Listen free for 30 days

  • The Year of Living Danishly

  • Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
  • Written by: Helen Russell
  • Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
  • Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (290 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Year of Living Danishly cover art

The Year of Living Danishly

Written by: Helen Russell
Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $20.48

Buy Now for $20.48

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

When she was suddenly given the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, journalist and archetypal Londoner Helen Russell discovered a startling statistic: the happiest place on earth isn't Disneyland but Denmark, a land often thought of by foreigners as consisting entirely of long, dark winters, cured herring, Lego and pastries. What is the secret to their success? Are happy Danes born or made?

Helen decides there is only one way to find out: she will give herself a year, trying to uncover the formula for Danish happiness. From child care, education, food and interior design to SAD, taxes, sexism and an unfortunate predilection for burning witches, The Year of Living Danishly is a funny, poignant record of a journey that shows us where the Danes get it right, where they get it wrong, and how we might just benefit from living a little more Danishly ourselves.

Helen Russell is a journalist and former editor of MarieClaire.co.uk. She now lives in rural Jutland and works as a Scandinavia correspondent for the Guardian as well as writing a column on Denmark for the Telegraph.

©2015 Helen Russell (P)2015 Audible, Ltd
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What the critics say

"A lovely mix of English sensibility and Danish pragmatism. Helen seems to have understood more about the Danish character than I have! My only worry is that it will make everyone want to have a go and my holiday home area will get overcrowded." (Sandi Toksvig)
"Russell is possessed of a razor-sharp wit and a winning self-deprecation - two of the things that make this book such a delight." ( The Independent)

What listeners say about The Year of Living Danishly

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    194
  • 4 Stars
    72
  • 3 Stars
    21
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    203
  • 4 Stars
    38
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    164
  • 4 Stars
    62
  • 3 Stars
    23
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best book of 2017

The narrator was a perfect fit. This funny heat warming book made me feel like a stranger in a strange place.... And by the end I found my home. Deffinatly worth a listen or read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A happy book

This book is happy and peaceful. I enjoyed listening to it a lot! Not only its a privet story of a real family and their move from England to Denmark, it is also story about the way people live and how living in one country or another can affect you. Its a story about how grass might be greener on the other side,but only you can decide to be happy by being grateful about things you have vs things that you don't. Happiness comes to those who look for it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

instructif

beaucoup d,info applicable à tous. Apprendre à être heureux est possible. Êtes vous un 9 ou un 10.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a great funny and interesting surprise! don't miss

I loved it!! what a nice surprise! I expect it to be ok and I laughed a lot I think I am happier :) I also moved to a cold country (Canada) and I share many of the anecdotes... loved the sarcastic respectful tone. and WOW what a way to give bring this book alive by the reader!! amazing I enjoyed it a lot. very funny and interesting at the same time. Thanks

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

cute, educational & reflective

this is a cute book. I liked the humour interlaced with the educational content about Denmark. It kept my interest all the way through. It’s also makes you stop and reflect what’s important in life. A good calming read. i’d recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Real life story about leaving your comfort zone that will make you laugh

Great time. Helen is a great storyteller. I laughed so many times. Living in Québec, i could also relate to so many of the experiences she goes through. Look forward to enjoying some of her other books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic read, so well written

I wish that there was a book like this for every European country. So charming, interesting and inspiring. So glad that they stayed on. Hopefully Helen Russell writes more !!! Perfect narrator as well.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • KH
  • 2023-04-13

Engaging, Educational, Entertaining, Honest

Made me want to move to Denmark! Very interesting listen; I was sorry when the book finished. Well read and well written.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really Enjoyable Listen!

I was recommended this book after reading Eat, Pray, Love three times and glad I did. The narration was fantastic and had me laughing out loud many times. Very interesting learning about the lifestyle in Denmark and makes me envy those who are living happily Danishly. I enjoyed this book start to finish!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This made me want to move to Denmark!

The author creates such a visual story that I couldn't help wanting to move to Denmark and be her neighbor so I could find out how the second year of living Danishly went for her!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!