I have a distinct joy in reading books that discuss concepts from around the world that relate to happiness, plenty, and coziness.  I don't really know anyone else in my friend circles who does.  I have read so many books on hygge, fika, lagom, and ikigai that I feel like I should have gotten the concept by now. Luckily I have; these are ideas that I try to work into my everyday life.  Being an American who is living in Mexico, I had to very quickly adjust to a different pace of life and set of priorities. The Happiness Passport: A World Tour of Joyful Living in 50 Words by Megan Hayes, seemed like a book right up my alley.  As soon as I saw it, I was attracted to it and requested to review it on NetGalley.  I was approved and started reading it as soon as I got it.  Also, I should note that the cover illustrations are so darn cute!  

Especially, this book is divided into five sections--home & environment, community & relationships, character & soul, joy & spirituality, and balance & calm-- that discuss 10 words each from other languages and cultures that relate to those topics.  Each word discussion is about a page long and gives the origin and meaning of the word, as well as a brief discussion of the concept that it illustrates.  I will be honest, I found myself starting a journal entry to collect words and ideas that I could see myself either researching more or working into my life and ways of thinking.  I really liked reading it and I devoured it in two sittings.  The text is easy to read and the whimsy illustrations are perhaps my favorite.  They are so darn cute and each illustration fits the word it accompanies.  I think that this is a book that I will definitely buy in hardcover at some point just to have, if I ever need it again.

While this book isn't a gripping story or intense drama, it is still important to read books like this as they are entryways to thinking and living differently.  I haven't read all the hygge books I have because I just enjoy the writing form or being told how to decorate and make things cozy, but rather,  I have read those books and The Happiness Passport, as ways to further my personal growth and to reinforce concepts that I want to work into my life.  For me, reading is and should be a pleasurable experience, but it should also teach you something.  Am I saying to read a non-fiction or educational book everytime you read, NO WAY!  But I am saying that learning is an important aspect of life and growth.  You may learn by reading books on mechanical engineering or books about concepts of coziness and happiness.  Or you may learn by reading mysteries or gory horror novels.  Whatever it is, you do you! 

This book has stirred in me an internal conversation about happiness and how that is so drastically different between people.  As this book illustrations through both its collection of 50 words from around the world, but also its planned breakdown through categories, that happiness isn't just an emotion or feeling.  It is a collection of circumstances, feelings, people, environments, objects, and time that varies so drastically.  For me, the grand takeaway is that happiness is a universal idea that we are all striving for, no matter our culture or history.  Our skin color or the language we speak changes this move towards happiness in our lives.  We are all looking for our eucatastrophe (I learned this word from the book)!

Phenomenal!

This book is beautiful. Unfortunately, the arc was a digital copy. The artwork is beautiful, there literally is no other word (haha) to describe it. I wanted to bottle up the illustrations and keep them with me forever.

The words were well chosen and the explanations were good. My favorite word from the book is Duyên Phận which is Vietnamese for 'fate in love', a concept similar to soulmates (not just the romantic kind)

Special mention to the Swedish word Lagom which means 'just the right amount'. Yes, yes, yes. My life is lived in either an excess or a lack. I want to lagom the sh*t out of my life. This is my one word answer for 'the middle path'.

Honestly, I can't move over the illustrations. Can I please, pretty please, keep them with me forever? I definitely want to go ahead and buy a hardcover.

I received a free digital copy of the book from NetGalley.

What a beautiful concept this book is! The author takes words from around the world that represent the simplest pleasures of living and illustrates how to bring these concepts into our everyday lives. Not only will you be adding 50 new words to your lexicon, you'll be learning new practices for adding more joy to your life! The words are uniquely tied to the culture and the people from which they originate, but the feelings they invoke are universal. A wondrous book from start to finish.

This book is like a little hug of niceness. I loved reading about the cultures and traditions of kindness from across the world and it was heartwarming to see there is still so much good in the world. Any book with a cwtch in it is fine with me.

I've read books about hygge and ikigai, but this book covers so many similar words from numerous cultures around the world. The author has collected 50 words that evoke the feeling of happiness and/or living well, arranging them into categories - home and environment, community and relationships, character and soul, joy and spirituality and balance and calm. Each concept is described in 50 words or less, making this a fun book to have around to pick up whenever the reader has a few minutes or to sit and read cover to cover. Readers are sure to find many practices they will want to include in their own lives to bump up their own happiness. We can learn so much from other cultures if we're open to the ideas. This book will also make a great gift for anyone intent on living a better life.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this lovely book in exchange for my honest review.

I read on my android phone, and I can't seem to be able to read this book as it doesn't have the Kindle option.

This is a warm beautiful book a book that takes the concept of hygee around the world.Introduces us to new words different cultures .Traditions each unique each makes me want to add something new to our traditions.Lovely drawings new words this book was a wonderful read will make a lovely gift. #netgalley #the Happiness Passport #quartobooks

The world beyond hygge. This is a brilliant look into other words and their meanings. It’s the perfect companion book for anyone who has tried the hygge lifestyle and want to try expand it further.
It’s a joy to read and I can’t wait to gift it to special people in my life come Christmas time.