Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Why you should visit Denmark, the world's happiest country
On the Map of World Happiness, Denmark comes out in first place. Sweden, Finland, and Canada were also top 10 contenders (the US only ranked #23. I have a feeling that happiness might be directly related to universal health care, but that's just me). Tim Ferriss, lifestyle designer and author of the 4-Hour Workweek, just happens to have some Danish blood pumping through his cheerful veins, and he's laid out six other reasons to visit Denmark (in case is being the happiest damn place on the planet isn't enough for you). Here they are, but check out his blog for details:
- More than 80% of Danes speak English.
- You can visit Christiania, the anarchist state of Scandinavia.
- They know how to pair wines and food better than the French or Italians, or so Ferriss claims.
- The genetically gifted population seems to be modestly unaware of their good looks.
- Danish design is incredible, even if IKEA does name its doormats after Danish locations.
- Small location, great transportation.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve Berley Apr 15th 2008 2:22PM
My wife had read about this in the NY Times which said a primary reason for the Dane's happiness is that they have lower expectations of how life "should" be so they're constantly surprised. Very Zen.
I've heard it said that the problem with the proverbial "American Dream" is that everyone expects it. Maybe that's why we're ranked 23.
Steve
Oakland, CA
Adrian Apr 15th 2008 5:28PM
Re "5. Danish design is incredible, even if IKEA does name its doormats after Danish locations."
Just for the record:
"It made for a great story but, alas, it is bogus. In February, a journalist from Nyhedsavisen, a free Danish tabloid paper, called up Professor Kjoller asking if he had noticed the anti-Danish bias in the latest IKEA catalogue. Kjoller, who had not seen the catalogue, let alone completed an empirical study of it, played along with the journalist because he assumed, correctly, that the article was being written with a Danish tongue firmly planted in cheek. Since then, however, Kjoller has been deluged with media enquires and found himself repeatedly explaining that the whole thing was just a bit of fun.
It is too late for that, of course. The IKEA naming scandal will now be added to the long list of false brand-naming stories. "
http://www.brandingstrategyinsider.com/2008/03/naming-pranks-a.html