How to be Swedish: A Quick Guide to Swedishness - in 55 Steps


Matthias Kamann - 2017
     For example, in this book you’ll learn how to: * Interact with Swedes, without embarrassing yourself. * Celebrate Swedish traditions. * Flirt like a Swede. Find out why: * … Swedes are obsessed with sunshine, nature and a socializing activity called fika. * … Swedes don’t work in July. * … Swedes dance like little frogs around a pole that looks like a gigantic phallus. … and many more steps how to smoothly blend in among Swedes. Learn what Swedish people fear and desire. This Sweden guide will get you prepared for a "fantastisk" time in Sweden.

Simple Matters: A Scandinavian's Approach to Work, Home, and Style


Jenny Mustard - 2018
    In a beautiful collection of essays, Simple Matters challenges readers to simplify their life by prioritizing emotional and physical health, curating a personal style, and pursuing one's dreams.Jenny Mustard has created a unique lifestyle book that taps into the ever-increasing human longing for less clutter and more meaning, be it at home, at work, or in our relationships. By encouraging readers to make their surroundings a little more lovely, to simplify eating habits and wardrobe, to travel with purpose and ease, and to discover what they truly want to dream about and focus on, Jenny provides the inspiration to curate one's everyday life into something simple, realistic, and utterly enjoyable.Simultaneously inspirational and aspirational, Jenny's content is positive, personal, and inclusive--42 essays cover everything from simple kitchen staples, the art of the travel plan, indulgent eating, addiction, failure as a road to success, the makings of a happy relationship, the red thread, building a career, and the Scandinavian way at home.Jenny Mustard is a minimalist YouTube sensation, fashion blogger, lifestyle influencer, and a vegan food, travel, and design lover. She has worked with prestigious brands and well-known social media personalities, and has been featured in magazines and online articles all over the world. Together with her fiance and business partner David, she also runs the morning show YouTube channel The Mustards, as well as a popular podcast of the same name. She is a Swede living in Berlin, by way of London. You can find her at JennyMustard.com

Vikings in the Attic: In Search of Nordic America


Eric Dregni - 2011
    Who doesn’t enjoy a good, healthy salad (Jell-O packed with canned fruit, colored marshmallows, and pretzels) or perhaps some cod soaked in drain cleaner as the highlights of Christmas? Only later did it dawn on him that perhaps this was just a little strange, but by then it was far too late: he was hooked and a dyed-in-the-wool Scandinavian himself. But what does it actually mean to grow up Scandinavian-American or to live with these Norwegians, Swedes, Finns, Danes, and Icelanders among us? In Vikings in the Attic, Dregni tracks down and explores the significant—and quite often bizarre—historic sites, tales, and traditions of Scandinavia’s peculiar colony in the Midwest. It’s a legacy of the unique—collecting silver spoons, a suspicion of flashy clothing, shots of turpentine for the common cold, and a deep love of rhubarb pie—but also one of poor immigrants living in sod houses while their children attend college, the birth of the co-op movement, the Farmer–Labor party, and government agents spying on Scandinavian meetings hoping to nab a socialist or antiwar activist. For all the tales his grandparents told him, Dregni quickly discovers there are quite a few they neglected to mention, such as Swedish egg coffee, which includes the eggshell, and Lutheran latte, which is Swedish coffee with ice cream. Vikings in the Attic goes beyond the lefse, lutefisk, and lusekofter (lice jacket) sweaters to reveal the little-known tales that lie beneath the surface of Nordic America. Ultimately, Dregni ends up proving by example why generations of Scandinavian-Americans have come to love and cherish these tales and traditions so dearly. Well, almost all of them.** See lutefisk.

