One of the things I love is hearing people from other countries and cultures talk about Denmark – my small, but lovely country. The different opinions, the general assumptions and the (mainly) nice things people say make me happy, make me laugh and they make me proud. I knew, I had to read Patrick Kingsley’s book – if for no other reason than to see how much I could recognize.

Unfortunately (for me), I know less about Denmark than he does and I actually find that kind of embarrassing. But I don’t watch Danish TV, I know nothing about Danish architecture and my knowledge about Noma? Let’s not even go there! In the end, I actually learned a whole lot about my country by reading a book about it written by a British guy – I would never have guessed that in a million years!

Patrick Kingsley is a great writer and even though the book is short, it contains so much information. It is funny, interesting and it showed me a country that I can (and am) very proud to be living in. If you have any interest in reading about Denmark, this is the book to go for! ( )

In spring 2012, Kingsley spent a month travelling around Denmark, observing and interviewing people to produce this sketch that is an insightful examination into contemporary Danish life and culture which tries to get to the heart of the claim in many surveys that Denmark is the happiest country to live in.
For all the comfort and tolerance that he found, most notably expressed in the concept “hygge” (roughly translated as friendship and cosiness), Kingsley found some dissent. Some were of the opinion that this very comfort now meant a lack of new exploration in design and architecture and a lack of understanding of other viewpoints. Others, especially those born in Denmark to immigrant parents or who had moved to the country and been resident for many years, found a growing intolerance of their presence and difficulties in being accepted into Danish life.
It would appear that not all in Denmark would view it as the happiest country.