The Little Book of Lykke

The Little Book of Lykke Plot Summary

Introduction

I remember the moment clearly. Standing on a sun-drenched balcony in the Alps, sharing leftover pizza with friends, I exclaimed, "Is this happiness? I think so." Despite coming from different countries—Denmark, India, and the United States—we all felt that sharing food with friends while overlooking snow-covered mountains was pretty close to happiness. That simple moment revealed something profound: regardless of where we're born, what language we speak, or what culture shapes us, we share common denominators of happiness. This is what we explore in these pages—what happy people around the world have in common. Through years of research at the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, we've discovered that six factors explain most of the difference in happiness levels across countries: togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness. Each chapter explores one of these factors, uncovering happiness lessons from people worldwide. Like treasure hunters, we'll gather the keys to happiness buried around the globe, examining why these elements affect well-being and discovering ways to increase our own happiness. Together, we'll create a treasure map leading to a more joyful life—not just for ourselves, but for everyone around us.

Chapter 1: The Treasure Hunt: Searching for Global Happiness Lessons

'What are we holding on to, Sam?' 'That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for.' Like Tolkien's characters, we all need to see what is good in our world. My friend Rita grew up in Latvia during the Soviet era, a time of fear and mistrust when communities were shaped by suspicion and scarcity. As a child, Rita thought only three colors existed: black, grey, and brown. Her father decided to change that perspective by taking her on a treasure hunt around the city—to look for color, for beauty, and for the good that existed in their world. This is the intention of our journey together—to hunt for treasure, to pursue happiness, to find the good that exists in this world and bring it into the light. Books are wonderful idea-spreaders. After publishing my previous work on hygge, I received countless letters from readers who had incorporated these concepts of everyday happiness into their lives. One teacher, Sarah, wrote about introducing hygge into her classroom with fairy lights, shared snacks, and even a YouTube video of a log fire on the interactive whiteboard to create coziness. "I am trying to figure out how to measure the impact on the children's well-being," she wrote, "but I guess the relaxed, smiling faces are measure enough!" As CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, my job is to measure, understand, and generate happiness. My work has allowed me to speak with people from all corners of the earth—from Copenhagen mayors to Mexican street vendors, from Indian cab drivers to the Minister of Happiness in the United Arab Emirates. This experience has taught me that despite our different nationalities, we are first and foremost humans. The hopes of those in Copenhagen and Guadalajara, the dreams of those in New York, Delhi, and Dubai all point toward the same beacon: happiness. Denmark may often top lists of the world's happiest countries, but these rankings are based on averages. While Scandinavian countries do well in happiness rankings, neither Danes, Norwegians, nor Swedes hold a monopoly on happiness. Looking at the World Happiness Report, there's a four-point happiness gap between the happiest and unhappiest countries, with togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness explaining three of those four points. What makes the world's happiest people tick? What can we learn from countries around the globe? Let's go on a treasure hunt to find out!

Chapter 2: Togetherness: Building Community in a Digital Age

The houses form an open circle around a common yard. Children from different families run in and out of the homes freely, playing together in the garden with a rare combination of freedom and security. Some gather around a campfire with adults watching over them. This is Fælleshaven, a Danish bofællesskab or co-housing community where my friend Mikkel grew up. The design intentionally places parking spots on the fringe of the community so residents must walk across the common yard to reach their homes, encouraging social interaction and impromptu conversations. In Fælleshaven, sixteen families with about twenty children live in private homes clustered around shared spaces—a garden and a large communal kitchen and dining area. From Monday to Thursday, families can choose to eat together, with meals costing around 20 kroner (approximately £2.25) for adults and half price for children. Each family takes turns cooking for the community every few months. Beyond the dining area, residents share a vegetable garden, playground, art studio, workshop, and guest rooms. Perhaps most valuably, children always have playmates, and parents never need to hire babysitters—if they want a night out, they simply send their kids to friends across the yard. The number of bofællesskaber in Denmark has increased by 20% in the past six years, particularly attracting families seeking supportive environments for children and elderly people at risk of social isolation. A study of senior co-housing communities found that 98% of residents reported feeling safe, 95% were satisfied with their living situation, and remarkably, 70% reported having at least four friends among their neighbors. How many of your neighbors would you describe as friends? This community model is gaining momentum worldwide, with projects increasing in Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany, the US, and the Netherlands. In the UK alone, more than sixty co-housing projects were in development as of 2014, with what Jo Gooding of the UK Co-housing Network describes as "self-managing communities, independently governed by the people who live there." These communities attract both elderly people seeking alternatives to conventional housing and families who benefit from raising children in supportive environments. Even if a full co-housing arrangement isn't for everyone, we can apply elements that work in our own settings. Research consistently shows that being part of a community has a positive effect on well-being. Simple acts like creating a neighborhood directory, establishing a book-lending cupboard, using "soft edges" like front gardens for interaction, building community gardens, or starting tool-sharing programs can enhance community spirit. As anthropologist Margaret Mead famously said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Chapter 3: Money: Finding Joy Beyond Material Wealth

