I think most people have that one genre of books they can never get enough of. Chick lit… thrillers… mysteries… or for me, Euro lifestyle books. I can devour them one after another for months—years!—on end and still have an insatiable appetite for more.
One of my most popular blog posts is 25 French Chic Lifestyle Books, but I don’t just read French lifestyle books. I’m also partial to Nordic lifestyle books. It’s a combination of the simple/minimal/cozy aesthetic, the down-to-earth-ness of the authors and the fun of imagining myself living this outdoorsy, pared down life as I read.
Most of these books are also a wonderful reminder to live in the moment, a moment that doesn’t require lots of time or money to create. I’m under no illusion that the Nordic countries are some kind of hyperborean utopia. They certainly have plenty of problems, some of which I am intimately familiar with due to our almost-move there a few years ago.
Regardless, I think that the cultures of Nordic countries have many things to teach us about humility, about our ultimate purpose to find our place in society rather than outcompete our peers, and about finding peace and contentment in simplicity and in nature.
And, okay—I’m a sucker for their cozy white and beige living rooms, too!
25 Nordic Lifestyle Books for your Inner Scandi Girl
Unlike my French chic list, I included the book taglines in this list to hopefully give you a bit more info on what the books are about. Most are written like self-help books. A few (namely A Frog in a Fjord and There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather) are more autobiographical in nature.
- A Frog in a Fjord: One Year in Norway, by Lorelou Desjardins
- North: How to Live Scandinavian, by Brontë Aurell
- The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life, by Anu Partanan
- Nordic Lifestyle: Embrace Slow Living, Cultivate Happiness and Know When to Take Off Your Shoes, by Susanna Heiskanen
- There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient and Confident Kids, by Linda Åkeson McGurk (relevant if you’re a parent!)
- The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day, by Linda Åkeson McGurk
- Njuta: Enjoy, Delight In: The Swedish Art of Savoring the Moment, by Niki Brantmark
- Parenthood the Swedish Way: a science-based guide to pregnancy, birth, and infancy, by Cecilia Chrapkowska and Agnes Wold (relevant if you’re a parent!)
- Raising Kids the Scandinavian Way: 20 ideas to bring Scandinavian style happiness and hygge into your home, by Lotta Eld (relevant if you’re a parent!)
- The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids, by Jessica Joelle Alexander and Iben Sandahl (relevant if you’re a parent!)
- The Joy of Hygge: How to Bring Everyday Pleasure and Danish Coziness Into Your Life, by Jonny Jackson and Elias Larsen
- The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living, by Meik Wiking
- The Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness and Happiness Through the Power of Sisu, by Katja Pantzar
- Live Laugh Lagom: Enough is Enough–Embracing the Swedish Way to Balance and Happiness, by Lola Åkerström
- The Nordic Guide to Living 10 Years Longer: 10 Easy Steps to Live a Healthier, Happier Life, by Dr. Bertil Marklund
- Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living, by Linnea Dunne
- Food from the Fire: The Scandinavian flavours of open-fire cooking, by Niklas Ekstedt (this one is part cookbook, but I love it for his reflections and beautiful photos)
- The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter, by Margareta Magnusson
- Lagom: Not Too Little, Not Too Much: The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life, by Niki Brantmark
- Live Lagom: Balanced Living, the Swedish Way, by Anne Brones
- The Hygge Life: Embracing the Nordic Art of Coziness Through Recipes, Entertaining, Decorating, Simple Rituals, and Family Traditions, by Gunnar Karl Gíslason and Jody Eddy
- My Hygge Home: How to Make Home Your Happy Place, by Meik Wiking
- The Little Book of Lykke: Secrets of the World’s Happiest People, by Meik Wiking
- The Art of Making Memories: How to Create and Remember Happy Moments, by Meik Wiking
- The Art of Danish Living: How the World’s Happiest People Find Joy at Work, by Meik Wiking
I have read all the books on this list with the exception of the last three. I didn’t know Meik Wiking had written more books after The Little Book of Hygge, which kicked off my Nordic lifestyle reading in 2017, and My Hygge Home. They’re on my list now, though!
I know I’ve written this before, but I used to feel guilty for choosing light reading. Coming from high school and college where most of my reading was for class—scientific papers, analyses and books dealing with heavy real world topics—it felt downright indulgent to choose fun, self improvement-focused things to read. Like, shouldn’t I be staying informed on all the terrible things that have happened/continue to happen in the world instead?
But we are already all part of the 24/7 news cycle these days, on our computers, phones, social media. Surrounded by people talking about all the terrible things going on in the world. We need to carve out spaces free of worry and the weight of the world. For me this is reading. I want to encourage you to find that outlet, too; a space to indulge without guilt.
What’s a recent favorite read of yours? And what’s your “it genre”?
xx Claire
