audiobook: 

The Danish concept of hygge is a wonderful thing. Even if most fail miserably when they try to pronounce or explain its true essence. Unless you’re a Viking of course.

As Keri stood in the departure lounge of Auckland International Airport with her four-month-old baby, searching for her flight on the board, hygge wasn’t on her radar. In hindsight she agrees it probably should have been. But she’d never imagined a chance encounter with a Dane in a crowded bar in her home city of Wellington would lead her here, a mother, about to circle the globe, with no knowledge of when she’d return home. Eighteen thousand kilometres away a new life awaited her in Denmark. A country where babies sleep outside, the word for bread is seemingly impossible to pronounce and a country in which immigration challenges abound.

A witty observer of cultural nuances, Keri reveals the day-to-day realities of a New Zealander living her best life in Denmark. From integration interrogations to rye bread misdemeanors, Nothing Like a Dane provides a humorous and heartfelt insight into creating a new life in a faraway land.

And what did she learn? That it’s not all hygge and pastries. Even in Denmark.

audiobook: 

An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States

‘A genuine page-turner, full of intimacies and reflections‘ Evening Standard
‘A polished pearl of a memoir‘ New York Times
‘A rich, entertaining and candid memoir. And overall Obama’s a fun person to sit alongside as she tells you the story of her life . . . it is as beautifully written as any piece of fiction‘

In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America – the first African-American to serve in that role – she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare. In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her – from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address.

With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it – in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations – and whose story inspires us to do the same.

‘Offers new insights into her upbringing on the south side of Chicago and the highs and lows of life with Barack Obama. . . a refreshing level of honesty about what politics really did to her. I have read Barack Obama’s two books so far, and this is like inserting a missing piece of reality into the narrative of his dizzying journey‘ Guardian

‘I found myself lifting my jaw from my chest at the end of every other chapter . . . this was not the Obama I thought I knew. She was more’ Independent’ An inspirational memoir that also rings true‘ Daily Telegraph

audiobook: 

In 2016, the world discovered hygge. Denmark has an international reputation for being one of the happiest nations in the world, and hygge is widely recognised to be the magic ingredient to this happiness. Hygge has been described as everything from “the art of creating intimacy”, “cosines of the soul”, “the absence of annoyance” to “taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things”, “cosy togetherness” and “the pursuit of everyday pleasures”.

Hooga? Hhyooguh? Heurgh? It is not really important how you choose to pronounce or even spell ‘hygge’. What is important is that you feel it. Whether you’re cuddled up on a sofa with a loved one, or sharing comfort food with your closest friends, hygge is about creating an atmosphere where we can let your guard down.

The Little Book of Hygge is the definitive, must-read introduction to hygge, written by Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. The book is packed full of original research on hygge, conducted by Meik and his team, along with beautiful photographs, recipes and ideas to help you add a touch of hygge to your life. Meik Wiking has the best job in the world: as the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, he is on a mission to discover what makes people happy.

The “Indiana Jones of Smiles” wrote The Little Book of Hygge to better understand why Denmark consistently comes first in global happiness rankings. Following lots of research and insight, he came to the conclusion that hygge is the magic ingredient. When he’s not studying political science and writing several books and reports on happiness, wellbeing and quality of life, he enjoys photography and playing tennis (quite badly) with friends.

But he believes that, whilst we can certainly learn a lot from the Danes about finding fulfilment, the keys to happiness are actually buried all around the globe. In this captivating book, he takes us on a treasure hunt to unlock the doors to inner fulfilment. From how we spend our precious time, to how we relate to our neighbours and cook dinner, he gathers evidence, stories and tips from the very happiest corners of the planet.

This is the ultimate guide to how we can all find a little more lykke in our lives. Meik Wiking is the CEO of The Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen and is one of the world’s leading experts in happiness. Committed to understanding happiness, subjective well-being and quality of life, Meik works with countries across the world to discover and explore global trends of life satisfaction.