One day, when I was about eleven, I read the headline "THE DOLLAR IS GOING TO RISE TO 8 KRONER IN A YEAR" on the cover of Børsen, the Danish equivalent to the Financial Times. At the time, the kroner was around 7 to the dollar, so I did what any normal kid would do—I went to the bank and converted all my savings to dollars. "Are you going on holiday to the US?" the lady at the bank asked. "No," I replied confidently. "Haven't you read Børsen?" This wasn't an isolated incident. I bought my first bonds and stocks at age ten and had a poster in my room with a pile of money captioned "My first million." I was a pair of braces away from becoming Gordon Gekko. If money and happiness were to describe their relationship on Facebook, it would read: "It's complicated." There is a correlation between income and happiness—generally, people in richer countries are happier. However, this connection largely stems from the fact that lacking money causes unhappiness. When money means we can put food on our table, have a roof over our head, and support our children, it can transform misery into happiness. But when money is spent on luxury dog beds that let your pet "float away on a cloud-like bed into a blissful state," you've definitely run out of stuff that will improve your happiness. Like most things, the more we have of something, the less happiness we derive from it. Economists call this the law of diminishing marginal utility. We also adapt to new levels of wealth—the hedonic treadmill keeps spinning. To explore this further, Timothy Judge, a professor at Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, examined data tracking 717 people for up to seventy years. The ambitious participants went on to attend more prestigious universities, work in more respected occupations, and earn higher salaries. However, their ambition came with a cost—a constant sense of dissatisfaction with their achievements. The ambitious continuously raise the bar for what they want or need to be happy, making the hedonic treadmill spin faster. In 2015, Michelle McGagh, a freelance journalist from London, found herself stuck in a cycle of consumerism—earning money to buy things she didn't really need. She decided to challenge herself by not buying anything non-essential for 365 days. She would only spend on mortgage, essential bills, and basic groceries (£30 a week). "It wasn't easy," she told me, especially starting in cold, dark November when her life typically revolved around pubs and restaurants. Spring brought a welcome change as she discovered free activities—walks, bike rides, swimming in lakes, free art exhibitions, film screenings, and theater productions. "I had to learn new ways to find happiness, so I ended up saying yes to things I definitely wouldn't have said yes to before. I pushed myself to my limits, and I realized that I don't need stuff to be happy." The ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus said that wealth consists not in having great possessions but in having few wants. While McGagh's challenge might be extreme for many, we can all consider how to decouple happiness from wealth. When we discover that our happiness doesn't rest on financial foundation, we've found a true treasure. Instead of material goods, research shows we get more happiness from experiences—like winter swimming in Helsinki or hiking in nature—and from investing in others through kindness and community. By shifting our focus from accumulating to experiencing, from isolation to connection, we move toward a richer understanding of true wealth.

