This book was quick, cute, and practical. I loved the simplicity of the concept and the actionable items contained within the lagom model. Yet another successful self improvement methodology that we should all adapt.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me. The writing style was not what I expected and I did not really enjoy.

I don't think it would surprise anyone for me to say that life is hard. Figuring out how to make it easier, less stressful, more fulfilling takes work and intention. But it seems like maybe the Swedish have a leg up, since they have lagom. 

Lagom is the idea of "just right," the thought that a life well lived is based in balance. Not too little, not too much. It's a focus on what is essential, on finding joy in the moment, and the idea that just the right amount of a thing is, well, just right. 

And to help us all to find balance, Anna Brones gives us Live Lagom, a lifestyle book that shows us the way to a balanced life, at work, at home, for our health, and for the environment. She fills these pages with tips and ideas as well as beautiful photos as inspiration of how to bring more of the beauty of nature inside. 

Ideas for bringing lagom to work involve stepping away from multi-tasking, cultivating a sense of collaboration, and bringing the Swedish fika, a social coffee break (often with pastry), to the office. Making home more lagom can include bringing nature inside with plants or a branches, using beautiful textiles to add emotional and physical warmth to a space, and developing craft skills to slow down and bring intention to your handiwork and your living space. 

Lagom for your health involves living in the moment, connecting with others in person, limiting time online, and embracing enjoyment. And lagom in the environment is the natural blending of the outdoors and the indoors, of finding sustainability in other areas of life and celebrating the earth and all its pleasures. 

But this quick summary has maybe oversimplified what Live Lagom has to offer. Brones gives us so many ideas for living a more balanced life, from choosing furniture to ideas for crafts to try, from helping us work smarter without working harder to managing our stress levels. And she includes about a dozen recipes to try, from a potato, leek, and mushroom gratin to rye loaves to Swedish pancakes. Anyone looking for ideas on living a better, less stressful, more balanced life could learn a lot from the Swedish and from Live Lagom. 



Galleys for Live Lagom were provided by Ten Speed Press through NetGalley.com, with many thanks.

The Swedish way od finding balance. From home to work to your personal lifestyle. Interesting book with great photography.

Simple and Sustainable Living:
This is by far the best book about Lagom that I have read. Live Lagom by Anna Brones is all about living a balanced, simple, and sustainable live while making the most with what we have. Anna tells us that less is more and that we should concentrate on quality instead of quantity to make every aspect of our lives better. Instead of putting the Swedish nation on an unattainable pedestal, Anna gives down-to-earth advice on integrating all the positive aspects of Lagom into our lives no matter where we live. I appreciate that Anna names a couple of famous Scandinavian artists in her book who have shaped the design world far beyond the borders of Scandinavia. I researched their work and found that I love their timeless architecture, interior designs, and even clothing lines. If I have to replace anything inside my house in the future, I will make an effort to only seek out items that I really need and that bring true enjoyment in the form of combined simplicity, functionality and beauty.

2016 was all about cosiness and the Danish concept of hygge. 2017 and we are introduced to the Swedish concept of Lagom which translates as "in moderation" or "not too much, not too little".

This is a lifestyle book; an introduction to a way of living that is sustainable for us in the home, work, environmentally and health. Descriptions of the concept were interspersed with practical application such as recipes or ideas to try at home.

I love the Swedish fika (coffee break with pastry) and the seemingly relaxed working environments. I applaud the spending the time outdoors and quality time with those that matter. I'm sad I don't have a log cabin in the forest though :/

Beautiful photography throughout and in a readable style made this book interesting but it's the kind of book I'd borrow from a library rather than buy and read again and again.

Last year I was all over the Hygge hype. Then came Lagom and I fell in love all over again. This is the second Live Lagom book I’ve read and in all honesty, the content is similar, but I think that’s often the case with books based on a specific part of a culture or tradition. Lagom is the Swedish concept of living a balanced life, and Live Lagom offers practical advice on how to live a more balanced life whether in your work, health or relationships.

It’s also got a super cute cover, so it’s perfect as a coffee table book to get your friends talking.

I was somewhat disappointed with this book.
The sweeping generalisations about how the Swedes live, how the rest of the world lives, and indeed how the readers of the book live were simply ridiculous.
I think the book does have a lot of useful information that will help people find a better balance within their lives, which is ultimately the aim of the book, and so for this reason I do give it 3 stars.

This is a volume in the spirit of Hygge books or Marie Kondo. An overview of how the Swedish look at home, design, life balance. I especially enjoyed the early parts of the book that gave a broad overview of Swedish culture and the attitudes about balance, community and busyiness. I enjoy books in this genre and this was a good one to read and ponder. I got several tips for minimizing my footprint and lightening my household. The book as a whole has given me much to ponder about how a general philosophy of living can drive better choices and make beneficial outcomes easy. Recommended for those interested in sustainability, minimalism, cultural studies, and meditation.