Happy as a Dane

For decades Denmark has ranked at the top of the world’s happiness surveys. 5.6 million Danes live in a country that is dark and cold nine months of the year and where income taxes are at almost 60 percent but remain content. At a time when the Western world is focused on unemployment woes, government overreach and anti-taxation lobbies, our Danish counterparts seem to breathe a healthier and fresher air. Interweaving anecdotes and research, Malene Rydahl explores how the values of trust, education and a healthy work-life balance with purpose contribute to a "happy" population. From eye-opening stories about open-air vegetable stands to babies safely left unattended while parents have coffee, to generous paternity leave policies, Rydahl provides tips that we can all apply to our daily lives regardless of where we live.