Have you embraced Hygge? Love it or loathe it, the Danish art of Hygge is the cosy lifestyle trend that is hard to avoid and awkward to pronounce. Think candles, knitted sweaters, yoga retreats, bicycles and a relaxed state of mind typically Scandinavian in its simplicity. This week’s guest editor is Meik Wiking, bestselling author of The Little Book of Hygge, published by Penguin Life (£9.99), and Chief Executive of the Happiness Research Institute, an independent think tank committed to finding out what makes some societies happier than others.


Here Meik shares his online favourites.

My favourite website... Ted - Not very original, I know, but it's my go-to site to feel inspired and energised about work and the world.

My favourite app... Duolingo - I speak a little Spanish but, according to a Spanish-speaking ex-girlfriend of mine, I sound like Speedy Gonzales when I speak the language. So I am working on an upgrade.

My blog of choice... Freakonomics - I also love listening to their podcast. It is so informative, witty and wise.

My internet hero... Holly Dillon - Founder of the GetYourSkinOut campaign, whom I met during our work for our PsoHappy project.

My most recent buy online... A plane ticket to Paris, my favourite city.

Book just downloaded... The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone - It is an illuminating, insightful and influential book on how we all need to re-think about our communities and ourselves.

My favourite Tweeter... Ryan 'I'm teaching my daughter that the sun goes down each night because it is mad at her. Probably gonna write a book about parenting at some point' Reynolds.

My favourite Instagrammer... Shamefully, I don’t use this site... yet.

Social media allowed me to meet... my readers from across the world - It's really fun and enlightening to see how people from different cultures embrace hygge.

Most worthwhile newsletter subscribed to... The Happiness Research Institute - Obviously.

Stand out online memory... When my book about hygge was in between the autobiographies by Bruce Springsteen and Phil Collins - which coincidentally is the exact spectrum of my music taste.

Pet hate about life online... That it fuels our opportunity to make social comparisons.

iPhone or Android? iPhone

January 2017

Portrait courtesy of Chris McAndrew