Lagom

There is nothing better than just good! This pithy saying is the motto of the Swedish way of life. This is lagom, which is increasingly popular all over the world these days, and which in practice means: neither too much nor too little, that is, just enough. A glass of wine will be enough, we don't need more glittering balls on the Christmas tree, and we shouldn't throw away our car keys. But we don't have to fall overboard either. Lagom doesn't mean that we don't drink a sip of rosé with lunch, we don't decorate the Christmas tree, and we only travel by bicycle. Lagom is the proclamation and praise of conscious moderation, which has a centuries-old tradition among the Swedes. In his witty and humorous book, Göran Everdahl analyzes the concept of lagom and how we can implement and enforce it in our lives: in our work, our meals, our clothing, our narrower and wider environment, and when we travel. The point is to consume, to enjoy all the joys and beauty of life in a way that does not cause too much damage to our environment. Everdahl writes the history of Lagomland, from the time of the kind Vikings to the present day, highlighting milestones such as the kukled strike, the quiver reform, low-alcohol beer and the referendum on nuclear energy. With due irony towards himself and his compatriots, he examines such Swedish heart-felt matters as fika, i.e. the ceremonial coffee break, the relaxation and idyll of Fridays with a pound of chips, the Luca Day celebrations that are a shocking experience for foreigners, or Pippi Longstocking and Ingmar Bergman. But we are not all the same. What is good for one person may not be good for another. So everyone has to find their own lagom, their personalized lifestyle, and conquer their own Lagomland. It may not be perfect (perfection is the opposite of lagom!), but it can create a balance between work and personal life, health and gluttony, joy and seriousness. And then it really doesn't get any better than just right!