Anyone trying to find a way to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life could use this book as a starting point. The author draws upon her own experiences growing up with a Swedish mother and explains how the concept of lagom pertains to each aspect of life. She says that the word can be roughly translated as "just enough," a bit like what Goldilocks was looking for - not too hot, not too cold, not too hard, not too soft, just right.
Lagom can be eating in moderation, but also occasionally having a celebratory splurge on special occasions (moderation even in moderation, as it were). It could also mean looking at all the accumulated objects and possessions in your home and finding a way to weed out the unwanted, unnecessary, and unused. Eco-friendliness fits in with lagom, so the objects that leave the house should be reused or recycled elsewhere, which also helps to make sure that there is just enough for others. As Brones goes through work, home, health, and the environment, she makes practical suggestions on ways to start finding this balance and even includes a few recipes for the home/food section. Photos of scenes that evoke lagom are scattered throughout the book. They might show some branches brought inside and displayed in a re-purposed glass jar, or a wooden chair with a warm throw across the back. Whatever the scene, each one gives a sense of peace and the contentment that the author refers to.
One of the most helpful things about this book is that it does not make the reader feel compelled to go out and immediately implement every suggestion, or that there is someone sitting in judgement on the efforts made to find balance. Any small step along the way is a personal choice and contentment is left as an individual feeling, not a goal that looks exactly the same for everyone. Visit the publisher's website for more information on the author and the book.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
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