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

Written by Niki Brantmark

Narrated by Ana Clements

Derived from the Swedish phrase Lagom är bäst, meaning ""the right amount is best; in moderation, in balance,"" langom is a deeply held philosophy closely tied to the Swedish cultural and social ideology of fairness and equality. Lagom is believed to have begun with Viking culture: at gatherings, when a bowl of mead was passed around in a circle, it was important that everyone sipped “just enough” or their “fair share” so there was enough to be enjoyed by all. Deeply ingrained in the Swedish psyche, lagom is about 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 dough they’re kneading is “lagom”—not too moist and not too dry.

At the office, professionals who work hard—but not to the detriment of other aspects of their lives—are following the ideal of “lagom.” In this inviting, inspirational illustrated guide, Niki Brantmark explains lagom and explains how to incorporate it into your own lifestyle, including: Home: declutter, keep items you love; buy consciously; Work: take regular coffee breaks away from your desk, Swedish style; learn to “switch off” at home; Money: more isn’t happiness—live within your means and be thrifty without sacrificing quality; Body & Mind: exercise that fits your life and healthy habits that make you feel better (starting with more sleep); Food: enjoy that slice of cake, but remember, portions in moderation; Vacation: make the most of holidays and time off; Leisure: get out in nature—take a hike in the woods or a dip in the sea; Family: keep it simple and organized; Friendship: forms bonds that will last a lifetime; And much more.

In an interconnected world filled with goal-oriented perfectionists, Lagom reminds us to slow down, to decompress and de-stress, to be mindful of sustainability yet not deny ourselves pleasure. But lagom is not a rigid set of rules—sometimes you need more, sometimes you need less, and that's fine too! With this idea-filled guide you can learn to find greater balance, well-being, and harmony—and most importantly, make time for the things that matter most in life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Oct 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9780062820853

Niki Brantmark

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.

Reviews for Lagom

[Danna Maria Rajczak · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Pleasant to listen and set me on positive mood, calming.

[Laura Cruz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lovely to enjoy on your commute, certainly got a few tips on mindful living.

[david · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very practical. I wish I read this earlier in life.

[Christ A. Tannous · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing book. Very simple and well described. You can imagine the simple cosy life that Niki’s describing.I’m inspired

[hooligansmama · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a pleasant easy read. The layout is great, it’s broken up into sections which makes it easy to pick up whenever you have a free moment. I think overall it is a great book on moderation, being intentional and learning a little about Swedish culture along the way. It was nothing groundbreaking but I think it has some great ideas for someone outside of Sweden to try and implement or just learn a new perspective. It definitely isn’t a deep look into Lagom but more about lifestyle of moderation. All that being said I’d recommend it.

[wren73-89184 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There were things that were new to me, things that were not, and things that did not pertain to me, but it was an easy read. I did learn from it.

[bexaplex · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a pretty thick book, especially considering it advocates moderation. Here's the digest version (for Americans): work less, bike more, stop buying so much stuff, enjoy a danish now and then, especially with a friend.

Bonus points for properly cited endnotes. They add just the right amount of Scandanavian "I may be particular, but it's because I'm right" tone :)