ICR236: Linnea Dunne, Lagom & The Swedish Art of Balanced Living

The latest concept about the hit the UK from Sweden is Lagom.

Lagom has no equivalent in the English language but is loosely translated as 'not too little, not too much, just right'.

It's widely believed that the word comes from the Viking term 'laget om', for when a mug of mead was passed around a circle and there was just enough for everyone to get a sip. But while the anecdote may hit the nail on the head, the true etymology of the word points to an old form of the word 'lag', which means 'law'.

Far from restrictive, lagom is a liberating concept, praising the idea that anything more that 'just enough' is a waste of time. Crucially it also comes with a selflessness and core belief of responsibility and common good.

By living lagom you can live a happier and more balanced life, reduce your environmental impact, improve your work-life balance, free your home from clutter, enjoy good food the Swedish way, grow your own and learn to forage, and cherish the relationships with those you love.

My guest on the podcast today is Linnea Dunne, author of Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living.

Linnea was born and raised in Sweden, where she started her writing career as a columnist at the local newspaper aged 15. She left for Ireland a few years later and eventually moved to London, where she studied Creative Writing and Political Communications.

She now lives in Dublin with her husband and two half-Swedish kids, trying to achieve that lagom balance against all odds.

Please take a moment to say thank you to Linnea on Twitter, and let her know you heard her right here on Informed Choice Radio. You can find Linnea on Twitter @linneadunne. Mention me too, @martinbamford.

You can find the show notes for this episode at icradio.co.uk/lagom. There's useful links and you can also download the full episode transcript. That's all at icradio.co.uk/lagom.

Here's my conversation with Linnea Dunne, in episode 236 of Informed Choice Radio.