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Reviews
The Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness, and Happiness Through the Power of Sisu by Katja Pantzar
zbmorgan's review against another edition
4.0
Always love reading sbout other cultures, but I wish Panzer had stepped back a LITTLE more and examined the cons or limitations as well. No group of people is perfect and right about everything, but that’s all we see here.
heidilreads's review against another edition
4.0
Very cute book about the finnish culture and how they approach life. A nice contrast to our daily life right now...
cynstagraphy's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.25
harlando's review against another edition
3.0
This was a good book, but not great. I do like books about how other cultures (I'm American) live and pursue happiness.
My brother and my father have a sort of visceral reaction to the idea that foreigners might do anything better than Americans. I think there are a lot of Americans who share that trait. It's too bad. America is a great country, but we really aren't the best at absolutely everything and could be happier if we tried to learn from others.
- I want to go to Scandinavia. The region has got a lot of positive press in America over the last decade, even if republicans sometimes make it out to be a socialist hellscape that will soon implode.
Good ideas in this book:
- Get outside and be active. Pantzar describes her home city in Finland as very integrated with nature and interwoven with forests and parks. I can't think of an American that i would describe that way, though we do have lots of forests and parks.
- Swim in cold water. I'm not crazy about this one. I tried cold showers, but they take a lot of will power. I actually think the swimming might be easier. My hot shower makes me happy. It is very hard for me to stand under the cold water when I know it could just as easily be hot. I had an easier time swimming in chilly, but not arctic, water when I briefly had easy access to a pool near my former office. I think he cold swims did make me feel better and might have boosted my physical and mental resilience.
- Own less stuff, but buy good stuff. This seems like something that could resonate in America. Not mainstream America, which has valued the cheap, the quick, and the disposable for a little too long. What could be more american than the trusty shotgun passed down from father to son? A durable, well-crafted and well cared for item that lasts for generations. There is something of the frontier about it and I think the idea could work in America. In my own life I have often had trouble committing to quality. I have read about the wonders of a really good chef's knife (Anthony Bourdaine wouldn't lie to me about that), but when it comes time to buy I just don't know how much better the good knife really is because I have never used one. I usually buy the cheap thing to put off buying a top quality item because I don't know enough about the item to feel comfortable making the investment.
I think modernity also conspires against us on this front. I have a leather jacket I've owned for 20 years (it is worn, but serviceable) and a couch that might be close to 10. But, my cell phone and computer have about 5 years at most. Its very easy to clutter up my life with cheap things that disappoint or fail to bring joy (thanks Marie Kondo), and hard to commit to the high quality things that would both last and increase my enjoyment.
- Have friends. Easier said than done. I would like to have more friends. Lots of people would. The thing I don't have is time.
My brother and my father have a sort of visceral reaction to the idea that foreigners might do anything better than Americans. I think there are a lot of Americans who share that trait. It's too bad. America is a great country, but we really aren't the best at absolutely everything and could be happier if we tried to learn from others.
- I want to go to Scandinavia. The region has got a lot of positive press in America over the last decade, even if republicans sometimes make it out to be a socialist hellscape that will soon implode.
Good ideas in this book:
- Get outside and be active. Pantzar describes her home city in Finland as very integrated with nature and interwoven with forests and parks. I can't think of an American that i would describe that way, though we do have lots of forests and parks.
- Swim in cold water. I'm not crazy about this one. I tried cold showers, but they take a lot of will power. I actually think the swimming might be easier. My hot shower makes me happy. It is very hard for me to stand under the cold water when I know it could just as easily be hot. I had an easier time swimming in chilly, but not arctic, water when I briefly had easy access to a pool near my former office. I think he cold swims did make me feel better and might have boosted my physical and mental resilience.
- Own less stuff, but buy good stuff. This seems like something that could resonate in America. Not mainstream America, which has valued the cheap, the quick, and the disposable for a little too long. What could be more american than the trusty shotgun passed down from father to son? A durable, well-crafted and well cared for item that lasts for generations. There is something of the frontier about it and I think the idea could work in America. In my own life I have often had trouble committing to quality. I have read about the wonders of a really good chef's knife (Anthony Bourdaine wouldn't lie to me about that), but when it comes time to buy I just don't know how much better the good knife really is because I have never used one. I usually buy the cheap thing to put off buying a top quality item because I don't know enough about the item to feel comfortable making the investment.
I think modernity also conspires against us on this front. I have a leather jacket I've owned for 20 years (it is worn, but serviceable) and a couch that might be close to 10. But, my cell phone and computer have about 5 years at most. Its very easy to clutter up my life with cheap things that disappoint or fail to bring joy (thanks Marie Kondo), and hard to commit to the high quality things that would both last and increase my enjoyment.
- Have friends. Easier said than done. I would like to have more friends. Lots of people would. The thing I don't have is time.
lnordstrom's review against another edition
3.0
3.5– This was a good balance of educational and inspirational like I had hoped, but I just didn’t love how repetitive it was.
mpatterson610's review
4.5
I love reading about life in other countries, I think it’s so interesting!!!