Chapter 4: Health: Balancing Wellbeing and Daily Movement

Across from the cabin where I spent my childhood summers, there was an open field of grass. The grass would grow so tall that my brother and I could create tunnels in this green blanket and play there for hours. Some time in June, the field would be mown, and that smell of freshly cut grass will forever transport me back to those days. Later, the field would be cleared to make room for the summer solstice bonfire. The Nordic sun sets into a night without darkness and bonfires are lit throughout the country to celebrate midsummer. I am not sure I knew what happiness was then, standing there with my bare feet in the grass, my face warmed by the fire, a piece of freshly baked bread in my hand and my parents' hands on my shoulders, but I am sure I felt what I would later dedicate my career to understanding. In Copenhagen, 45% of all commutes for work or education are by bike. People wear their everyday clothes while cycling—stilettos, suits, and once I even cycled in my smoking jacket on New Year's Eve. This two-wheeled takeover is a recent development, with more bikes than cars now in the heart of the city. The reasons for the hordes of Vikings on two wheels are the good conditions provided for cyclists—tilted bins for disposing of coffee cups while cycling, footrests at traffic lights, and bike lanes cleared before car lanes after snowfall. Cyclists aren't treated like second-class citizens; they're treated like royalty. The health benefits are significant. A study by the University of Glasgow found that cycling to work is associated with a 41% lower risk of premature death compared to a non-active commute. People who cycle to work have a 45% lower risk of developing cancer and a 46% lower risk of heart disease. Another Danish study showed that the mortality rate is 30% lower for people who commute by bike compared to passive commuters. Besides adding years to our lives and reducing waistlines, bikes also reduce congestion, air pollution, and noise, while improving cities financially. Copenhagen calculates that bikes save the city 0.45 kroner (about 5 pence) for every kilometer traveled compared to cars. Beyond cycling, other forms of connecting with nature show significant benefits for wellbeing. The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or "forest bathing," refers to soaking up the sights, smells, and sounds of natural settings to promote physiological and psychological health. Professor Qing Li at the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo found that forest bathing reduces cortisol levels and boosts the immune system. Research from the University of Essex revealed that activities like country walks, sailing, and gardening positively affect mood and self-esteem. Evidence consistently shows that time spent in natural environments benefits human health and happiness. Mental health deserves equal attention in discussions of wellbeing. Despite the link between mental and physical health, mental illness is still often seen as taboo. In Denmark, treatment for mental illness is available and affordable, subsidized by the government, and the stigma has been reduced sufficiently that people feel able to seek help. To fight stigma, we need to listen more and learn more, normalizing conversations about mental health. As Prince Harry noted after opening up about his own struggles, "The experience I have had is that, once you start talking about it, you realize that actually you're part of quite a big club." By bringing these conversations into the light, we create healthier communities and happier lives.

Chapter 5: Freedom: Reclaiming Time and Choice in Modern Life

"When it comes to increasing our quality of life, I think moving to Copenhagen is the best decision that we have made as a family," says Kate, who relocated from London five years ago with her husband Simon and their first child. Since then, the family has grown to four. "We were just tired: tired of the long working hours; tired of the long commute; tired of feeling a bit like strangers when we finally had time at the weekends. I go to bed early and Simon worked really long hours, so some days we wouldn't see each other at all." Like many expatriates in Denmark, Kate highlights the work-life balance as the greatest change. Danish offices are like morgues after 5 p.m., and working on weekends makes Danes suspect you're a madman with a secret project. "I think the main difference between the British and the Danish work culture is the unabashed value placed on free time. You value time with family and friends. You leave work at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. And no excuse is needed. Last week, I left the office at five, I cycled home—I have gone full-on Danish—and was home twenty minutes later. Simon had picked up the girls and was preparing dinner." According to the OECD, Danes enjoy one of the best balances between work and play worldwide. The average annual hours worked per worker is 1,457 in Denmark, compared to 1,674 in the UK, 1,790 in the US, and an OECD average of 1,766. Danes also enjoy significant workplace flexibility, with a minimum of five weeks' paid holiday for all employees. Furthermore, fifty-two weeks of paid leave per child are allocated by the state, divisible between partners, and childcare is subsidized to about £300 per month per child. These family-friendly policies help explain why parents in Denmark experience a smaller "parental happiness gap" than in many other countries. While parents in the US are 12% less satisfied with life than non-parents, and in Britain the gap is 8%, in Denmark it's just 3%. Sweden and Norway even show a happiness premium for parents. A team of researchers led by Jennifer Glass found that this happiness gap is explained by differences in family-friendly policies. In countries with the best packages, the parental happiness penalty was eliminated. Freedom isn't just about policies, however. For some, changing careers or work arrangements can be transformative. Veronica, a Danish social entrepreneur who established Carcel—a fashion label enabling women in prison to earn fair wages by creating products—explains: "I am poor, but I am happy. And yes, I work far more than I would in a normal job. But I would not trade this for any other job in the world. The biggest change is that you are your job. I am not a mother, then a director, then a girlfriend, then a friend. I am Veronica. All the time. That is what makes me so happy." Despite working longer hours and often earning less, entrepreneurs like Veronica report higher levels of job satisfaction and life satisfaction, primarily due to their greater sense of purpose and autonomy—the freedom to pursue passion and design their daily lives around what matters most.

