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{{infoboxinfobox1
|title=A Piece of Danish Happiness
|sort=Piece of Danish Happiness
|reviewer=Jill Murphy
|genre=Autobiography
|summary=Enjoyable memoir of an American in Denmark who learns to shed materialism in her quest to be as happy as the average Dane. And the average Dane is the happiest person in the world. So a tall, but worthwhile order!Sharmi Albrechtsen popped into Bookbag Towers to [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sharmi Albrechtsen|chat to us]].
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|date=August 2013
|isbn=B00EAINZM8
|amazonukcover=<amazonuk>B00EAINZM8</amazonuk>1489565450|amazonusaznuk=<amazonus>B00EAINZM8</amazonus>1489565450|videoaznus=B00EAINZM8
}}
Sharmi Albrechtsen was a true Hindu-American princess. Obsessed with shoes and handbags and designer labels, she saw status and wealth as the only route to happiness. But she wasn't happy enough, no matter how much designer gear she owned. And it wasn't until 1997, when she married her second husband, a Dane, and relocated to Denmark, that she began to wonder if it was something lacking in herself, rather than her possessions, that was at the root of her problems.
I will say that the book isn't perfect. Albrechtsen has largely kept the format of the blog on which the book is based and so the narrative structure falters from time to time, particularly in the second half once we are past the autographical reminscences. I could have done with a more organised progression of thought and thus a better flow here. The formatting is also web-like and this could do with tidying up. Readers of books don't want to see smiley icons and they keep concentration better when there aren't double returns separating paragraphs.
Technical nitpicks aside, ''A Piece of Danish Happiness'' is an enlightening read. The theme, I think, began as one of culture shock and, after some dissection of this special happiness the Danes enjoy, ended as one of understanding and celebrating the differences in cultures. Albrechtsen herself retains her American identity but has absorbed much of the Danish ''hygge '' and ''jantelov '' that she learned about. It's all about Danes, this book, but it's also the story of an American taking part in that quintessential American journey - the ''pursuit of happiness''.
Every reader will take something of value from this enjoyable book.
If you're interested in what makes a happy person, you might also enjoy [[The Secrets of Happiness by Richard Schoch]] or [[Feel Happy Now by Michael Neill]].
{{amazontext|amazon=1489565450}}{{amazonUStext|amazon=B00EAINZM8}} You can read more about Sharmi Albrechtsen [[:Category:Sharmi Albrechtsen|here]]. {{interviewtext|author=Sharmi Albrechtsen}}
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[[Category:Lifestyle]]