The Girl in building C


Mary Krugerud - 2018
    She entered Ah-gwah-ching State Sanatorium at Walker, Minnesota, for what she thought would be a short stay. In January, her tuberculosis spread, and she nearly died. Her recovery required many months of bed rest and medical care.Marilyn loved to write, and the story of her three-year residency at the sanatorium is preserved in hundreds of letters that she mailed back home to her parents, who could visit her only occasionally and whom she missed terribly. The letters functioned as a diary in which Marilyn articulately and candidly recorded her reactions to roommates, medical treatments, Native American nurses, and boredom. She also offers readers the singular perspective of a bed-bound teenager, gossiping about boys, requesting pretty new pajamas, and enjoying Friday evening popcorn parties with other patients.Selections from this cache of letters are woven into an informative narrative that explores the practices and culture of a midcentury tuberculosis sanatorium and fills in long-forgotten details gleaned from recent conversations with Marilyn, who "graduated" from the sanatorium and went on to lead a full, productive life.

Italianissimo


Louise Fili - 2008
    Topics range from expressive hand gestures to patron saints, pasta, parmesan, shoes, opera, the Vespa, the Fiat 500, gelato, gondolas, and more. History, folklore, superstitions, traditions, and customs are tossed in a delicious sauce that also includes a wealth of factual information for the sophisticated traveler:• why lines, as we know them, are nonexistent in Italy• why a string of coral beads is often seen around a baby’s wrist• what the unlucky number of Italy is (it’s not thirteen, unless seating guests at a table, when it IS thirteen–taking into account the outcome of the Last Supper)• why red underwear begins to appear in shops as the New Year approaches In addition to the lyrical and poetic, Italianissimo provides useful and indispensable information for the traveler: deciphering the quirks of the language (while English has only one word for “you,†in Italy there are three), the best place to find balsamic vinegar (in Modena, of course), the best gelato (in Sicily, where they first invented it using the snow from Mount Etna). There are also recommendations for little-known museums and destinations (the Bodoni museum, the Pinocchio park, legendary coffee bars).This is a new kind of guidebook overflowing with enlightening and hilarious miscellaneous information, filled with luscious graphics and unforgettable photographs that will decode and enrich all trips to Italy–both real and imaginary.

ScandiKitchen: Fika and Hygge: comforting cakes and bakes from Scandinavia with love


Brontë Aurell - 2016
    From indulgent cream confections to homely and comforting fruit cakes and traditional breads, sweet buns, and pastries. FIKA is a Swedish word meaning to meet up for a cup of coffee or tea over something delicious. It is also the word for the delicious treats themselves. Swedes traditionally stop twice a day for fika: taking a muchneeded break from the daily grind. People fika with family, colleagues, friends, children, and even go on fika dates. HYGGE (pronounced hue-guh) is a word that originated in Norway but is now mainly used in Denmark. It means "a sublime state of cosiness you feel when you are with loved ones and nothing else matters". Hygge can be enhanced by the addition of a log fire, a good movie, a cup of something warm, and a sweet treat…hence the ideal combination of the two terms. Chapters are divided into Biscuits and Cookies, Tray and No bakes, Everyday Fika, Little Fancy Cakes, Celebration Cakes, and Bread and Batters. This beautifully illustrated, authentic guide is a celebration of Scandinavian baking in all its glory. It is evocative of cosy days shared with friends, slowing down and taking the time to enjoy simple, homemade, wholesome pleasures―encouraging a lifestyle to aspire to. With features on special Scandi winter celebrations, their baking traditions and how to bring fika and hygge into your life.

Scandinavian Baking: Loving Baking at Home


Trine Hahnemann - 2014
    The book is suffused with 'hygge', a Danish word that has no English equivalent but means cosiness, or relaxing with friends over good food and drink. Trine Hahnemann is the leading authority on Scandinavian baking, and here she holds the hand of the uninitiated baker and leads them through the mysteries of baking bread, always with an eye to the practicalities of creating great bread at home. Here you will find no complicated recipes, or sourdough starters that need as much tending as a baby. Instead, Trine teaches us how we can fit the making of bread into our busy lives, without compromising on quality. Scandinavian crispbreads abound, as do savoury tarts and recipes from the smorrebrod. And then there's the sweet baking - a recipe for each kind of Danish pastry you could ever wish for, a cookie for every occasion, and mouth-watering layer cakes, coffee cakes and cream buns. The Midsummer and Christmas festivities are built around the making of cakes, cookies and breads of all sorts, and the baking celebrations of both seasons are included in the book. Throughout the book, Trine writes about the baking world in Scandinavia: the tradition of the 'cake table' party; how spices came to the frozen north; or how using older strains of grain will boost the nutritional worth of your daily bread.

