Lagom: Not Too Little, Not Too Much: The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life

by Niki Brantmark

Overview

In a fast-paced world, wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could slow down and enjoy a life with less pressure, less stress, and more time for the things you love? 

Sweden is ranked in the top three of the world’s happiest places to live, and lagom, which means “not too much and not too little—just right,” is the Swedish philosophy for enjoying balance in every aspect of life—from work and leisure to family and food, and everything in between. Experienced bakers know by touch when the dough they are kneading is lagom—not too moist and not too dry. At the office, professionals who work hard—but not to the detriment of other parts of their lives—are following the lagom ideal. Lagom is moderation, balance, and equality.

By using the Swedish lifestyle as an example, Niki Brantmark offers insightful suggestions and bite-sized actions to help you make subtle changes to your life, so you too can make time for the things that matter most and find greater happiness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062748799
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/03/2017
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	115,300
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Niki Brantmark is the creator of My Scandinavian Home, an interior design blog inspired by her life in Malmö, Sweden, where she lives with her husband and three children. Originally from London, Niki has an MA in psychology from the University of Edinburgh and is the author of Modern Pastoral and The Scandinavian Home.

Editorial Reviews

‘Lagom’ Is the New Hygge, and It’s Pretty Damn Life-Changing — PureWow

From the Publisher

‘Lagom’ Is the New Hygge, and It’s Pretty Damn Life-Changing

PureWow

10/15/2017
Following closely on the success of all things hygge, a Danish word connoting "coziness" and popularized in books such as The Little Book of Hygge, comes lagom, the Swedish concept of finding balance in life. Similar titles on this topic include Linnea Dunne's Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living and Lola A. Äkerström's Lagom: The Swedish Secret of Living Well. This latest work from blogger Brantmark (The Scandinavian Home), a British expat living in Sweden, may appeal to those interested in Swedish culture. Readers may also be interested in comparing Brantmark's perspective to Dunne's, originally from Sweden, now residing in Dublin. Many lifestyle practices gaining momentum in the United States—DIY, sustainability, mindfulness, etc.—are covered; thus, the advice is familiar. At the same time, imagining these practices on a national level adds a fresh viewpoint. VERDICT A beautiful book filled with ways to balance life at home with the larger world. Where readers enjoy books on hygge, they will likely appreciate titles on lagom, too.—Meagan Storey, Virginia Beach

Library Journal

This audiobook introduces the concept of LAGOM, the Swedish belief in “not too little, not too much” or “just right.” (There’s no exact translation.) Narrator Ana Clements’s British voice sounds friendly and inviting as she explains that LAGOM is possible in all aspects of life—in one’s personal life and relationships, and in the wider world. Parts of this audiobook seem an odd mash-up of THE LITTLE BOOK OF HYGGE and THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP—many suggestions and tips don't seem new. Sounding engaged and happy, Clements breathes life into the book’s many lists of suggestions, tips, and descriptions of DIY projects. Clements even paces DIY lists of tools at the tempo you’d need if you were writing them down, also without sounding tedious. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2017 - AudioFile