The Happiness Passport

Fifty words from cultures around the world that capture the secrets of living well, from craic to yang sheng and hygge to ubuntu: “A pure joy to read.” —FlowMagazine

The Happiness Passport is a collection of wonderfully evocative words from around the globe whose definitions resonate with us all. Though the words themselves often seem untranslatable, the meaning behind each expression will stir up familiar emotions—bringing joy, contentment, and a greater understanding of other cultures. There are a wealth of examples to discover for a more wholesome outlook on life, including:

• Hiraeth—the word for deep longing for home (Welsh)

• Goya—the transportive ability of good storytelling (Urdu)

• Yugen—the ability of the natural world to deeply move us (Japanese)

• Gigil—the overwhelming urge to cuddle an adorable pet (Philippine Tagalog)

This treasure trove of delights examines the cultural context of each expression and the lessons that we can apply in our own lives to achieve greater contentment, with beautiful original illustrations that evoke each elusive expression.

“[Hayes] joins the dots between these differing beliefs to help us cultivate a richer shared vocabulary of happiness, and unravels the global interpretations of living well and contentedly.” —Psychologies Magazine