Author: Margareta Magnusson
Published: December 27th 2022 by Scribner
Format: Kindle, 154 Pages
Genre: Aging
Series: The Swedish Art of Living & Dying
First Sentence: The year I was born, the life expectancy for a Swedish woman was a little over sixty-six years and for a Swedish man a little over sixty-four years.
Blurb: Margareta Magnusson shared with the world her practical Swedish tradition of döstädning, or “death cleaning”—clearing out unnecessary belongings before others must do it for you—in her international bestseller The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. Now, unburdened by baggage (emotional and actual) she is able to focus on what makes each day worth living, and reveals her discoveries about growing older—some difficult to accept, many rather wondrous. She reflects on her early days growing up in Sweden and raising her family around the world, offering tips and wisdom on how to age gracefully, such as: don’t be afraid to wear stripes, don’t resist new technology, let go of what doesn’t matter, and much more.
As with death-cleaning, it’s never too early to begin and The Swedish Art of Aging Well shows us how to prepare for and understand the aging process, and the joys and sorrows it can bring. While Margareta still recommends ongoing downsizing and decluttering (your loved ones will thank you!) her ultimate message is that we should all be less afraid of the idea of death.
Wise, funny, and practical, The Swedish Art of Aging Well is a gentle and welcome reminder that, no matter your age, there are always fresh discoveries ahead, and pleasures both new and familiar to be enjoyed every day.(GoodReads)
My Opinion: I am not sure what I was expecting when I first pick up this book. Possibly a how-to manual, but that is not what Margareta Magnusson gives her readers. She retells her life experiences, what she has learned in her 89 years, and how it is the small things, the small changes, that can make life joyful.
The chapters contain disjointed thoughts, but that is what is delightful when speaking with a person in their later years. They have stories, and each account segways into another, and soon, not only have you learned more about them, but you have also learned their life lessons along the way.
Not a book to rush. The Swedish Art of Living Exuberantly is a book to keep on the shelf, even after your Swedish Death Cleaning. As Magnusson says, “What the hell”. Aging is hard, and we have made it this far, so why not enjoy life instead of being the person waiving a fist and getting frustrated with people who lack life's experiences.
Blurb: Margareta Magnusson shared with the world her practical Swedish tradition of döstädning, or “death cleaning”—clearing out unnecessary belongings before others must do it for you—in her international bestseller The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. Now, unburdened by baggage (emotional and actual) she is able to focus on what makes each day worth living, and reveals her discoveries about growing older—some difficult to accept, many rather wondrous. She reflects on her early days growing up in Sweden and raising her family around the world, offering tips and wisdom on how to age gracefully, such as: don’t be afraid to wear stripes, don’t resist new technology, let go of what doesn’t matter, and much more.
As with death-cleaning, it’s never too early to begin and The Swedish Art of Aging Well shows us how to prepare for and understand the aging process, and the joys and sorrows it can bring. While Margareta still recommends ongoing downsizing and decluttering (your loved ones will thank you!) her ultimate message is that we should all be less afraid of the idea of death.
Wise, funny, and practical, The Swedish Art of Aging Well is a gentle and welcome reminder that, no matter your age, there are always fresh discoveries ahead, and pleasures both new and familiar to be enjoyed every day.(GoodReads)
My Opinion: I am not sure what I was expecting when I first pick up this book. Possibly a how-to manual, but that is not what Margareta Magnusson gives her readers. She retells her life experiences, what she has learned in her 89 years, and how it is the small things, the small changes, that can make life joyful.
The chapters contain disjointed thoughts, but that is what is delightful when speaking with a person in their later years. They have stories, and each account segways into another, and soon, not only have you learned more about them, but you have also learned their life lessons along the way.
Not a book to rush. The Swedish Art of Living Exuberantly is a book to keep on the shelf, even after your Swedish Death Cleaning. As Magnusson says, “What the hell”. Aging is hard, and we have made it this far, so why not enjoy life instead of being the person waiving a fist and getting frustrated with people who lack life's experiences.
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