Only someone absolutely dedicated to happiness sits in coffee shops across the world counting peoples’ smiles!His first book, The Little Book of Hygge, became an international bestseller and will soon be published in 31 countries.

This book will help you tackle the thorniest sleep snags, including:

Navigating the tricky newborn phase like a pro Getting your child to truly sleep through the night Weaning off the all night buffet Mastering the precarious tango that is healthy napping Solving toddler and preschooler sleep struggles

If you’re looking for practical solutions to improve your child’s sleep in a book that won’t put you to sleep, this is for you!

Without making any general statement about how long nursing should continue, the book cleverly and gently allows each mum to insert her own deadline date, and encourages her to start planning for this date with her child. The author knows that parents and children will be sharing this bonding experience differently, and so she suggests many lovely, nurturing alternatives that babies and young children can relate to as the date approaches.

Now more than ever, The Expert Expat’s practical advice and encouragement eases the challenges and helps create a rewarding experience living abroad.

Reunited after thirty-five years and wrestling a serious case of wanderlust Lynne and Tim Martin decided to sell their house and possessions and live abroad full-time. They’ ve never looked back. With just two suitcases two computers and each other the Martins embark on a global adventure taking readers from sky-high pyramids in Mexico to Turkish bazaars to learning the contact sport of Italian grocery shopping. But even as they embrace their new home-free lifestyle the Martins grapple with its challenges including hilarious language barriers finding financial stability and missing the family they left behind. Together they learn how to live a life-and love-without borders.

From glittering Georgian mansions in Ireland to the windswept coasts of Portugal this euphoric inspiring memoir is more than a tale of second chances. Recently featured on NPR’ s Here and Now as well as in the New York Times Home Sweet Anywhere is a road map for anyone who dreams of turning the idea of life abroad into a reality.

It’s all here.

Everything couples need to know before sperm and egg meet. Packed with the same kind of reassuring, empathic and practical information and advice that readers have come to expect from What to Expect, only sooner. Which baby-friendly foods to order up (say yes to yams) and which fertility-busters to avoid (see you later, saturated fat); lifestyle adjustments that you’ll want to make (cut back on cocktails and caffeine) and those you can probably skip (that switch to boxer shorts).

How to pinpoint ovulation, keep on-demand sex sexy, and separate conception fact from myth. With fully updated information on immunisation, genetic screening, Zika, ovulation tracking, how fertility can be affected by travel as well as BPA and phthalates, plus when to seek help and the latest on high- and low-tech fertility treatments – from IVF to surrogacy and more. Complete with a fill-in fertility journal to keep track of the baby-making adventure and special tips throughout for hopeful dads.

Next step? What to Expect When You’re Expecting, of course.

Including:-All-new chapter on buying for baby; helping parents navigate through the dizzying gamut of baby products, nursery items and gear. Baby care fundamentals, from crib and sleep safety to vitamin supplements. Feeding for every age and stage, including tips on breastfeeding, preparing homemade baby food and the latest recommendations on starting solids.

Charts for key development stages and sleeping habits, as well as sleep strategies that really work. Research on the impact of screen time (TVs, tablets, apps, computers). The most up-to-date medical advice on vaccines, illnesses, SIDS, safety, and more, plus handy first-aid guides.

Dozens of Q&A sections, practical tips and advice that focus on advice for parents and their baby, covering everything from how to give a bath and decode your baby’s crying to when to return to work. This is the only book on infant care to address both the physical and emotional needs of the whole family. This edition is organised more intuitively than ever before.

Covering the most up-to-date knowledge, both medical and developmental, WHAT TO EXPECT THE 1st YEAR is, above all, down-to-earth and reassuring – and an invaluable aid for all parents of new babies. Praise for the What to Expect series:- ‘Written by mothers, for mothers, full of eminently practical advice.’ New Generation ‘Worth its weight in gold.’ Living Today