Chapter 6: Trust: Nurturing Social Connections Through Empathy

Travel to Copenhagen and, once you've gotten used to the bikes on the roads, you'll notice something else unusual: children sleeping outside in strollers in public spaces. While parents enjoy coffee indoors, babies nap outside cafés. Go to the countryside, and you'll find unmanned vegetable stands by the road where you take what you want and leave cash in a box. Trust isn't just something you see; it's something shown to you. One afternoon, I went to pick up my bike from the repair man but had forgotten my wallet. "No worries. Take your bike and bring me the money tomorrow," he said simply. Trust is one of the six factors explaining why some countries are happier than others. According to the World Happiness Report, "A successful society is one in which people have a high level of trust in each other—including family members, colleagues, friends, strangers and institutions such as government." People who trust others are happier, and trust makes life easier. High trust levels exist throughout Danish society—in offices where micromanagement is rare, in social interactions where your word is your bond, and in education where cooperation and empathy are part of the curriculum. To better understand how trust varies globally, Reader's Digest conducted an experiment dropping wallets containing cash, ID, and contact information in cities worldwide. In 2013, researchers "dropped" twelve wallets in sixteen cities, each containing the equivalent of $50 in local currency. Helsinki led with 11 of 12 wallets returned with money intact, while only 1 of 12 came back in Lisbon. What drives these differences? In countries with more economic equality, the percentage of people agreeing that "most people can be trusted" is higher. The same pattern appears across US states—more economically equal states show higher trust levels. Trust can even be measured in our workplaces. In Copenhagen, the city shifted from a rule-based, micromanaged approach to caring for the elderly to a trust-based system. Instead of care-givers being told exactly what tasks to perform and how long each should take, employees were empowered to evaluate what was needed during each visit in collaboration with the person they were caring for. The pilot project was so successful it has now been expanded city-wide. Employee satisfaction soared, sick days decreased, and most importantly, the quality of care improved. Teaching empathy and building trust begins in childhood. In Danish schools, weekly lessons called "klassens time" allow teachers and students to discuss social issues ranging from bullying to deciding what games to buy for the class. Children learn to work in groups, developing social skills and understanding the value of cooperation. Research supports this approach—students who learn empathy show less bullying, and reading literary fiction improves our ability to understand others' emotions. By raising children who value empathy over selfishness, cooperation over competition, and trust over suspicion, we create societies where everyone benefits. As Mark Twain wisely noted, "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."

