• The Little Book of Lykke

  • Secrets of the World’s Happiest People
  • By: Meik Wiking
  • Narrated by: Meik Wiking
  • Length: 4 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (297 ratings)

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The Little Book of Lykke  By  cover art

The Little Book of Lykke

By: Meik Wiking
Narrated by: Meik Wiking
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Publisher's summary

Join the happiness revolution! The author of the New York Times best seller The Little Book of Hygge offers more inspiration and suggestions for achieving greater happiness by practicing Lykke (LOO-ka) - pursuing and finding the good that exists in the world around us every day.

While the Danes are the happiest people on the planet, happiness isn't exclusively Danish; cultures around the world have their own unique approaches to leading a contented, fulfilled life. For his work at the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Meik Wiking travels the globe from Dubai to Finland, Rio de Janeiro to Bhutan, South Korea to the United States, to discover the secrets of the very happiest people.

In The Little Book of Lykke, Meik identifies the six factors that explain the majority of differences in happiness across the world - togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness - and explores what actions we can take to become happier. As he reveals, we can deepen our blissfulness and contentment with little adjustments in our behavior, whether it's eating like the French (sitting around a table and savoring our time) or dancing the tango like Argentinians in Buenos Aires.

With his trademark warmth and wit, Meik explores the happiness gap for parents, how much money you really need to buy happiness, how we can be healthier without having to go to the gym, how we can learn to build trust and collaboration, how we can help ourselves by helping others, and why our expectations often outweigh our reality. Weaving together original research and personal anecdotes, The Little Book of Lykke is a global road map for joy that offers a new approach to achieving everyday happiness that not only improves our own lives but helps us build better communities and a better world.

©2017 Meik Wiking (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about The Little Book of Lykke

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Lost in Translation

This is my third listen to a book describing what makes Danes the happiest culture in the world, and how to bring more happiness into my own life by emulating some of their habits. I made it about halfway through this book before giving up.

The author presents some sociological studies to identify factors contributing to personal happiness in cultures that rank high in happiness throughout the world. He then discusses what Danes do to incorporate or increase these factors in their lives, while suggesting ways that anyone else could also accomplish this. To say he sounds smug would be an understatement, but he sounds smug.

I did the tiniest bit of research and learned that Denmark has a mostly homogeneous population of almost 6 million, governed by an, apparently, responsible socialist government that provides many benefits equally to its citizens. Danes receive many weeks of paid leave from their jobs, a year of paid parental leave, free health care, a free college education, etc. They have a high tax rate, but it sounds like they get something of value for their money.

I suspect that this is the source of Danish happiness rather than things like the shared-community-tool scheme the author suggests as a way to build community, or walking under the trees in spring to enjoy stimulating your senses. If you live in a society that functions like Denmark's, you may find the author's suggestions useful for enhancing your level of happiness.

If you live in a markedly different type of society, you may find these suggestions don't translate well. That was my experience. This book was useful in helping me see just how much social conditions can affect personal happiness and how conditions I had previously thought of as strictly personal are in fact due in large part to social structure.

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31 people found this helpful

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Highly recommended !

Are you in search of a more meaningful life? If so, this book will be a great addition to your library and will give you some great insights about improving your quality of life. I would give 10 stars ,if I could.

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8 people found this helpful

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A great place to start.

I really enjoyed this book, and it has me questioning some deeply held assumptions I didn't realize I had made. If by the end of this book you are not insipred to make some changes in your life to get you closer to your happines, nothing will. Fantastic narration, even better subject matter. I will be listening to this one many more times.

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6 people found this helpful

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So good! I’m going to listen to it again right away!

I just finished this book, and I’m going to start it over, right after I finish this review. This book was everything I had hoped it would be. I am often so disenchanted with the world around me. I live in a liberal (thank goodness) area of the USA. I’m living through the Trump administration and witnessing corruption, racial inequality, police violence and all the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic unfold on a daily basis. It’s depressing AF out there, dude. I don’t understand how so many people out there are making our world worse, on purpose. The lack of empathy crushes my soul. This book is a beacon of hope in a scary world. Reminding me that there are others out there like us who understand that we succeed when everyone succeeds. That the world works better and we are all happier when everyone’s needs are met. Even just learning that a place like the happiness institute exists gives me so much hope in the world. Thank you Meik Wiking for restoring my faith in humanity and reminding me that I have the power to enact positive change in my little corner of the world. Hopefully someday we will get it together in this country enough to flatten the curve so I can not only leave my house again, but also travel to Scandinavian countries and experience this culture first hand. I’ve been researching places to relocate to for a few months and it’s pretty clear that you guys are doing so much right over there. I’m officially a fan! Thank you! ❤️

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5 people found this helpful

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I felt Happier

I felt happier reading this book. I had seen some critiques (few) about the author’s over indulgence in Danish culture, but honestly this is what makes the book so interesting to me. He’s not providing theoretical data on happiness, he’s sharing how the Danes And people all over the globe make the world happier. He tells the reader what values and ways of being get in the way and also was created more happiness. I loved the Happiness tips at the end of each chapter - very doable things to increase personal happiness and to spread happiness. It’s a great little book. I read it after having read The Little Book of Hygge. I believe they go together nicely. I will go back to both of them more than once just to absorb all of the great knowledge.

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3 people found this helpful

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Fantastic Book

Sometimes we all just need to be reminded happiness is never out of our reach.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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beautiful

If you are reading reviews to see if it is worth buying, buy it. It is beautiful and heartfelt and brings a sense of warmth and love without shame. It is motivational in it's words and calls for action towards happiness. Tackling many subjects such as community and mental illness, it truly does come from the hand of a true researcher who has passion for what he speaks. The reading was also fantastic and encapsulating, it felt like you were sitting down for a coffee and talk with the author. I loved every second.

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2 people found this helpful

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Just what I needed

I have been feeling disconnected lately and this book was just what the doctor ordered. It is humorous, optimistic, and gives examples of how to bring joy and happiness into your own life and community. I’m having my husband listen to it next. This is a wonderful and unexpected bright spot in my month.

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1 person found this helpful

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I liked it

Not my favorite, but very good. Similar to his book on Hygge. Excellent author doing excellent work. Would love to meet him.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Great for Adults

I liked it but I can't share with kids since there are swear words in it.

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1 person found this helpful