American OZ: An Astonishing Year Inside Traveling Carnivals at State Fairs & Festivals: Hitchhiking California to New York, Alaska to Mexico


Michael Sean Comerford - 2020
    An insult dunk tank clown is shot. Masked gunmen rob his carnival. And a young showman friend dies on the road.It's a new classic American road story as he hitchhikes to shows in California, New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Alaska, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, and Florida where he works in a freak show.He becomes the #1 hitchhiker in the USA and a top agent at the State Fair of Texas.He travels to the lawless foothills of Mexico to see the new face of the American carny. He exposes the truths about immigration, labor abuse, and living between two worlds. Comerford finds carnival people seeking meaning and love in their lives, and the answers always seem to be somewhere down the road.

Scandinavian Christmas


Trina Hahnemann - 2012
    Trine Hahnemann serves up a cornucopia of festive recipes for brunches, cocktail and tea parties, lunches, and dinners, all filled with traditional goodies and delicious modern dishes. Enjoy regional specialties such as spiced gløgg wine, Slow-Cooked Goose with Apples and Prunes, Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Caramel Potatoes, Meatballs with Pickled Beets, and Chocolate-Dipped Candied Oranges. Skol!

Bakeland: Nordic Treats Inspired by Nature


Marit Hovland - 2018
    And dessert, Bakeland reveals, is no exception. Written by Marit Hovland, the Norwegian graphic designer, baker, and photographer behind the popular Instagram account and blog Borrow My Eyes, this gorgeous recipe book is a remarkably innovative and delicious homage to the beauty of the world around us that will delight lovers of baking, crafting, nature, and all things Scandinavian.With 50 tempting dessert recipes and 140 stunning color photographs, Bakeland is as much a treat for the eyes as it is for the tastebuds. Focusing on purity, season, and quality, Hovland offers a sweeter, more playful approach to the New Nordic cuisine trend made popular by chefs like Magnus Nilsson. Her belief that “inspiration can be found everywhere” shines through in each of her culinary creations, which replicate the most striking aspects of the natural world. From chocolate sea shells to edible butterflies and pinecone-shaped gingersnaps, Bakeland takes readers on an artful, tasty trip through nature in Norway, season by season. But better yet, these clever confections taste as good as they look, and each recipe is detailed, precise, and easy to follow, with no special equipment required. With step-by-step, illustrated instructions and an emphasis on simplicity, Hovland’s approach to baking is as accessible as it is delectable.

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson | Chapter Compilation


Ethan Thomas - 2016
     The ship was called “magnificent”, consuming as much as one hundred forty tons of coal every day even if it just stands still on the dock, and standing seven stories tall from dock to bridge. She was considered by engineers and shipbuilders as one of the finest examples of man’s ingenuity and creativity. In addition, out of all the ships that were converted for use in the war, the Lusitania was the only one that was exempted and continued on as a cruise ship. However, its job of carrying passengers across the Atlantic Ocean was not the thing that made her famous today. Read more.... Download your copy today! for a limited time discount of only $2.99! Available on PC, Mac, smart phone, tablet or Kindle device. © 2015 All Rights Reserved by Unlimited Press Works, LLC

