crondeau1n_yvr's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
livrad's review
4.0
I enjoyed The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning and was looking forward to Margareta Magnusson’s The Swedish Art of Aging Well. While TGAoSDC was largely a guide of how to go about implementing the practice yourself, The Swedish Art of Aging Well is more enjoyable memoir. Magnusson starts each chapter with a theme of what perhaps has kept her young (at age 86). Then, we pleasantly meander a bit in her memories. She paints scenes from her own childhood, to the decades spent on an island in Western Sweden, to raising her children in Annapolis and Singapore, to her current years in a Stockholm apartment. Then, each chapter is wrapped up with a bit of applicable wisdom.
There are lots of bits of Swedish culture sprinkled through the book (like I was amazed to learn that almost everyone eats the same soup on Thursdays), but there is nothing distinctly Swedish about her secrets to aging. No one is going to have to build a sauna to follow her advice. She says herself, “You were expecting Swedish secrets, and yet I think the secrets of aging well and happily are in finding ways to make your routines dear to you. I may not have a choice in how long they will take me to do or whether I will even be alive a few weeks from now, but I do have the choice to decide how to approach my daily life.”
Some of her advice includes: “Happiness is being surrounded by the young…. Surrounding yourself with young people is a way to stay in tune with the young person you yourself were at some point,” or, “Volunteering makes you feel useful and good about yourself.” Magnusson also includes bits of wisdom, such as: “Once you have turned eighty, it’s important to have the right sort of wrinkles. Even more important, though, is to start laughing early enough to spend more time laughing than frowning. If your wrinkles point upward you will look happy instead of merely old.”
There are lots of bits of Swedish culture sprinkled through the book (like I was amazed to learn that almost everyone eats the same soup on Thursdays), but there is nothing distinctly Swedish about her secrets to aging. No one is going to have to build a sauna to follow her advice. She says herself, “You were expecting Swedish secrets, and yet I think the secrets of aging well and happily are in finding ways to make your routines dear to you. I may not have a choice in how long they will take me to do or whether I will even be alive a few weeks from now, but I do have the choice to decide how to approach my daily life.”
Some of her advice includes: “Happiness is being surrounded by the young…. Surrounding yourself with young people is a way to stay in tune with the young person you yourself were at some point,” or, “Volunteering makes you feel useful and good about yourself.” Magnusson also includes bits of wisdom, such as: “Once you have turned eighty, it’s important to have the right sort of wrinkles. Even more important, though, is to start laughing early enough to spend more time laughing than frowning. If your wrinkles point upward you will look happy instead of merely old.”
crinolinelaphroaig's review
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
Sometimes when you get to a certain age all you can say is 'What the Hell?'" Fun quick read.
lizard007's review
4.0
I really loved this book. I don’t think it was particularly written for a 19 year old; however it has helped me through a difficult time in my life. This novel has helped me remember how much I love volunteering and enjoying life. I highly recommend reading this — no matter how old you are.
pamiverson's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
Stories of her life, no clear or unique philosophy. Accept that we are getting older, find joy and peace as you can.
alissamargaret's review against another edition
3.0
*Audiobook* This was an easy short read with some interesting advice one can reflect upon.