday lives by providing simple, proven techniques to help discover the cozy moments of life. Edberg encourages readers to slow down and take life moment by moment.

The Cozy Life is filled with hand-drawn illustrations and helps guide readers toward a more enjoyable life filled with appreciation and gratitude for the little things.

09
Scandinavian Comfort Food: Embracing the Art of Hygge by Trine Hahnemann

Scandinavian Comfort Food: Embracing the Art of Hygge by Trine Hahnemann

Finally, a delicous and inspiring cookbook for the comfort-food-lover. Trine Hahnemann is an expert of Scandinavian cooking and loves nothing more than spending time in her kitchen cooking up comforting food in good company. Scandinavian Comfort Food is her collection of recipes that will warm you up and teach you to embrace the art of hygge, no matter where you live.