Chapter 7: Kindness: Small Acts Creating Ripples of Happiness

One of the most inspiring people I've met is a man I'll call Clark, the closest thing to a superhero you can get. He's sat next to strangers on planes to help them overcome fear of flying, reunited lost memory cards with their owners, and tried to reconnect long-lost family members. His superpower? Kindness. Clark is known as the Free Help Guy, and his journey began with a simple decision to spend six months helping others for free. "When we are growing up, I think we all dream of changing the world," Clark explains, "but in my late twenties I found myself going to work every day, commuting to Oxford Circus station with thousands of other people. It was a good job, but I wasn't changing the world." After quitting his job, he posted a note online: "If you need help, I'll help. For free. (Especially if your needs are fun, different and morally deserved.) TheFreeHelpGuy." The first reply came from a couple who had given their spare room to a homeless man and wanted help finding someone else to assist. Later came requests to reunite a man with his long-lost father, help find a bone-marrow donor for a young girl with leukemia, and raise funds for a child with a rare medical condition to see a specialist in Colorado. Helping others brings both sorrow and satisfaction. When we get to know people, we start to care more, sharing in their victories and defeats. Life is messy, and relationships are hard. But helping also brings a sense of purpose and, as Clark discovered, personal transformation: "My heart beats in a way that it never has. My life is vivid. Giving is happiness. The person who has been helped the most by this free help project is me." Now working as a freelance business consultant, Clark continues his mission of kindness indefinitely. There's scientific evidence supporting what Clark intuitively discovered. Our brains have a reward center—the nucleus accumbens—that activates in response to food, pleasure, and notably, when we think about giving to others. Neurological research from the National Institutes of Health found that this area lights up when participants consider donating to charity. We're literally wired to feel good when we do something that benefits others, a phenomenon sometimes called "helper's high." Beyond improving our mood, altruism affects our overall happiness. People who volunteer are happier than those who don't, even after controlling for other factors. They experience fewer depressive symptoms, less anxiety, and enjoy more meaningful lives. Volunteering also leads to more social relationships and friendships—another powerful contributor to happiness. In Denmark, 42% of adults engage in unpaid activities, and 70% have been active in voluntary work in the past five years. After being made redundant during the financial crisis, Sophie found herself struggling with depression and identity loss. "My job was my identity—that was gone. My social network was my colleagues. Gone—or not gone—but gone awkward." After months of isolation and rejection in her job search, she reluctantly filled in for her sister at a charity cake sale. "That afternoon I felt like me again for the first time in a long time. I had fun. I felt useful." She continued volunteering, which became her path back to wellbeing: "It became my way back, I think. It was voluntary work, so there were no demands. I could do it at my own pace." Today, she's employed again but continues volunteering: "My identity has two legs to stand on now, I see my sister more often—and there is cake." Through kindness to others, Sophie rediscovered herself and rebuilt her happiness from the ground up.

Summary

Throughout our treasure hunt for happiness, we've discovered that the elements of a good life are deeply interconnected. The six factors—togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness—weave together to create a tapestry of wellbeing that's stronger than any single thread. When we cultivate community in our neighborhoods, we strengthen social bonds that buffer us against life's challenges. When we redefine wealth beyond material possessions, we free ourselves to find joy in experiences and relationships. Daily movement and connection with nature nourish both body and mind, while work-life balance gives us the freedom to pursue what truly matters. Trust builds the foundation for cooperation, and kindness creates ripples that return to us in unexpected ways. The town of Todmorden in Yorkshire exemplifies how these elements can transform a community. What began as a simple idea—"Who is up for changing the world with local food?"—blossomed into the Incredible Edible movement, where vegetable gardens and fruit trees now occupy every available space in town. Their motto, "If you eat—you're in," invites everyone to participate, whether by growing, designing signs, or cooking. Built on community, education, and business, the initiative has created economic confidence locally and invented "vegetable tourism." Without a single strategy document or government funding, citizens stopped thinking of themselves as mere consumers and began acting as engaged community members. The movement has since spread to over a hundred places worldwide, proving Margaret Mead's belief that "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." By combining kindness with togetherness, health, freedom, trust, and redefining wealth, we can all create ripples that build a happier world—for ourselves and generations to come.

About Author

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Meik Wiking

Meik Wiking is CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, research associate for Denmark at the World Database of Happiness, and founding member of the Latin American Network for Wellbeing and Quality of Life Policies. He and his research have been featured in more than five hundred media outlets, including The Washington Post, BBC, Huffington Post, the Times (London), The Guardian, CBS, Monocle, the Atlantic, and PBS News Hour. He has spoken at TEDx, and his books have been translated into more than fifteen languages. He lives in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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