The Little Book of Lykke summary

What do you think – does more money equal more happiness? As it turns out, wealthier countries do tend to rank higher on happiness reports. But don’t be fooled into thinking there’s a direct connection between wealth and happiness.

Take South Korea, for example. In just two generations, it’s grown from being one of the poorest nations in the world to one of the wealthiest. Nevertheless, it has the highest rate of suicides per capita and is ranked fifty-fifth on the World Happiness Report.

From time to time, we could all use an extra push in getting to the gym or going out for a jog. So here’s a fact to keep in mind: being fit isn’t just good for your health; it also leads to more happiness.

Another reason for Denmark’s happiness is its health, and a contributing factor here is the number of people who bike rather than drive. According to a 2017 study by the University of Glasgow, biking to work reduces a person’s risk of premature death by 41 percent!

On any list of things that are important for overall happiness, freedom would probably rank close to the top. But while you might think of freedom in terms of making choices and following your dreams, there’s another, often overlooked, aspect to freedom: free time.

People need time off, and when it comes to countries with a healthy work–life balance, Denmark ranks among the world’s best.

Yes or no: If you lost a wallet full of cash, do you think a stranger would bring it back to you with all the money still in it?

The Canadian General Social Society posed this question to people in Toronto, and less than 25 percent answered “yes.” But when this scenario was tested, by dropping twenty wallets around the city, 80 percent were returned with no money missing.

Here’s another yes or no question to consider: Do you believe most people can be trusted?

When asked this question, the majority of people who answered “yes” were those who lived in countries or states with more economic equality. This is due to the fact that, within a more equal society, people feel secure and see others as cooperators, not competitors.

You know that warm, fuzzy feeling that can come over you when you do something nice for someone else without any expectation of reward? This is known as the helper’s high, and you can easily make it a regular part of your life.

When you do something kind and generous, that pleasant feeling comes from the nucleus accumbens, an area of the brain that is also responsible for the good feelings that accompany eating and sex. In fact, researchers at the National Institute of Health in the United States have noticed that when people think about giving money to charity, this area of the brain lights up just as it would if the person were thinking about a delicious meal or having sex.