The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life


Anu Partanen - 2016
    She found that navigating the basics of everyday life—from buying a cell phone and filing taxes to education and childcare—was much more complicated and stressful than anything she encountered in her homeland. At first, she attributed her crippling anxiety to the difficulty of adapting to a freewheeling new culture. But as she got to know Americans better, she discovered they shared her deep apprehension. To understand why life is so different in the U.S. and Finland, Partanen began to look closely at both.In The Nordic Theory of Everything, Partanen compares and contrasts life in the United States with life in the Nordic region, focusing on four key relationships—parents and children, men and women, employees and employers, and government and citizens. She debunks criticism that Nordic countries are socialist “nanny states,” revealing instead that it is we Americans who are far more enmeshed in unhealthy dependencies than we realize. As Partanen explains step by step, the Nordic approach allows citizens to enjoy more individual freedom and independence than we do.Partanen wants to open Americans’ eyes to how much better things can be—to show her beloved new country what it can learn from her homeland to reinvigorate and fulfill the promise of the American dream—to provide the opportunity to live a healthy, safe, economically secure, upwardly mobile life for everyone. Offering insights, advice, and solutions, The Nordic Theory of Everything makes a convincing argument that we can rebuild our society, rekindle our optimism, and restore true freedom to our relationships and lives.

One Meal A Day: The Best Way to Fast: Lose Weight Quickly, Rejuvenate, Reduce Inflammation, Fight Diabetes and Improve Your Mental Clarity with One Meal A Day


Rose Heale - 2019
     Yet most of us fail... The problem is that we’re surrounded by tons of food and therefore it's not only your fault! " You don’t need to do anything extra to lose weight. You only need to STOP doing extra things. " If you are also struggling with your wait without getting results, then keep reading... If you have always desired to lose weight and lead a healthy life but all your efforts have disappointed you, then keep reading... If so, KEEP READING because you are just where you need to be! Weight loss is not as difficult as it sounds, our body has the ability to shed the weight it has accumulated. Diets, calorie restriction methods, and exercise routines have hope but they cannot bring consistent results. Let me explain what is the Main Reason: Your body is not really conditioned to lose weight. It doesn’t get the right environment. It is not the failure of the procedures but lack of right internal conditioning. If you have started thinking that nothing could make a difference, think again. One Meal a Day routine can bring the results you have been looking for In fact, it’s easier than you think. This book will help you in understanding the amazing concept of One Meal a Day Intermittent Fasting Routine and the correct way to follow it. Here’s a sneak peek at what you may find useful in your diet journey: The scientific reasons for the failure of most diets The real fat burning mechanism of the body The ways One Meal a Day Intermittent Fasting routine can lead to fat burning The amazing health benefits of One Meal a Day The way to follow the routine The correct way to prepare the body for the routine The things to ex

Graffiti Alphabets: Street Fonts from Around the World


Claudia Walde - 2011
    Each artist received the same brief: to design all 26 letters of the Latin alphabet within the limits of a single page of the book. The result is a unique typographical sourcebook featuring over 150 specially designed, original alphabets exclusive to this book.

Lagom: Not Too Little, Not Too Much, Just Right: The Swedish Guide to Creating Balance in Your Life


Niki Brantmark - 2017
    At its core is the idea that we can strike a healthy balance with the world around us without having to make extreme changes, and without denying ourselves anything.This delightful book, written by Niki Brantmark, founder and curator of the award winning interior design blog, My Scandinavian Home, gives a taste of the philosophy behind Lagom and shows how to include some of the principles into our daily lives. Inspirational and fun ideas to help you achieve balance, well being and a more sustainable existence.The book is divided into three sections. Introducing Lagom to your personal life includes ideas for decluttering your home, conscious buying and embracing ‘slow design’. At work take time to balance your day with a proper lunchbreak and a gadget free Sabbath, while outdoor staycations in remote settings can offer relaxation you never knew possible!Lagom at home and with our families explains the art of simple pleasures – bring a dish entertaining at home, of shared craft activities with our children and less stressed homework time! And finally there’s Lagom in the wider world and the principles of living sustainably – as IKEA have pledged in their Live Lagom campaign -make some small changes like using LED lightbulbs, taking shorter showers and upcycling and you are living a Lagom life,a rewarding but responsible life; not denying yourself or sacrificing what you love, while not taking from the planet more than you need. It’s just the right amount!